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feat: add an optional Node.js CLI splash banner #66788

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@MrJithil

What is the problem this feature will solve?

Node.js currently starts with no visual acknowledgement when invoked without a script. Developers who use Node.js interactively or in terminal demos have no built-in, opt-in way to display the runtime version and a compact Node.js identity banner.

What is the feature you are proposing to solve the problem?

Add an opt-in CLI flag, such as node --splash, that writes a compact ANSI splash banner to stdout before entering the REPL. The banner would include a Node.js wordmark, process.version, and a short tagline. It should only emit color when the output is a TTY and color is enabled, honor existing color controls such as NO_COLOR/FORCE_COLOR, avoid output when Node.js executes a script or receives piped input, and add no startup overhead unless explicitly requested.

What alternatives have you considered?

A userland script can print a banner (for example, node ~/splash.js), but it requires a separate command and cannot integrate with Node.js CLI color, TTY, and REPL behavior. Shell aliases and third-party REPL wrappers have the same limitation. Keeping the behavior behind an explicit flag avoids changing established CLI output.

Activity

  1. DivyanshuX9 commented on Oct 16, 2026

    @DivyanshuX9
    Contributor

    Legit I’d be up for implementing this if there’s interest. One question first: the REPL already prints a “Welcome to Node.js vX” line when run interactively, so is the idea here a richer, opt-in replacement for that, or something printed in addition to it?

    Also not sure how collaborators feel about adding a CLI flag purely for this. I’ll hold off on a PR until someone from the team weighs in on whether it belongs in core.

  2. added
    needs more infoIssues awaiting more information or a reproducible example from the author.
    on Oct 17, 2026
  3. avivkeller commented on Oct 17, 2026

    @avivkeller
    Member

    Why would we need a splash banner? We have:

    Welcome to Node.js vX.Y.Z.
    Type ".help" for more information.
    
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