---
name: output-markers
description: ASCII status markers [OK] [ERROR] [WARNING] [SUCCESS] [INFO] [CRITICAL] for all scripts and tools
applies-to: all
---

# Output Markers

All scripts and tools use ASCII status markers instead of emoji, colored text, or ambiguous symbols.

## Standard set

```
[INFO]     — informational, no action required
[SUCCESS]  — operation completed successfully
[WARNING]  — something is off but not fatal; attention recommended
[ERROR]    — operation failed; action required
[CRITICAL] — severe failure; immediate attention required
[OK]       — shorter form of [SUCCESS], used in status tables and inline checks
[GAP]      — used in parity matrices; feature not implemented on this platform
[WARN]     — shorter form of [WARNING], used in parity matrices and inline checks
```

## Usage examples

```bash
echo "[INFO] Starting process"
echo "[SUCCESS] Task completed"
echo "[WARNING] Configuration file missing, using defaults"
echo "[ERROR] Failed to connect to 172.16.3.30:3001"
echo "[CRITICAL] Database unavailable — all writes are failing"
```

## In tables and parity matrices

| Feature | Windows | Linux | macOS |
|---------|---------|-------|-------|
| CPU metrics | [OK] | [OK] | [OK] |
| Temperature | [OK] primary | [WARN] partial | [WARN] partial |
| Idle time | [OK] | [GAP] | [GAP] |

## Applies to

- Bash scripts
- Python scripts and log messages
- PowerShell scripts
- Session log entries
- Commit messages (use plain text, not markers, but no emoji)
- Any output that may appear in a terminal or log file
