diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh
index ffa8b23f2..5080a974f 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ function run_kernel_make_internal() {
 		"DPKG_COLORS=always"                     # Use colors for dpkg @TODO no dpkg is done anymore, remove?
 		"XZ_OPT='--threads=0'"                   # Use parallel XZ compression
 		"TERM='${TERM}'"                         # Pass the terminal type, so that 'make menuconfig' can work.
+		"COLUMNS='${COLUMNS:-160}'"
+		"COLORFGBG='${COLORFGBG}'"
 	)
 
 	# If CCACHE_DIR is set, pass it to the kernel build; Pass the ccache dir explicitly, since we'll run under "env -i"
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh
index a78903c74..9d1e1086c 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ function kernel_main_patching_python() {
 		#"TARGET="                                            # TARGET is need for u-boot's SPI/SATA etc selection logic. empty for kernel
 		# For table generation to fit into the screen, or being large when in GHA.
 		"COLUMNS=${COLUMNS}"
+		"COLORFGBG=${COLORFGBG}"
 		"GITHUB_ACTIONS=${GITHUB_ACTIONS}"
 		# Needed so git can find the global .gitconfig, and Python can parse the PATH to determine which git to use.
 		"PATH=${PATH}"
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh
index 8325098e5..d039510c2 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ function uboot_main_patching_python() {
 		"USERPATCHES_PATH=${USERPATCHES_PATH}"                # Needed to find the userpatches.
 		# For table generation to fit into the screen, or being large when in GHA.
 		"COLUMNS=${COLUMNS}"
+		"COLORFGBG=${COLORFGBG}"
 		"GITHUB_ACTIONS=${GITHUB_ACTIONS}"
 		# Needed so git can find the global .gitconfig, and Python can parse the PATH to determine which git to use.
 		"PATH=${PATH}"
diff --git a/lib/functions/configuration/aggregation.sh b/lib/functions/configuration/aggregation.sh
index 8e93c357b..dbf148c83 100644
--- a/lib/functions/configuration/aggregation.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/configuration/aggregation.sh
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ function aggregate_all_packages_python() {
 		"OUTPUT=${temp_file_for_aggregation}"
 		"ASSET_LOG_BASE=$(print_current_asset_log_base_file)" # base file name for the asset log; to write .md summaries.
 
+		# Terminal variables
+		"TERM=${TERM}"
+		"COLORFGBG=${COLORFGBG}"
+		"COLUMNS=${COLUMNS:-160}"
+
 		# For the main packages, and others; main packages are not mixed with BOARD or DESKTOP packages.
 		# Results:
 		# - AGGREGATED_DEBOOTSTRAP_COMPONENTS
diff --git a/lib/functions/general/bat-cat.sh b/lib/functions/general/bat-cat.sh
index df713d055..47debea97 100644
--- a/lib/functions/general/bat-cat.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/general/bat-cat.sh
@@ -96,8 +96,12 @@ function run_tool_batcat() {
 	if [[ "${bat_cat_columns}" -lt 60 ]]; then               # but lever less than 60
 		bat_cat_columns=60
 	fi
+	case "${background_dark_or_light}" in
+		dark)	declare bat_cat_theme="Dracula" ;;
+		*)	declare bat_cat_theme="ansi" ;;
+	esac
 	display_alert "Calling batcat" "COLUMNS: ${bat_cat_columns} | $*" "debug"
-	BAT_CONFIG_DIR="${DIR_BATCAT}/config" BAT_CACHE_PATH="${DIR_BATCAT}/cache" "${BATCAT_BIN}" --theme "Dracula" --paging=never --force-colorization --wrap auto --terminal-width "${bat_cat_columns}" "$@"
+	BAT_CONFIG_DIR="${DIR_BATCAT}/config" BAT_CACHE_PATH="${DIR_BATCAT}/cache" "${BATCAT_BIN}" --theme "${bat_cat_theme}" --paging=never --force-colorization --wrap auto --terminal-width "${bat_cat_columns}" "$@"
 	wait_for_disk_sync "after running batcat"
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/functions/host/docker.sh b/lib/functions/host/docker.sh
index 24d17d2e4..b521ef465 100644
--- a/lib/functions/host/docker.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/host/docker.sh
@@ -377,8 +377,9 @@ function docker_cli_prepare_launch() {
 		# Change the ccache directory to the named volume or bind created. @TODO: this needs more love. it works for Docker, but not sudo
 		"--env" "CCACHE_DIR=${DOCKER_ARMBIAN_TARGET_PATH}/cache/ccache"
 
-		# Pass down the TERM and the COLUMNS
+		# Pass down the TERM, COLORFGBG, and the COLUMNS
 		"--env" "TERM=${TERM}"
+		"--env" "COLORFGBG=${COLORFGBG-}"
 		"--env" "COLUMNS=${COLUMNS:-"160"}"
 
 		# Pass down the CI env var (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, etc)
diff --git a/lib/functions/logging/display-alert.sh b/lib/functions/logging/display-alert.sh
index 120b12cba..d5ce75869 100644
--- a/lib/functions/logging/display-alert.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/logging/display-alert.sh
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ function display_alert() {
 				skip_screen=1
 			fi
 			level_indicator="🐛"
-			inline_logs_color="\e[1;33m"
+			case "${background_dark_or_light}" in
+				light)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;2;33m" ;;
+				*)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;33m" ;;
+			esac
 			skip_logfile=1
 			;;
 
@@ -44,7 +47,10 @@ function display_alert() {
 
 		info)
 			level_indicator="🌱"
-			inline_logs_color="\e[0;32m"
+			case "${background_dark_or_light}" in
+				light)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;2;32m" ;;
+				*)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;32m" ;;
+			esac
 			;;
 
 		cleanup | trap)
@@ -52,7 +58,10 @@ function display_alert() {
 				skip_screen=1
 			fi
 			level_indicator="🧽"
-			inline_logs_color="\e[1;33m"
+			case "${background_dark_or_light}" in
+				light)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;2;33m" ;;
+				*)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;33m" ;;
+			esac
 			skip_logfile=1
 			;;
 
@@ -141,7 +150,10 @@ function display_alert() {
 
 		ext)
 			level_indicator="✨"
-			inline_logs_color="\e[1;32m"
+			case "${background_dark_or_light}" in
+				light)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;2;32m" ;;
+				*)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;32m" ;;
+			esac
 			;;
 
 		change-tracking)
@@ -152,7 +164,10 @@ function display_alert() {
 		*)
 			level="${level:-info}" # for file logging.
 			level_indicator="🌿"
-			inline_logs_color="\e[1;37m"
+			case "${background_dark_or_light}" in
+				dark)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;37m" ;;
+				*)	inline_logs_color="\e[1;39m" ;;
+			esac
 			;;
 	esac
 
diff --git a/lib/functions/logging/logging.sh b/lib/functions/logging/logging.sh
index 9e738b526..8f2cb7c67 100644
--- a/lib/functions/logging/logging.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/logging/logging.sh
@@ -19,13 +19,37 @@ function logging_init() {
 		declare -g SHOW_DEBUG="${SHOW_DEBUG:-"yes"}"
 	fi
 
+	# detect terminal background color
+	case "${COLORFGBG+${COLORFGBG#*;}}" in
+		[0-6]|8)
+			declare -g background_dark_or_light=dark
+			;;
+		7|9|1[0-5])
+			declare -g background_dark_or_light=light
+			;;
+		*)
+			declare -g background_dark_or_light=
+			;;
+	esac
+
 	# globals
 	declare -g padding="" left_marker="[" right_marker="]"
 	declare -g normal_color="\x1B[0m" gray_color="\e[1;30m" # "bright black", which is grey
 	declare -g bright_red_color="\e[1;31m" red_color="\e[0;31m"
 	declare -g bright_blue_color="\e[1;34m" blue_color="\e[0;34m"
 	declare -g bright_magenta_color="\e[1;35m" magenta_color="\e[0;35m"
-	declare -g bright_yellow_color="\e[1;33m" yellow_color="\e[0;33m"
+	case "${background_dark_or_light}" in
+		light)
+			# bold dim yellow, to ensure readability
+			declare -g bright_yellow_color="\e[1;2;33m"
+			declare -g yellow_color="\e[0;33m"
+			;;
+		*)
+			declare -g bright_yellow_color="\e[1;33m"
+			declare -g yellow_color="\e[0;33m"
+			;;
+	esac
+
 	declare -g ansi_reset_color="\e[0m"
 	declare -g -i logging_section_counter=0 # -i: integer
 	declare -g tool_color="${normal_color}" # default to normal color.
diff --git a/lib/tools/common/armbian_utils.py b/lib/tools/common/armbian_utils.py
index fe37b3a01..b639f75a0 100755
--- a/lib/tools/common/armbian_utils.py
+++ b/lib/tools/common/armbian_utils.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import sys
 
+from common.term_colors import background_dark_or_light
+
 REGEX_WHITESPACE_LINEBREAK_COMMA_SEMICOLON = r"[\s,;\n]+"
 
 ARMBIAN_BOARD_CONFIG_REGEX_GENERIC = r"^(?!\s)(?:[export |declare \-g]?)+([A-Z0-9_]+)=(?:'|\")(.*)(?:'|\")"
@@ -80,14 +82,24 @@ def setup_logging():
 		if is_debug():
 			level = "DEBUG"
 		format = "%(message)s"
-		styles = {
-			'trace': {'color': 'white', 'bold': False},
-			'debug': {'color': 'white', 'bold': False},
-			'info': {'color': 'green', 'bold': True},
-			'warning': {'color': 'yellow', 'bold': True},
-			'error': {'color': 'red'},
-			'critical': {'bold': True, 'color': 'red'}
-		}
+		if background_dark_or_light() == 'light':
+			styles = {
+				'trace': {'color': 'black', 'bright': True},
+				'debug': {'color': 'black', 'bright': True},
+				'info': {'color': 'green', 'bold': True, 'faint': True},
+				'warning': {'color': 'yellow', 'bold': True, 'faint': True},
+				'error': {'color': 'red'},
+				'critical': {'bold': True, 'color': 'red'}
+			}
+		else:
+			styles = {
+				'trace': {'color': 'white', 'bold': False},
+				'debug': {'color': 'white', 'bold': False},
+				'info': {'color': 'green', 'bold': True},
+				'warning': {'color': 'yellow', 'bold': True},
+				'error': {'color': 'red'},
+				'critical': {'bold': True, 'color': 'red'}
+			}
 		coloredlogs.install(level=level, stream=sys.stderr, isatty=True, fmt=format, level_styles=styles)
 	except ImportError:
 		level = logging.INFO
diff --git a/lib/tools/common/patching_utils.py b/lib/tools/common/patching_utils.py
index 0ee4b2aab..69daea7c4 100755
--- a/lib/tools/common/patching_utils.py
+++ b/lib/tools/common/patching_utils.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from unidecode import unidecode
 from unidiff import PatchSet
 
 from common.patching_config import PatchingConfig
+from common.term_colors import background_dark_or_light
 
 MAGIC_MBOX_MARKER_STANDARD = "Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001"
 MAGIC_MBOX_MARKER_B4 = "git@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970"
@@ -703,11 +704,12 @@ class PatchInPatchFile:
 				color = "yellow"
 			else:
 				color = "red"
+		bold = 'bold dim' if background_dark_or_light() == 'light' else 'bold'
 		# @TODO: once our ansi-haste supports it, use [link url=file://blaaa]
 		if self.parent.multiple_patches_in_file:
-			return f"[bold][{color}]{self.markdown_name(skip_markdown=True)}[/bold](:{self.counter})"
+			return f"[{bold}][{color}]{self.markdown_name(skip_markdown=True)}[/{bold}](:{self.counter})"
 		else:
-			return f"[bold {color}]{self.markdown_name(skip_markdown=True)}"
+			return f"[{bold} {color}]{self.markdown_name(skip_markdown=True)}"
 
 	def rich_patch_output(self):
 		ret = self.patch_output
@@ -716,10 +718,11 @@ class PatchInPatchFile:
 			'yellow': ['with fuzz', 'offset ', ' hunks ignored', ' hunk ignored'],
 			'red': ['hunk FAILED', 'hunks FAILED']
 		}
+		bold = 'bold dim' if background_dark_or_light() == 'light' else 'bold'
 		# use Rich's syntax highlighting to highlight with color
 		for color in color_tags:
 			for tag in color_tags[color]:
-				ret = ret.replace(tag, f"[bold {color}]{tag}[/bold {color}]")
+				ret = ret.replace(tag, f"[{bold} {color}]{tag}[/{bold} {color}]")
 		return ret
 
 	def apply_patch_date_to_files(self, working_dir, options):
diff --git a/lib/tools/common/term_colors.py b/lib/tools/common/term_colors.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6d2281bce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/tools/common/term_colors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2024 Darsey Litzenberger, dlitz@dlitz.net
+#
+# This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
+# https://github.com/armbian/build/
+#
+
+import os
+
+
+def background_dark_or_light():
+	"""
+	Returns:
+		'dark' if the terminal background is dark,
+		'light' if the terminal background is light, or
+		'' if the terminal background color is unknown.
+	"""
+	colorfgbg = os.environ.get("COLORFGBG", "")
+	try:
+		_, bg = colorfgbg.split(';')
+		bg = int(bg)
+	except ValueError:
+		return ""
+	if 0 <= bg <= 6 or bg == 8:
+		return "dark"
+	elif bg == 7 or 9 <= bg <= 15:
+		return "light"
+	return ""