diff --git a/build b/build
index b1338153..45575aee 100755
--- a/build
+++ b/build
@@ -327,13 +327,13 @@ Known Parameters:
   --lxc
               Use Linux Containers to isolate the process. This may not be 100% safe.
 
-  --openstack 
+  --openstack
               Cloud build
 
-  --ec2 
+  --ec2
               Cloud build
 
-  --emulator 
+  --emulator
               Use any generic emulator to isolate the build process. You need to write
               an emulator/emulator.sh script and put it next to the build script sources.
 
@@ -355,10 +355,10 @@ Known Parameters:
 
   --vm-worker GUEST
               GUEST is a z/VM build worker controlled by the controlling
-	      z/VM build machine. 
+	      z/VM build machine.
 
   --vm-worker-nr N
-              Each worker in z/VM needs a uniq number. This is needed to 
+              Each worker in z/VM needs a uniq number. This is needed to
               calculate uniq device addresses for root and swap device.
 
   --vm-region NAME
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ Known Parameters:
               Enable creation of debuginfo packages
 
   --buildflavor FLAVOR
-              Specify the flavor to build. For rpm builds, it replaces 
+              Specify the flavor to build. For rpm builds, it replaces
               the @BUILD_FLAVOR@ macro in the spec file.
 
   --changelog
@@ -495,19 +495,19 @@ cleanup_and_exit () {
         # check for disk full for an automatic build retry
         if test "$1" -eq 1 -a -x /bin/df ; then
             echo
-            echo "$HOST failed \"build $RECIPEFILE\" at `date --utc`."
+            log_error "$HOST failed \"build $RECIPEFILE\" at `date --utc`."
             echo
             # okay, it failed, but maybe because disk space?
             if df $BUILD_ROOT 2>/dev/null | grep -q "100%"; then
                 df $BUILD_ROOT 2>/dev/null
                 echo
-                echo "$HOST ran out of disk space. Please try again."
+                log_error "$HOST ran out of disk space. Please try again."
                 echo
                 set 3
             fi
         fi
     fi
- 
+
     if test -z "$VM_TYPE" -o -n "$RUNNING_IN_VM" ; then
         # run recipe cleanup code
 	test -n "$BUILDTYPE" && recipe_cleanup
@@ -556,13 +556,13 @@ toshellscript() {
 ccache_unpack() {
     local dir="$1"
     local ty="$2"
-    echo "Unpacking $ty archive"
+    log_info "Unpacking $ty archive..."
     tar -xf "$CCACHE_ARCHIVE" -C "$dir/"
     if test -s "$dir/.build.ccache.type" ; then
 	local t
 	read t < "$dir/.build.ccache.type"
 	if test "$ty" != "$t" ; then
-	    echo "$ty archive is of type $t, cleaning cache"
+	    log_info "$ty archive type is different from cache type $t, resetting cache"
 	    rm -rf "$dir"
 	    mkdir -p "$dir"
 	fi
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ ccache_unpack() {
 ccache_pack() {
     local dir="$1"
     local ty="$2"
-    echo "... saving $ty archive"
+    log_info "... saving $ty archive"
     rm -rf "$dir/.build.ccache.type"
     local remove_files
     test -n "$RUNNING_IN_VM" -a -n "$CCACHE_CLEAN" && remove_files="--remove-files"
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ ccache_setup() {
 		echo 'export PATH=/usr/lib/icecc/bin:/opt/icecream/bin:/usr/bin:$PATH' >> $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/build/ccache/bin/$i
 		echo "ccache $i \"\$@\"" >> $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/build/ccache/bin/$i
 		chmod 755 $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/build/ccache/bin/$i
-		echo "Installed ccache wrapper as $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/build/ccache/bin/$i"
+		log_ok "Installed ccache wrapper as $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/build/ccache/bin/$i"
 	    done
 	fi
 	mkdir -p "$BUILD_ROOT/.ccache"
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ ccache_wrapup() {
     fi
     if test -n "$CCACHE" -a "$CCACHE_TYPE" = ccache ; then
 	if test -n "$CCACHE_CLEAN" ; then
-	    echo "... cleaning ccache"
+	    log_info "... cleaning ccache"
 	    test_cmd="ccache -h | grep -c evict-older-than"
 	    clean_cmd="ccache --evict-older-than $(( $SECONDS - $CCACHE_SETUP_START_TIME ))s"
 	    chroot $BUILD_ROOT su -c "$test_cmd && $clean_cmd" - $BUILD_USER
@@ -684,11 +684,11 @@ setupicecream() {
     fi
 
     if ! chroot "$BUILD_ROOT" rpm -q icecream >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
-	echo "*** icecream package not installed ***"
+	log_error "*** icecream package not installed ***"
 	return 1
     fi
 
-    echo "using icecream with $icecream jobs"
+    log_info "using icecream with $icecream jobs"
 
     if test -z "$CCACHE" ; then
 	echo 'export PATH=/usr/lib/icecc/bin:/opt/icecream/bin:$PATH' > "$BUILD_ROOT"/etc/profile.d/build_icecream.sh
@@ -717,16 +717,16 @@ setupicecream() {
 	elif test -e "$BUILD_ROOT"/usr/lib64/icecc/icecc-create-env ; then
 	    createenv="/usr/lib64/icecc/icecc-create-env /usr/bin/gcc /usr/bin/g++" # XXX
 	else
-	    echo "create-env not found"
+	    log_error "create-env not found"
 	    return 1
 	fi
-        echo "creating new env in '$icecreamdir'"
+        log_info "creating new env in '$icecreamdir'"
 	chroot $BUILD_ROOT bash -c "cd $icecreamdir; $createenv" || cleanup_and_exit 1
 	icecc_vers=(`shopt -s nullglob; echo $BUILD_ROOT/$icecreamdir/*.tar.{bz2,gz}`)
 	icecc_vers=${icecc_vers//$BUILD_ROOT/}
-	echo "created icecream environment $icecc_vers"
+	log_ok "created icecream environment $icecc_vers"
     else
-	echo "reusing existing icecream environment $icecc_vers"
+	log_info "reusing existing icecream environment $icecc_vers"
     fi
     if test -n "$icecc_vers" ; then
 	echo "export ICECC_VERSION=$icecc_vers" >> "$BUILD_ROOT"/etc/profile.d/build_icecream.sh
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ setmemorylimit() {
     done < <(cat /proc/meminfo) # cat for proc stuff
 
     ulimit -d $limit
-    echo "Memory limit set to ${limit}KB"
+    log_info "Memory limit set to ${limit}KB"
 }
 
 create_baselibs() {
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ create_baselibs() {
 	fi
     else
 	if test "$CREATE_BASELIBS" = 'internal'; then
-	    echo "Warning: mkbaselibs missing in build root, skipping baselibs"
+	    log_warn "Warning: mkbaselibs missing in build root, skipping baselibs"
 	    return
 	fi
 	# use external version
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ copy_sources() {
 	    cp -p "$i" "$2"
 	done
 	if test -f "$1/debian/control" ; then
-	    echo "exporting debian orig tarballs"
+	    log_info "exporting debian orig tarballs"
 	    rm -rf "$2/build.origtar"
 	    $BUILD_DIR/export_debian_orig_from_git "$1" "$2/build.origtar" || cleanup_and_exit 1 "export_debian_orig_from_git failed"
 	fi
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ copy_sources() {
 	fi
     fi
     if test -n "$set_mtime" ; then
-	echo "setting source mtime to $set_mtime"
+	log_info "setting source mtime to $set_mtime"
 	find "$2" -depth -type d -print0 -o -links 1 -print0 | xargs -0 --no-run-if-empty touch -d "@$set_mtime"
     fi
     if test -n "$image_mode" ; then
@@ -981,11 +981,11 @@ mkdir_build_root() {
 copy_overlay() {
     if test -d "$OVERLAY"; then
 	pushd $OVERLAY
-	echo "Copying overlay to BUILD_ROOT"
+	log_info "Copying overlay to BUILD_ROOT"
 	tar -cpf - . | (cd $BUILD_ROOT ; tar -xvf -)
 	popd
     else
-	echo "OVERLAY ($OVERLAY) is no directory - skipping"
+	log_warn "OVERLAY ($OVERLAY) is no directory - skipping"
     fi
 }
 
@@ -993,19 +993,19 @@ run_rsync() {
     if test -n "$RSYNCDEST" ; then
 	if test -d "$RSYNCSRC" ; then
 	    if ! test -d "$BUILD_ROOT/$RSYNCDEST" ; then
-		echo "ATTENTION! Creating missing target directory ($BUILD_ROOT/$RSYNCDEST)."
+		log_warn "ATTENTION! Creating missing target directory ($BUILD_ROOT/$RSYNCDEST)."
 		mkdir -p $BUILD_ROOT/$RSYNCDEST
 	    fi
-	    echo "Running rsync ..."
+	    log_info "Running rsync ..."
 	    rsync -av $RSYNCSRC/* $BUILD_ROOT/$RSYNCDEST/
 	    chown -hR "$ABUILD_UID:$ABUILD_GID" "$BUILD_ROOT/$RSYNCDEST"
 	    RSYNCDONE=true
-	    echo "... done"
+	    log_ok "Completed rsync"
 	else
-	    echo "RSYNCSRC is not a directory - skipping"
+	    log_warn "RSYNCSRC is not a directory - skipping"
 	fi
     else
-	echo "RSYNCSRC given, but not RSYNCDEST - skipping"
+	log_warn "RSYNCSRC given, but not RSYNCDEST - skipping"
     fi
 }
 
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@ unmount_build_root() {
 	# unmount all mounts still in the build root path
 	for m in $(cat /proc/mounts | grep " $BUILD_ROOT" | awk '{ print $2 }'); do
 	    if ! umount -n "$m" 2>/dev/null ; then
-		echo "Failed to umount "$m", cannot wipe buildroot"
+		log_error "Failed to umount "$m", cannot wipe buildroot"
 		exit 1
 	    fi
 	done
@@ -1023,10 +1023,10 @@ wipe_build_environment() {
     if test -n "$VM_TYPE" ; then
 	vm_img_wipe
     else
-	echo "Wiping build root: '$BUILD_ROOT'"
+	log_info "Wiping build root: '$BUILD_ROOT'"
 	unmount_build_root
 	rm -rf "$BUILD_ROOT"
-    fi  
+    fi
 }
 
 sysrq_running_build() {
@@ -1082,6 +1082,8 @@ trap fail_exit EXIT
 
 . $BUILD_DIR/common_functions || exit 1
 
+setup_color_vars || echo "Failed to setup colored output"
+
 detect_cache_dir
 
 shopt -s nullglob
@@ -1103,7 +1105,7 @@ needarg() {
 
 run_shell() {
     local ex="$1"
-    echo "Executing interactive shell..."
+    log_info "Executing interactive shell..."
     if test -n "$RUN_SHELL_CMD"; then
 	chroot $BUILD_ROOT "$RUN_SHELL_CMD"
 	cleanup_and_exit ${ex:-$?}
@@ -1353,7 +1355,7 @@ while test -n "$1"; do
             BUILD_VERBOSE_VM=true
             ;;
         *)
-            echo "WARNING: unknown verbose option $ARGS"
+            log_warn "WARNING: unknown verbose option $ARGS"
             ;;
         esac
 	shift
@@ -1372,12 +1374,12 @@ while test -n "$1"; do
 	RPMLIST="--rpmlist $ARG"
 	BUILD_RPMS=
 	shift
-      ;;  
+      ;;
       -sysrq)
 	needarg
 	SEND_SYSRQ="${ARG:0:1}"
 	shift
-      ;;  
+      ;;
       -shell)
 	RUN_SHELL=1
       ;;
@@ -1575,7 +1577,7 @@ if test -z "$VM_ROOT" -a -z "$LOGFILE" ; then
 fi
 
 if test -n "$LOGFILE" -a -z "$RUN_SHELL" ; then
-    echo "logging output to $LOGFILE..."
+    log_info "logging output to $LOGFILE..."
     rm -f "$LOGFILE" "$LOGFILE.pid"
     touch $LOGFILE
     # set start time, to be substracted for build log timestamps
@@ -1601,7 +1603,7 @@ fi
 setmemorylimit
 
 case $BUILD_DIST in
-    obs:/*) 
+    obs:/*)
 	test -n "$OBSURL" || cleanup_and_exit 1 "Please use the --obs option to specify the url of the obs instance"
 	BUILD_DIST_TMP=$(mktemp)
 	$BUILD_DIR/queryobs config --obs "$OBSURL" "$BUILD_DIST" > "$BUILD_DIST_TMP"
@@ -1681,7 +1683,7 @@ for RECIPEPATH in "${RECIPEFILES[@]}" ; do
 
     if test -z "$RUNNING_IN_VM" ; then
 	echo
-	echo "$HOST started \"build $RECIPEFILE\" at `date --utc`."
+	log_info "$HOST started \"build $RECIPEFILE\" at `date --utc`."
 	echo
 	test -n "$REASON" && echo "$REASON"
 	echo
@@ -1705,7 +1707,7 @@ for RECIPEPATH in "${RECIPEFILES[@]}" ; do
     # special hack to build from a .src.rpm (modifies MYSRCDIR)
     test "$RECIPEFILE" != "${RECIPEFILE%.src.rpm}" && recipe_unpack_srcrpm "$RECIPEPATH"
 
-    echo "processing recipe $RECIPEPATH ..."
+    log_info "processing recipe $RECIPEPATH ..."
 
     ADDITIONAL_PACKS=
     test -z "$BUILD_EXTRA_PACKS" || ADDITIONAL_PACKS="$ADDITIONAL_PACKS $BUILD_EXTRA_PACKS"
@@ -1729,13 +1731,13 @@ for RECIPEPATH in "${RECIPEFILES[@]}" ; do
     #
     # create legacy .buildenv file
     #
-    test -z "$INCARNATION" && INCARNATION=0 
+    test -z "$INCARNATION" && INCARNATION=0
     echo "BUILD_INCARNATION=$INCARNATION" > $BUILD_ROOT/.buildenv
     Q="'\''"
     test -n "$DISTURL" && echo "BUILD_DISTURL='${DISTURL//"'"/$Q}'" >> $BUILD_ROOT/.buildenv
     test -n "$RELEASE" && echo "BUILD_RELEASE='${RELEASE//"'"/$Q}'" >> $BUILD_ROOT/.buildenv
     test -n "$BUILD_CHANGELOG_TIMESTAMP" && echo "BUILD_CHANGELOG_TIMESTAMP=$BUILD_CHANGELOG_TIMESTAMP" >> $BUILD_ROOT/.buildenv
-    
+
     #
     # install the build environment
     #
@@ -1871,7 +1873,7 @@ for RECIPEPATH in "${RECIPEFILES[@]}" ; do
     # fill build directories with sources. Also sets TOPDIR
     recipe_setup
     RECIPEPATH=
-    
+
     # strip prefix from autogenerated files of source services.
     # sorted by line length to let the latest run service win
     perl -e 'print "$_\n" for sort { length($a) <=> length($b) } @ARGV' $BUILD_ROOT$TOPDIR/SOURCES/_service\:* | while read i ; do
@@ -1892,7 +1894,7 @@ for RECIPEPATH in "${RECIPEFILES[@]}" ; do
     cd $BUILD_ROOT$TOPDIR/SOURCES || cleanup_and_exit 1
     for i in *.obscpio ; do
 	test -e "$i" || continue
-	echo "Unpacking $i ..."
+	log_info "Unpacking $i ..."
 	echo "#!/bin/sh -e" > $BUILD_ROOT/.unpack.command
 	shellquote cd "$TOPDIR/SOURCES" >> $BUILD_ROOT/.unpack.command
 	echo >> $BUILD_ROOT/.unpack.command
@@ -1919,7 +1921,7 @@ for RECIPEPATH in "${RECIPEFILES[@]}" ; do
     recipe_setup_macros
 
     if  test -e _service; then
-	echo "Running build time source services..."
+	log_info "Running build time source services..."
 	HOME=/root $BUILD_DIR/runservices --buildroot "$BUILD_ROOT" || cleanup_and_exit 1
     fi
 
@@ -1958,7 +1960,7 @@ for RECIPEPATH in "${RECIPEFILES[@]}" ; do
 	# re-expand deps with GEN_BUILDREQS_PACKS extra packages
 	umount_stuff
 	set -- init_buildsystem --configdir "$CONFIG_DIR" --cachedir "$CACHE_DIR" "${initbuildsysstuff[@]}" "${definesnstuff[@]}" "${repos[@]}" $DLNOSIGNATURE $USEUSEDFORBUILD $CREATE_BUILD_BINARIES $RPMLIST "$MYSRCDIR/$RECIPEFILE" $ADDITIONAL_PACKS "${GEN_BUILDREQS_PACKS[@]}"
-	echo "$* ..."
+	log_info "running init_buildsystem: $* ..."
 	"$@" || cleanup_and_exit 1
 	check_exit
 	mount_stuff
@@ -2019,6 +2021,7 @@ BUILD_SUCCEEDED=false
 TIME_POSTCHECKS=$SECONDS
 
 # RPM specific post checks are in /usr/lib/build/checks
+log_info "Running RPM specific post build checks..."
 if test -n "$RPMS" -a -d "$BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/build/checks" ; then
     # workaround for broken 13.1 check scripts which umount /proc
     if test -n "$RUNNING_IN_VM" -a "$BUILD_ROOT" = / ; then
@@ -2038,7 +2041,7 @@ if test -n "$RPMS" -a -d "$BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/build/checks" ; then
 	PNAME="${PNAME%-*-*.*.rpm}"
     fi
     for CHECKSCRIPT in $BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/build/checks/* ; do
-	    echo "... running ${CHECKSCRIPT##*/}"
+	    log_info "... running ${CHECKSCRIPT##*/}"
 	    BUILD_ROOT=/ HOME=/root chroot "$BUILD_ROOT" "/usr/lib/build/checks/${CHECKSCRIPT##*/}" || cleanup_and_exit 1
     done
     # workaround for broken 13.1 check scripts which umount /proc
@@ -2046,9 +2049,10 @@ if test -n "$RPMS" -a -d "$BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/build/checks" ; then
 fi
 
 # Generic post-build-checks are in /usr/lib/build/post-build-checks
+log_info "Running post build checks..."
 for CHECKSCRIPT in $BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/build/post-build-checks/* ; do
     if test -x "$CHECKSCRIPT"; then
-       echo "... running ${CHECKSCRIPT##*/}"
+       log_info "... running ${CHECKSCRIPT##*/}"
        BUILD_ROOT=/ HOME=/root chroot "$BUILD_ROOT" "/usr/lib/build/post-build-checks/${CHECKSCRIPT##*/}" || cleanup_and_exit 1
     fi
 done
@@ -2077,9 +2081,10 @@ if test \( -n "$RPMS" -o -n "$DEBS" \) -a -n "$CREATE_BASELIBS"; then
     create_baselibs
 fi
 
+log_info "Running post mkbaselibs checks..."
 for SCRIPT in $BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/build/post-mkbaselibs-checks/* ; do
     if test -x "$SCRIPT"; then
-       echo "... running ${SCRIPT##*/}"
+       log_info "... running ${SCRIPT##*/}"
        BUILD_ROOT=/ HOME=/root chroot "$BUILD_ROOT" "/usr/lib/build/post-mkbaselibs-checks/${SCRIPT##*/}" || cleanup_and_exit 1
     fi
 done
@@ -2116,7 +2121,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 echo
-echo "$HOST finished \"build $RECIPEFILE\" at `date --utc`."
+log_ok "$HOST finished \"build $RECIPEFILE\" at `date --utc`."
 echo
 
 cleanup_and_exit "$exitcode"
diff --git a/build-pkg-rpm b/build-pkg-rpm
index 950113c8..fcf7c085 100644
--- a/build-pkg-rpm
+++ b/build-pkg-rpm
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 
 pkg_initdb_rpm() {
-    echo "initializing rpm db..."
+    log_info "initializing rpm db..."
     mkdir -p $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/rpm
     # rpm v5 does not have initdb
     if ! test -e $BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/rpm/cpuinfo.yaml ; then
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ pkg_sysrootinstall_rpm() {
 
 pkg_finalize_rpm() {
     if test -n "${CUMULATED_LIST[*]}" ; then
-	echo "now installing cumulated packages"
+	log_info "now installing cumulated packages"
 	for ((num=0; num<=cumulate; num++)) ; do
 	    echo ${CUMULATED_LIST[$num]}
 	    PKG=${CUMULATED_LIST[$num]##*/}
diff --git a/build-recipe b/build-recipe
index 0626d596..ddf170fa 100644
--- a/build-recipe
+++ b/build-recipe
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ recipe_create_changelog() {
     if [ "$(queryconfig --dist "$BUILD_DIST" --configdir "$CONFIG_DIR" --archpath "$BUILD_ARCH" buildflags changelogfulltimestamps)" = 1 ] ; then
         changelog2specargs="--fulltimestamps $changelog2specargs"
     fi
-    echo "running changelog2spec $changelog2specargs --file $1"
+    log_info "running changelog2spec $changelog2specargs --file $1"
     if ! $BUILD_DIR/changelog2spec $changelog2specargs --timestampfile "$BUILD_ROOT/.build-changelog-timestamp" --file "$1" > $BUILD_ROOT/.build-changelog ; then
 	rm -f $BUILD_ROOT/.build-changelog $BUILD_ROOT/.build-changelog-timestamp
     fi
diff --git a/build-recipe-spec b/build-recipe-spec
index 0e0d9cd5..e9fdb4e3 100644
--- a/build-recipe-spec
+++ b/build-recipe-spec
@@ -355,9 +355,9 @@ recipe_run_rpmlint() {
 	-o -name "*-x86-*" -o -name "*-ia32-*" \) -prune \
 	-o -type f -name '*.rpm' -print))
     SRPM_FILE_LIST=($(find $BUILD_ROOT/$TOPDIR/SRPMS -type f -name "*.rpm"))
-    echo 
-    echo "RPMLINT report:"
-    echo "==============="
+    echo
+    log_info "RPMLINT report:"
+    log_info "==============="
     rpmlint_logfile=$TOPDIR/OTHER/rpmlint.log
     rm -f "$BUILD_ROOT$rpmlint_logfile"
     ret=0
diff --git a/build-vm b/build-vm
index 6d29cbec..6d58c0c1 100644
--- a/build-vm
+++ b/build-vm
@@ -612,22 +612,23 @@ vm_detect_2nd_stage() {
     fi
 
     test -n "$VM_WATCHDOG" -a -z "$PERSONALITY_SET" && echo "### VM INTERACTION END ###"
-    echo "2nd stage started in virtual machine"
+    log_info "2nd stage started in virtual machine"
     # fedora packages sometimes do not have the needed links
     ldconfig
     BUILD_ROOT=/
     BUILD_DIR=/.build
-    echo "machine type: `uname -m`"
-    echo "Linux version: `uname -rv`"
-    echo "Time: `date`"
+    log_info "machine type: `uname -m`"
+    log_info "Linux version: `uname -rv`"
+    log_info "Time: `date`"
+
     if test -z "$VM_TYPE_CONTAINER"; then
-        echo "Increasing log level from now on..."
+        log_info "Increasing log level from now on..."
         echo 4 > /proc/sysrq-trigger
-        echo "Enable sysrq operations"
+        log_info "Enable sysrq operations"
         echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq
         if test "$PERSONALITY" != 0 -a -z "$PERSONALITY_SET" ; then
             export PERSONALITY_SET=true
-            echo "switching personality to $PERSONALITY..."
+            log_info "switching personality to $PERSONALITY..."
             # this is 32bit perl/glibc, thus the 32bit syscall number
             exec perl -e 'syscall(136, '$PERSONALITY') == -1 && warn("personality: $!\n");exec "/.build/build" || die("/.build/build: $!\n")'
         fi
diff --git a/build-vm-podman b/build-vm-podman
index 76e40c02..4ae4882b 100644
--- a/build-vm-podman
+++ b/build-vm-podman
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ vm_wipe_podman() {
     local name="build_${RECIPEFILE//:/-}"
     podman rm "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 
-    echo "Wiping build root: '$BUILD_ROOT'"
+    log_info "Wiping build root: '$BUILD_ROOT'"
     unmount_build_root
     # calling 'podman unshare' is required because podman creates the files with SubUIDs/SubGIDs
     # that differ from user's UID/GID and removing them would normally end up with
diff --git a/common_functions b/common_functions
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index 4c8e1eb7..4c9cddbf
--- a/common_functions
+++ b/common_functions
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ set_build_arch() {
 	BUILD_ARCH="$BUILD_HOST_ARCH"
     fi
     extend_build_arch
-    if test "$BUILD_ARCH" != "${BUILD_ARCH#i686}" ; then
-	cpuflags=`grep ^flags /proc/cpuinfo`
-	cpuflags="$cpuflags "
-	if test "$cpuflags" = "${cpuflags/ cx8 /}" -o "$cpuflags" = "${cpuflags/ cmov /}"; then
-	    echo "Your cpu doesn't support i686 rpms. Exit."
-	    cleanup_and_exit 1
-	fi
+    if test "$BUILD_ARCH" != "${BUILD_ARCH#i686}"; then
+        cpuflags=$(grep ^flags /proc/cpuinfo)
+        cpuflags="$cpuflags "
+        if test "$cpuflags" = "${cpuflags/ cx8 /}" -o "$cpuflags" = "${cpuflags/ cmov /}"; then
+            log_error "Your cpu doesn't support i686 rpms. Exit."
+            cleanup_and_exit 1
+        fi
     fi
 }
 
@@ -202,3 +202,74 @@ detect_cache_dir() {
 	CACHE_DIR=${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-~/.cache}/opensuse.org/build/cache
     fi
 }
+
+COLORS_ENABLED=${COLORS_ENABLED:-auto}
+
+setup_color_vars() {
+
+    # https://no-color.org/
+    if test -n "$NO_COLOR"; then
+        COLORS_ENABLED=false
+    else
+        if test "$COLORS_ENABLED" = auto; then
+            if test -t 1; then
+                COLORS_ENABLED=true
+            else
+                COLORS_ENABLED=false
+            fi
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    if [ "$COLORS_ENABLED" = true ]; then
+        ESC="$(printf '\033')"
+        RED="${ESC}[0;31m"
+        GREEN="${ESC}[0;32m"
+        YELLOW="${ESC}[0;33m"
+        BLUE="${ESC}[0;34m"
+        BOLD="${ESC}[1m"
+        RESET="${ESC}[0m"
+    else
+        RED=''
+        GREEN=''
+        YELLOW=''
+        BLUE=''
+        BOLD=''
+        RESET=''
+    fi
+}
+
+export COLORS_ENABLED
+export -f setup_color_vars >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+##################
+# Logging helpers
+##################
+
+_log_print() {
+    prefix="$1"
+    shift
+    color="$1"
+    shift || true
+    if [ -n "${color}" ]; then
+        printf "%s%s%s %s\n" "${color}" "${prefix}" "${RESET}" "$*"
+    else
+        printf "%s%s\n" "${prefix}" "$*"
+    fi
+}
+
+log_info() { _log_print "build:" "${BOLD-}" "$*"; }
+log_warn() { _log_print "build: WARN:" "${YELLOW-}" "$*"; }
+log_ok() { _log_print "build: OK:" "${GREEN-}" "$*"; }
+log_error() { _log_print "error:" "${BOLD-}${RED-}" "$*" >&2; }
+
+stage_name="unknown"
+stage_start() {
+    stage_name="$1"
+    shift
+    log_info "${BOLD-}==> Starting ${stage_name}${RESET-}"
+}
+
+stage_end() {
+    log_info "${BOLD-}<== Finished ${stage_name}${RESET-}"
+    stage_name="unknown"
+}
diff --git a/init_buildsystem b/init_buildsystem
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index 8ea7d282..d86ffcd3
--- a/init_buildsystem
+++ b/init_buildsystem
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ repos_baseurl=()
 repos_cachedir=()
 
 . $BUILD_DIR/common_functions || exit 1
+setup_color_vars || echo "Failed to setup colored output"
 
 # should RPMs be installed with --force ?
 USE_FORCE=false
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ done
 PKGS=("$@")
 
 if test -z "$BUILD_ROOT" ; then
-    echo "Please specify a build root!"
+    log_error "Please specify a build root!"
     exit 1
 fi
 test -z "$CACHE_DIR" && detect_cache_dir
@@ -218,10 +219,10 @@ clean_build_root() {
 unsafe_preinstall_check() {
     # cpio isn't safe so we require bsdtar for VMs. chroot is
     # unsafe anyways so it's ok for that.
-    if test -n "$PREPARE_VM" ; then
-	echo "Error: setting up a VM requires bsdtar for security reasons."
-	echo "Please install bsdtar."
-	cleanup_and_exit 1
+    if test -n "$PREPARE_VM"; then
+        log_error "setting up a VM requires bsdtar for security reasons."
+        log_error "Please install bsdtar."
+        cleanup_and_exit 1
     fi
 }
 
@@ -282,7 +283,7 @@ preinstall_integrate() {
 
 preinstall_image() {
     check_exit
-    echo "unpacking preinstall image${2:+ $2}"
+    info "Unpacking preinstall image${2:+ $2}"
     preinstall_setup
 
     TAR_EXCLUDES="--exclude .build --exclude .init_b_cache"
@@ -298,11 +299,11 @@ preinstall_image() {
 	unsafe_preinstall_check
 	TAR="tar $TAR_EXCLUDES -x"
     fi
-    if ! $TAR -f "$BUILD_INIT_CACHE/rpms/$1" ; then
-	echo "ERROR: unpack failed."
-        if test "x$(od -t x4 -A n -N 4 "$BUILD_INIT_CACHE/rpms/$1")" = "x fd2fb528" ; then
-            echo "ERROR: This is a .zst compressed preinstallimage and $TAR failed to unpack."
-            echo "Try to enable zst in $TAR or disable preinstallimage."
+    if ! $TAR -f "$BUILD_INIT_CACHE/rpms/$1"; then
+        log_error "Unpack failed!"
+        if test "x$(od -t x4 -A n -N 4 "$BUILD_INIT_CACHE/rpms/$1")" = "x fd2fb528"; then
+            log_error "This is a .zst compressed preinstallimage and $TAR failed to unpack."
+            log_error "Try to enable zst in $TAR or disable preinstallimage."
         fi
 	cleanup_and_exit 1
     fi
@@ -454,7 +455,7 @@ create_cache_file() {
     fi
 
     # nope, generate a new cache file
-    test -z "$LIST_STATE" && echo initializing $CACHE_FILE ...
+    test -z "$LIST_STATE" && info "Initializing $CACHE_FILE..."
 
     # figure out a repository type default
     find_default_repotype
@@ -520,7 +521,7 @@ downloadpkg() {
     SRC=${SRC/%.pkg.tar.?z/.arch}
     local destdir="$cachedir/tmp"
     mkdir -p "$destdir"
-    echo "downloading $url ... ";
+    info "Downloading $url..."
     $BUILD_DIR/download "$destdir" "$url" || cleanup_and_exit 1
     local destfile="$destdir/${url##*/}"
     if test ! -e "$destfile" ; then