synesissoftware · Oct 14, 2026 · Oct 12, 2026 · Oct 12, 2026 · Oct 14, 2026 · Oct 14, 2026
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ jobs:
           cpp-compiler: ${{ inputs.cpp-compiler }}
           dependencies: >-
             STLSoft
+            woad
             ${{ !inputs.no-shwild && 'shwild' || '' }}
             xTests
             ${{ !inputs.no-b64 && 'b64' || '' }}

diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -181,15 +181,16 @@ jobs:
             mingw-w64-x86_64-cmake
             mingw-w64-x86_64-make
 
-      # Runtime/public deps only (BUILD_TESTING=OFF): STLSoft then b64.
-      # Order is intentional (not lexicographic). When no_b64, omit b64.
+      # Runtime deps (BUILD_TESTING=OFF): STLSoft, optional b64, then woad.
+      # Order is dependency order, not lexicographic. Omit b64 when no_b64.
+      # woad is required for bec.AnsiConsole.
       - name: Install Synesis dependencies
         uses: ./.github/actions/install-sis-deps
         with:
           build-type: ${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}
           c-compiler: ${{ matrix.c_compiler }}
           cpp-compiler: ${{ matrix.cpp_compiler }}
-          dependencies: ${{ matrix.no_b64 && 'STLSoft' || 'STLSoft b64' }}
+          dependencies: ${{ matrix.no_b64 && 'STLSoft woad' || 'STLSoft b64 woad' }}
           toolchain: ${{ matrix.toolchain }}
 
       - name: Configure
@@ -272,7 +273,8 @@ jobs:
           cat > "$CONSUMER/CMakeLists.txt" <<'EOF'
           cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.13)
           project(pantheios_install_smoke CXX)
-          # STLSoft and b64 must come from pantheios-config.cmake's find_dependency().
+          # STLSoft, b64, and woad must come from pantheios-config.cmake's
+          # find_dependency().
           find_package(Pantheios REQUIRED)
           add_executable(consumer consumer.cpp)
           # Link order matters for GNU ld (static archives are single-pass):
@@ -332,7 +334,16 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       # These routes consume STLSoft as a source tree, so it is cloned
-      # rather than built and installed.
+      # rather than built and installed. woad is still a CMake package:
+      # install it alone so CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH cannot satisfy STLSoft.
+      - name: Install woad
+        uses: ./.github/actions/install-sis-deps
+        with:
+          build-type: ${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}
+          c-compiler: gcc
+          cpp-compiler: g++
+          dependencies: woad
+
       - name: Clone STLSoft
         shell: bash
         run: |
@@ -345,11 +356,12 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          # Deliberately no CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH: nothing here may fall back to
-          # the STLSoft package.
+          # Prefix holds woad only, so find_package(STLSoft) still cannot
+          # succeed on these routes.
           if [ "${{ matrix.route }}" = "variable" ]; then
             cmake -B build -S . \
               -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}" \
+              -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="${{ env.SIS_DEPS }}" \
               -DSTLSOFT="${STLSOFT_SRC}" \
               -DNO_B64=ON \
               -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=ON \
@@ -358,6 +370,7 @@ jobs:
           else
             STLSOFT="${STLSOFT_SRC}" cmake -B build -S . \
               -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}" \
+              -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="${{ env.SIS_DEPS }}" \
               -DNO_B64=ON \
               -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=ON \
               -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
@@ -421,8 +434,8 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
-      # Deliberately omit SIS_DEPS from CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH: the consumer must
-      # resolve cleanly using only the installed Pantheios prefix.
+      # The consumer needs the Pantheios prefix and the woad prefix. It must
+      # not be given a prefix that contains the STLSoft package.
       - name: Configure and run install smoke consumer
         shell: bash
         run: |
@@ -449,6 +462,6 @@ jobs:
           EOF
           cmake -S "$CONSUMER" -B consumer-build \
             -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}" \
-            -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="${INSTALL_PREFIX}"
+            -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="${INSTALL_PREFIX};${{ env.SIS_DEPS }}"
           cmake --build consumer-build --parallel
           consumer-build/consumer
diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 # Pantheios - Changes <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 
+## 1.0.1-rc5 - 18th October 2026
+
+* backends:
+  * **bec.AnsiConsole** colour handling now uses **woad**: severity colours are **woad** SGR sequences (`WOAD_BOLD` / `WOAD_BLINKING` where used, plus foreground and background), and emission follows `woad_seq_for_stream()` unless **`noColours`** or **`forceAnsiEscapeSequences`** overrides that policy;
+* dependencies:
+  * **woad** is required, for ANSI colour in **bec.AnsiConsole** and in the stock back-end libraries that compile it;
+* testing:
+  * **test.scratch.versions** colours the library name, version, and macro fields with **woad**, in the same roles as **WordLen**'s scratch versions printer;
+
+
 ## 1.0.1-rc4 - 14th October 2026
 
 * util:

diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # Purpose:  Top-level CMake lists file for Pantheios
 #
 # Created:  29th March 2021
-# Updated:  11th October 2026
+# Updated:  12th October 2026
 #
 # ######################################################################## #
 
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ endif(PANTHEIOS_USE_WIDE_STRINGS)
 #
 # required:
 # - STLSoft;
+# - woad - ANSI colour for bec.AnsiConsole (and stock libraries that
+#   compile it);
 # - xTests - required for testing only;
 #
 # optional:
@@ -204,6 +206,19 @@ if(DEFINED STLSOFT_INCLUDE_DIR)
 endif()
 
 
+# ############################
+# woad
+#
+# Required by bec.AnsiConsole, and by the stock back-end libraries that
+# compile that translation unit, for SGR sequences and stream policy.
+
+find_package(woad REQUIRED)
+
+message("-- CMake package woad found (version ${woad_VERSION})")
+
+add_compile_definitions(HAS_woad)
+
+
 # ############################
 # ACE
 #

diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ There are three options for installing **Pantheios**, depending on how you obtai
 
 ### Cloning project, installing via CMake
 
-0. First, ensure that [**STLSoft**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft) (**1.11.1-rc8** or later) and, optionally, [**b64**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/b64) and [**shwild**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/shwild), have been cloned and then built and installed via CMake, as per the instructions in those projects. To build the stock **ACE** backends, install **ACE** (for example `libace-dev` on Ubuntu, or set **`ACE`** / **`ACE_ROOT`** to an ACE tree) before configuring; pass **`--no-ace`** to **prepare_cmake.sh** to skip **ACE** discovery.
+0. First, ensure that [**STLSoft**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft) (**1.11.1-rc8** or later) and [**woad**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/woad) have been cloned and then built and installed via CMake, as per the instructions in those projects. Optionally, install [**b64**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/b64) and [**shwild**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/shwild) the same way. To build the stock **ACE** backends, install **ACE** (for example `libace-dev` on Ubuntu, or set **`ACE`** / **`ACE_ROOT`** to an ACE tree) before configuring; pass **`--no-ace`** to **prepare_cmake.sh** to skip **ACE** discovery.
 
 
 1. Clone **Pantheios** from GitHub, as in;
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ $ sudo cmake --install ${SIS_CMAKE_BUILD_DIR:-./_build} --config Release
 1. Download the latest distributions;
 
 Obtain the latest releases of **Pantheios** and **STLSoft** from:
-* [Pantheios GitHub project](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/tags), e.g. [**Pantheios-1.0.1-rc4.zip**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/archive/refs/tags/1.0.1-rc4.zip);
+* [Pantheios GitHub project](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/tags), e.g. [**Pantheios-1.0.1-rc5.zip**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/archive/refs/tags/1.0.1-rc5.zip);
 * [STLSoft GitHub project](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/tags), e.g. [**STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/archive/refs/tags/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8);
 
 
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ Obtain the latest releases of **Pantheios** and **STLSoft** from:
 ```bash
 $ mkdir -p ~/open-source
 $ cd ~/open-source
-$ unzip Pantheios-1.0.1-rc4.zip
+$ unzip Pantheios-1.0.1-rc5.zip
 $ unzip STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8
 ```
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ $ unzip STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8
 4. Select and change to the appropriate build subdirectory under your **Pantheios** directory, e.g. **build/gcc48.unix**, and then execute make
 
 ```bash
-$ cd Pantheios-1.0.1-rc4
+$ cd Pantheios-1.0.1-rc5
 $ cd build/gcc48.unix
 $ make
 ```

diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 | Date                | News Item                                                     | Details    |
 | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
+| 18th October 2026   | [Pantheios 1.0.1-rc5 released](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/releases/tag/1.0.1-rc5) | |
 | 14th October 2026   | [Pantheios 1.0.1-rc4 released](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/releases/tag/1.0.1-rc4) | **bec.stock** / **WithCallback** (no **bec.test**); **example.cpp.linking.N_with_stock**; STLSoft util thinning (process id / **args** / **snprintf**); **Diagnosticism** version strings; Doxygen / **generate_doxygen.sh** / **doc/mainpage.md**; `PANTHEIOS_VER_1_0_1_RC4` |
 | 12th October 2026   | [Pantheios 1.0.1-rc3 released](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/releases/tag/1.0.1-rc3) | **bec.AnsiConsole** VT / default sink; optional **ACE**; **CMake** leaf helpers; entry/main + path canonicalisation; headless scratch **`--skip-interactive`**; `_RELSTATUS`; CI refactor; Phase **4c** **test.scratch.versions**; **STLSoft** **1.11.1-rc8** floor |
 | 6th September 2026  | [Pantheios 1.0.1-rc2 released](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Pantheios/releases/tag/1.0.1-rc2) | transitive link dependencies in **pantheios-config.cmake**; added **.vscode/settings.json** |

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Further reading: [http://pantheios.org/](http://pantheios.org/), [FAQ.md](./FAQ.
 
 3. **It depends on other libraries, which are also open-source and free.**
 
-	**STLSoft** is required. **b64** is optional (for the `pantheios::b64` inserter). **Diagnosticism**, **shwild**, and **xTests** are used for testing. See [Dependencies](#dependencies).
+	**STLSoft** is required. **woad** is required for ANSI console colour. **b64** is optional (for the `pantheios::b64` inserter). **Diagnosticism**, **shwild**, and **xTests** are used for testing. See [Dependencies](#dependencies).
 
 4. **It's designed for efficiency.**
 
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ Defect reports, feature requests, and pull requests are welcome on https://githu
 | Dependency | Role | Required? |
 | ---------- | ---- | --------- |
 | [**STLSoft**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft) **1.11.1-rc8** or later | Implementation and interface support | ✅ Always |
+| [**woad**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/woad) | ANSI colour for **bec.AnsiConsole** | ✅ Always |
 | [**b64**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/b64) | `pantheios::b64` inserter | ⚪ Optional (`PANTHEIOS_NO_B64` when absent) |
 | [**Diagnosticism**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/Diagnosticism) | Version strings in scratch / examples | ⚪ Optional; tests / scratch only |
 | [**shwild**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/shwild) | Pattern matching in tests | ⚪ Optional; tests only |
@@ -210,6 +211,7 @@ Projects closely related to **Pantheios** include:
 * [**shwild**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/shwild) — used in testing;
 * [**STLSoft**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft) — required foundation;
 * [**xTests**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/xTests) — used in testing;
+* [**woad**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/woad) — ANSI colour for **bec.AnsiConsole**;
 
 
 ### License

diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
 ## Functional improvements
 
 
-### 1.0.1-rc5
+### 1.0.1-rc5 (18th October 2026)
 
 * [ ] **b64** link-time dependency broken;
-* [ ] Integration of **woad** for coloured output;
+* [x] ~~~Integration of **woad** for coloured output~~~ - ✅;
 * [ ] Additional performance tests;
 * [ ] Refactor CMake test targets / options so that only unit-test executables are built when only unit-tests are asked for;
 * [ ] **README.md** (and other project markdown) significant enhancement (in a similar vein as has been done for **xqsr3** (Ruby));

diff --git a/cmake/pantheios-config.cmake.in b/cmake/pantheios-config.cmake.in
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ include(CMakeFindDependencyMacro)
 # cleanly the required imported target definitions while forwarding the
 # calling project's QUIET and REQUIRED flags.
 #
-# Why these calls are strictly CONDITIONAL:
+# Why STLSoft and b64 are strictly CONDITIONAL, and woad is not:
 #
 # 1. STLSoft (@STLSoft_FOUND@):
 #    Pantheios public headers and internals depend on STLSoft. When
@@ -55,9 +55,17 @@ include(CMakeFindDependencyMacro)
 #      systems where b64 is not installed, needlessly breaking downstream
 #      consumers.
 #
-# Guarding with @STLSoft_FOUND@ and @b64_FOUND@ ensures downstream discovery
-# precisely mirrors the dependencies linked into the installed Pantheios
-# binary.
+# 3. woad:
+#    woad is required. bec.AnsiConsole, and the stock back-end libraries
+#    that compile that translation unit, link woad::woad. The exported
+#    targets file therefore names woad::woad, and every downstream
+#    consumer must locate woad — including a consumer that does not itself
+#    link an ANSI-console back-end, because CMake checks every target named
+#    by the export when the targets file is loaded.
+#
+# Guarding STLSoft and b64 with @STLSoft_FOUND@ and @b64_FOUND@, and always
+# requiring woad, makes downstream discovery match the dependencies linked
+# into the installed Pantheios binary.
 # ##########################################################################
 
 if(@STLSoft_FOUND@)
@@ -70,6 +78,8 @@ if(@b64_FOUND@)
 	find_dependency(b64)
 endif()
 
+find_dependency(woad)
+
 include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/@EXPORT_NAME@-targets.cmake")
 
 

diff --git a/include/pantheios/backends/bec.AnsiConsole.h b/include/pantheios/backends/bec.AnsiConsole.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * Purpose: Declaration of the Pantheios AnsiConsole Stock Back-end API.
  *
  * Created: 20th October 2024
- * Updated: 14th October 2026
+ * Updated: 18th October 2026
  *
  * Home:    http://www.pantheios.org/
  *
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@
 
 /** \def PANTHEIOS_BE_ANSICONSOLE_F_NO_COLOURS
  * Causes the \ref group__backend__stock_backends__AnsiConsole to emit log
- * statements without colouring based on severity.
+ * statements without colouring based on severity. This overrides woad's
+ * colour policy.
  * \ingroup group__backend__stock_backends__AnsiConsole__flags
  */
 
@@ -106,9 +107,9 @@
 
 /** \def PANTHEIOS_BE_ANSICONSOLE_F_FORCE_ANSI_ESCAPE_SEQUENCES
  * Causes the \ref group__backend__stock_backends__AnsiConsole to write ANSI
- * escape sequences regardless of the console/terminal mode, i.e. even if
- * the output is being redirected. Ignored when
- * PANTHEIOS_BE_ANSICONSOLE_F_NO_COLOURS is specified.
+ * escape sequences regardless of woad's colour policy, i.e. even if the
+ * output is being redirected or colour is inhibited in the environment.
+ * Ignored when PANTHEIOS_BE_ANSICONSOLE_F_NO_COLOURS is specified.
  * \ingroup group__backend__stock_backends__AnsiConsole__flags
  */
 

diff --git a/include/pantheios/pantheios.h b/include/pantheios/pantheios.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * Purpose: Pantheios Core and Util APIs.
  *
  * Created: 21st June 2005
- * Updated: 14th October 2026
+ * Updated: 18th October 2026
  *
  * Home:    http://www.pantheios.org/
  *
@@ -121,13 +121,14 @@
 # define PANTHEIOS_VER_1_0_1_RC2                0x010001e2
 # define PANTHEIOS_VER_1_0_1_RC3                0x010001E3
 # define PANTHEIOS_VER_1_0_1_RC4                0x010001E4
+# define PANTHEIOS_VER_1_0_1_RC5                0x010001E5
 # define PANTHEIOS_VER_1_0_1                    0x010001FF
 #endif /* !PANTHEIOS_DOCUMENTATION_SKIP_SECTION */
 
 #define PANTHEIOS_VER_MAJOR                     1
 #define PANTHEIOS_VER_MINOR                     0
 #define PANTHEIOS_VER_PATCH                     1
-#define PANTHEIOS_VER_RELSTATUS                 0xE4
+#define PANTHEIOS_VER_RELSTATUS                 0xE5
 
 #define PANTHEIOS_VER \
     (0\

diff --git a/projects/backends/bec.AnsiConsole.WithCallback/CMakeLists.txt b/projects/backends/bec.AnsiConsole.WithCallback/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ add_library(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole.WithCallback
 
 target_link_STLSoft(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole.WithCallback)
 
+target_link_libraries(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole.WithCallback
+	PUBLIC
+		$<LINK_ONLY:woad::woad>
+)
+
 target_compile_options(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole.WithCallback
 	PRIVATE
 		$<$<OR:$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:Clang>,$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:AppleClang>,$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:GNU>>:

diff --git a/projects/backends/bec.AnsiConsole/CMakeLists.txt b/projects/backends/bec.AnsiConsole/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ add_library(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole
 
 target_link_STLSoft(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole)
 
+target_link_libraries(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole
+	PUBLIC
+		$<LINK_ONLY:woad::woad>
+)
+
 list(APPEND X_GCC_CUSTOM_WARNINGS_TO_BE_SUPPRESSED unused-parameter)
 define_target_compile_options(Pantheios.bec.AnsiConsole)
 

diff --git a/projects/backends/bec.stock.WithCallback/CMakeLists.txt b/projects/backends/bec.stock.WithCallback/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ add_library(Pantheios.bec.stock.WithCallback
 
 target_link_STLSoft(Pantheios.bec.stock.WithCallback)
 
+target_link_libraries(Pantheios.bec.stock.WithCallback
+	PUBLIC
+		$<LINK_ONLY:woad::woad>
+)
+
 if(HAS_ACE)
 
 	target_link_ACE(Pantheios.bec.stock.WithCallback)

diff --git a/projects/backends/bec.stock/CMakeLists.txt b/projects/backends/bec.stock/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ add_library(Pantheios.bec.stock
 
 target_link_STLSoft(Pantheios.bec.stock)
 
+target_link_libraries(Pantheios.bec.stock
+	PUBLIC
+		$<LINK_ONLY:woad::woad>
+)
+
 if(HAS_ACE)
 
 	target_link_ACE(Pantheios.bec.stock)