#1627: Consolidated set command output and added support for quiet mode

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ prompt is displayed.
     - Added `Cmd2ArgumentParser.output_to()` context manager to temporarily set the output stream
       during `argparse` operations. This is helpful for directing output for functions like
       `parse_args()`, which default to `sys.stdout` and lack a `file` argument.
+    - Updated `set` command to consolidate its confirmation output into a single, colorized line.
+      The confirmation now uses `pfeedback()`, allowing it to be silenced when the `quiet` settable
+      is enabled.
 
 ## 3.5.1 (April 24, 2026)
 

cmd2/cmd2.py

@@ -4691,7 +4691,18 @@ def do_set(self, args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
                 except ValueError as ex:
                     self.perror(f"Error setting {args.param}: {ex}")
                 else:
-                    self.poutput(f"{args.param} - was: {orig_value!r}\nnow: {settable.value!r}")
+                    # Create the feedback message using Rich Text for color
+                    feedback_msg = Text.assemble(
+                        args.param,
+                        ": ",
+                        (f"{orig_value!r}", "red"),
+                        "\n",
+                        " " * max(0, len(args.param) - 1),
+                        "-> ",
+                        (f"{settable.value!r}", "green"),
+                    )
+                    self.pfeedback(feedback_msg)
+
                     self.last_result = True
                 return
 

tests/test_cmd2.py

@@ -160,16 +160,17 @@ def test_base_set(base_app) -> None:
 
 
 def test_set(base_app) -> None:
-    out, _err = run_cmd(base_app, "set quiet True")
-    expected = normalize(
-        """
-quiet - was: False
-now: True
-"""
-    )
-    assert out == expected
+    out, err = run_cmd(base_app, "set quiet True")
+    assert not out
+    assert base_app.last_result is True
+
+    # Test quiet respect
+    out, err = run_cmd(base_app, "set timing False")
+    assert not out
+    assert not err
     assert base_app.last_result is True
 
+    # Show one settable (this always goes to out)
     line_found = False
     out, _err = run_cmd(base_app, "set quiet")
     for line in out:
@@ -180,6 +181,7 @@ def test_set(base_app) -> None:
     assert line_found
     assert len(base_app.last_result) == 1
     assert base_app.last_result["quiet"] is True
+    base_app.quiet = False
 
 
 def test_set_val_empty(base_app) -> None:
@@ -236,8 +238,8 @@ def test_set_allow_style(base_app, new_val, is_valid, expected) -> None:
     # Verify the results
     assert expected == ru.ALLOW_STYLE
     if is_valid:
-        assert not err
-        assert out
+        assert err
+        assert not out
 
 
 def test_set_traceback_show_locals(base_app: cmd2.Cmd) -> None:
@@ -268,9 +270,11 @@ def test_set_with_choices(base_app) -> None:
     base_app.add_settable(fake_settable)
 
     # Try a valid choice
-    _out, err = run_cmd(base_app, f"set fake {fake_choices[1]}")
+    out, err = run_cmd(base_app, f"set fake {fake_choices[1]}")
     assert base_app.last_result is True
-    assert not err
+    assert not out
+    assert err[0].startswith(f"fake: {fake_choices[0]!r}")
+    assert err[1].endswith(f"-> {fake_choices[1]!r}")
 
     # Try an invalid choice
     _out, err = run_cmd(base_app, "set fake bad_value")
@@ -294,15 +298,10 @@ def onchange_app():
 
 
 def test_set_onchange_hook(onchange_app) -> None:
-    out, _err = run_cmd(onchange_app, "set quiet True")
-    expected = normalize(
-        """
-You changed quiet
-quiet - was: False
-now: True
-"""
-    )
-    assert out == expected
+    out, err = run_cmd(onchange_app, "set quiet True")
+    assert out == ["You changed quiet"]
+    # quiet: False -> True is not shown because quiet is now True
+    assert not err
     assert onchange_app.last_result is True
 
 
@@ -868,17 +867,14 @@ def test_allow_clipboard(base_app) -> None:
 def test_base_timing(base_app) -> None:
     base_app.feedback_to_output = False
     out, err = run_cmd(base_app, "set timing True")
-    expected = normalize(
-        """timing - was: False
-now: True
-"""
-    )
-    assert out == expected
+    assert not out
+    assert err[0].startswith("timing: False")
+    assert err[1].endswith("-> True")
 
     if sys.platform == "win32":
-        assert err[0].startswith("Elapsed: 0:00:00")
+        assert err[2].startswith("Elapsed: 0:00:00")
     else:
-        assert err[0].startswith("Elapsed: 0:00:00.0")
+        assert err[2].startswith("Elapsed: 0:00:00.0")
 
 
 def test_base_debug(base_app) -> None:
@@ -892,13 +888,9 @@ def test_base_debug(base_app) -> None:
 
     # Set debug true
     out, err = run_cmd(base_app, "set debug True")
-    expected = normalize(
-        """
-debug - was: False
-now: True
-"""
-    )
-    assert out == expected
+    assert not out
+    assert err[0].startswith("debug: False")
+    assert err[1].endswith("-> True")
 
     # Verify that we now see the exception traceback
     out, err = run_cmd(base_app, "edit")

tests/test_commandset.py

@@ -1103,11 +1103,9 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
 
     # change the value and verify the value changed
     out, err = run_cmd(app, "set arbitrary_value 10")
-    expected = """
-arbitrary_value - was: 5
-now: 10
-"""
-    assert out == normalize(expected)
+    assert not out
+    assert err[0].startswith("arbitrary_value: 5")
+    assert err[1].endswith("-> 10")
     out, err = run_cmd(app, "set arbitrary_value")
     any("arbitrary_value" in line and "10" in line for line in out)