diff --git a/example/example.dart b/example/example.dart
index 01f784b..fc0974a 100644
--- a/example/example.dart
+++ b/example/example.dart
@@ -15,20 +15,32 @@ void main(List<String> args) async {
     timeout: Duration(seconds: 30),
     onConnect: () => print('Connected'),
     onDisconnect: () => print('Disconnected'),
-    onData: (data) {
-      print('DBG:        ${data.toDebugString()}');
-      print('toString(): ${data.toString()}');
-      print('text:      ${data.text}');
-      print('');
-    },
     onError: (error) => print('Error: $error'),
   );
 
-  await client.connect();
+  final sub = await client.connect();
 
+  if (sub == null) {
+    throw Exception('Failed to connect');
+  }
+
+  // listen to the stream of messages
+  sub.listen((data) {
+    print('Message received!');
+    print('text:      ${data.text}');
+    print('Debug:     ${data.toDebugString()}');
+    print('Colored: ${data.coloredText.map((t) => t.formatted).join('')}');
+    print('');
+  });
+
+  // send a message
   client.send('Hello, world!');
 
+  // send a command
   client.doo(Symbols.compression2);
 
-  // await client.disconnect();
+  await Future.delayed(Duration(seconds: 5));
+
+  await client.disconnect();
 }
+
diff --git a/lib/ctelnet.dart b/lib/ctelnet.dart
index 57a4f43..0d1aaac 100644
--- a/lib/ctelnet.dart
+++ b/lib/ctelnet.dart
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@ export 'src/client.dart';
 export 'src/message.dart';
 export 'src/symbols.dart';
 export 'src/builder.dart';
+export 'src/color_parser/color_parser.dart';
diff --git a/lib/src/client.dart b/lib/src/client.dart
index 67c6d68..ee05f0b 100644
--- a/lib/src/client.dart
+++ b/lib/src/client.dart
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ abstract class ITelnetClient {
   ConnectionStatus status = ConnectionStatus.disconnected;
 
   /// Connect to the server.
-  Future<void> connect();
+  Future<Stream<Message>?> connect();
 
   /// Send data to the server.
   int send(String data);
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ class CTelnetClient implements ITelnetClient {
     this.timeout = const Duration(seconds: 30),
     required this.onConnect,
     required this.onDisconnect,
-    required this.onData,
     required this.onError,
   });
 
@@ -56,7 +55,6 @@ class CTelnetClient implements ITelnetClient {
   final Duration timeout;
   final ConnectionCallback onConnect;
   final ConnectionCallback onDisconnect;
-  final DataCallback onData;
   final ErrorCallback onError;
   RawSocket? _socket;
   ConnectionTask<RawSocket>? _task;
@@ -67,10 +65,13 @@ class CTelnetClient implements ITelnetClient {
   bool get connected => _socket != null && status == ConnectionStatus.connected;
 
   StreamSubscription<RawSocketEvent>? _subscription;
+  StreamController<Message>? _controller;
 
   /// Connect to the host and port.
+  ///
+  /// Returns a [Stream] to listen for [Message]s if the connection is successful.
   @override
-  Future<void> connect() async {
+  Future<Stream<Message>?> connect() async {
     try {
       status = ConnectionStatus.connecting;
       final task = await RawSocket.startConnect(host, port);
@@ -83,12 +84,16 @@ class CTelnetClient implements ITelnetClient {
         onError: _onError,
         onDone: _onDisconnect,
       );
+      _controller?.close();
+      _controller = StreamController<Message>();
+      return _controller!.stream;
     } catch (e, stack) {
       if (!_disposed) {
         _dispose();
         _onError(e, stack);
       }
     }
+    return null;
   }
 
   _assertSocket([String? message]) {
@@ -166,7 +171,7 @@ class CTelnetClient implements ITelnetClient {
         final data = _socket!.read();
         if (data != null) {
           final msg = Message(data);
-          onData(msg);
+          _controller!.add(msg);
         }
         break;
       case RawSocketEvent.write:
@@ -200,6 +205,8 @@ class CTelnetClient implements ITelnetClient {
     _task = null;
     _timeoutTask?.cancel();
     _timeoutTask = null;
+    _controller?.close();
+    _controller = null;
     _disposed = true;
   }
 }
@@ -214,3 +221,4 @@ enum ConnectionStatus {
   /// The client is not connected to the server.
   disconnected,
 }
+
diff --git a/lib/src/color_parser/base.dart b/lib/src/color_parser/base.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e196da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/color_parser/base.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import '../consts.dart' as consts;
+
+enum Token {
+  esc,
+  colorStart,
+  colorTerm,
+  colorSeparator,
+  literal,
+}
+
+class TokenValue {
+  final Token token;
+  final String raw;
+
+  const TokenValue(this.token, this.raw);
+
+  static const esc = TokenValue(Token.esc, consts.esc);
+  static const colorStart = TokenValue(Token.colorStart, '[');
+  static const colorSeparator = TokenValue(Token.colorSeparator, ';');
+  static const colorTerm = TokenValue(Token.colorTerm, 'm');
+  static const empty = TokenValue(Token.literal, '');
+
+  TokenValue.literal(String raw) : this(Token.literal, raw);
+
+  @override
+  int get hashCode => raw.hashCode;
+
+  @override
+  bool operator ==(Object other) =>
+      identical(this, other) ||
+      other is TokenValue &&
+          runtimeType == other.runtimeType &&
+          token == other.token &&
+          raw == other.raw;
+
+  @override
+  String toString() => token != Token.esc ? '${token.name}($raw)' : token.name;
+}
+
+class LexerValue {
+  String text;
+  int fgColor;
+  int bgColor;
+
+  LexerValue(this.text, this.fgColor, this.bgColor);
+
+  @override
+  int get hashCode => text.hashCode ^ fgColor.hashCode ^ bgColor.hashCode;
+
+  @override
+  bool operator ==(Object other) =>
+      identical(this, other) ||
+      other is LexerValue &&
+          runtimeType == other.runtimeType &&
+          text == other.text &&
+          fgColor == other.fgColor &&
+          bgColor == other.bgColor;
+
+  @override
+  String toString() => 'Lex("$text", $fgColor:$bgColor)';
+}
+
+abstract class IReader<T> {
+  T? read();
+  T? peek();
+  int get length;
+  int get index;
+  bool get isDone;
+  void setPosition(int originalIndex);
+}
+
+abstract class ITokenizer {
+  List<TokenValue> tokenize();
+}
+
+abstract class ILexer {
+  List<LexerValue> lex();
+}
diff --git a/lib/src/color_parser/color_parser.dart b/lib/src/color_parser/color_parser.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..678cf54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/color_parser/color_parser.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+export 'base.dart';
+export 'reader.dart';
+export 'parser.dart';
diff --git a/lib/src/color_parser/parser.dart b/lib/src/color_parser/parser.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76bf58b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/color_parser/parser.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+import 'base.dart';
+import 'reader.dart';
+import '../consts.dart' as consts;
+
+/// Represents a string value with color information.
+///
+/// Can be used to store the text and color information for a single token.
+///
+/// Use [formatted] to get the ANSI formatted text, usable in a terminal.
+class ColorToken {
+  /// The raw, uncoded text.
+  String text;
+
+  /// The foreground color code.
+  int fgColor;
+
+  /// The background color code.
+  int bgColor;
+
+  /// Whether the text is bold.
+  bool bold;
+
+  /// Whether the text is italic.
+  bool italic;
+
+  /// Whether the text is underlined.
+  bool underline;
+
+  /// Whether the text is an xterm256 color code. Otherwise, it is a standard color code.
+  bool xterm256;
+
+  ColorToken({
+    required this.text,
+    required this.fgColor,
+    required this.bgColor,
+    this.bold = false,
+    this.italic = false,
+    this.underline = false,
+    this.xterm256 = false,
+  });
+
+  /// Create an empty token.
+  factory ColorToken.empty() => ColorToken(text: '', fgColor: 0, bgColor: 0);
+
+  /// Create a token with default color and the given text.
+  factory ColorToken.defaultColor(String text) =>
+      ColorToken(text: text, fgColor: 0, bgColor: 0);
+
+  /// Returns true if the text is empty.
+  bool get isEmpty => text.isEmpty;
+
+  /// Returns true if the text is not empty.
+  bool get isNotEmpty => !isEmpty;
+
+  /// Get the formatted text as ANSI formatted text.
+  ///
+  /// Outputting this value to a terminal will display the text with the correct colors.
+  ///
+  /// To format the text in other ways, use the properties to get the [fgColor] and [bgColor],
+  /// and construct it to whatever format you need.
+  String get formatted => bgColor == 0
+      ? '\x1B[${fgColor}m$text\x1B[0m'
+      : '\x1B[$fgColor;${bgColor}m$text\x1B[0m';
+
+  @override
+  String toString() {
+    final b = bold ? 'b' : '';
+    final i = italic ? 'i' : '';
+    final u = underline ? 'u' : '';
+    final x = xterm256 ? 'x' : '';
+    final flags = '$b$i$u$x';
+    return 'ColoredText("$text", $fgColor:$bgColor, $flags)';
+  }
+
+  @override
+  int get hashCode => text.hashCode ^ fgColor.hashCode ^ bgColor.hashCode;
+
+  @override
+  bool operator ==(Object other) =>
+      identical(this, other) ||
+      other is ColorToken &&
+          runtimeType == other.runtimeType &&
+          text == other.text &&
+          fgColor == other.fgColor &&
+          bgColor == other.bgColor;
+
+  /// Set the style based on the given code.
+  void setStyle(int code) {
+    // debugPrint('setStyle: $code');
+    if (code == consts.boldByte) {
+      bold = true;
+    } else if (code == consts.italicByte) {
+      italic = true;
+    } else if (code == consts.underlineByte) {
+      underline = true;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/// A parser to parse a string with color codes.
+class ColorParser implements IReader {
+  final IReader reader;
+  final _tokens = <TokenValue>[];
+
+  ColorParser._(this.reader);
+
+  factory ColorParser(String text) => ColorParser._(StringReader(text));
+
+  /// Parse the text and return a list of [ColorToken]s.
+  ///
+  /// Each token represents a piece of text with color information. You can join all the text
+  /// together (without separators) to get the original text, uncolored.
+  ///
+  /// To get the colored text, use the [formatted] property of each token.
+  List<ColorToken> parse() {
+    final lexed = <ColorToken>[];
+    while (!reader.isDone) {
+      final token = reader.read();
+      var cur = _getToken(token);
+      lexed.add(cur);
+    }
+    return lexed;
+  }
+
+  ColorToken _getToken(String char) {
+    var token = ColorToken.empty();
+    switch (char) {
+      case consts.esc:
+        String? next;
+        // keep reading until we hit the end of the escape sequence or the end of the string
+        while (!reader.isDone) {
+          next = reader.peek();
+          if (next == consts.esc) {
+            break;
+          }
+          reader.read();
+          if (next == '[') {
+            final color = _consumeUntil('m');
+            reader.read();
+            final colors = color.split(';');
+            final first = int.tryParse(colors[0]) ?? 0;
+            final second = colors.length > 1 ? int.tryParse(colors[1]) ?? 0 : 0;
+            final third = colors.length > 2 ? int.tryParse(colors[2]) ?? 0 : 0;
+            int fg;
+            int bg;
+            if (first < 30) {
+              token.setStyle(first);
+              fg = second;
+              bg = third;
+            } else {
+              if (first == 38 && second == 5) {
+                token.xterm256 = true;
+                fg = third;
+                bg = 0;
+              } else {
+                fg = first;
+                bg = second;
+              }
+            }
+            token.fgColor = fg;
+            token.bgColor = bg;
+            // if (colors.length == 1) {
+            //   final code = int.tryParse(colors[0]) ?? 0;
+            //   if (code == consts.boldByte) {
+            //     token.bold = true;
+            //   } else if (code == consts.italicByte) {
+            //     token.italic = true;
+            //   } else if (code == consts.underlineByte) {
+            //     token.underline = true;
+            //   } else {
+            //     token.fgColor = int.tryParse(colors[0]) ?? 0;
+            //   }
+            // } else if (colors.length == 2) {
+            //   final code = int.tryParse(colors[0]) ?? 0;
+            //   if (code < 30) {
+            //     token.fgColor = int.tryParse(colors[1]) ?? 0;
+            //   } else {
+            //     token.fgColor = int.tryParse(colors[1]) ?? 0;
+            //     token.bgColor = int.tryParse(colors[0]) ?? 1;
+            //   }
+            // } else if (colors.length == 3) {
+            //   if (colors[0] == '38' && colors[1] == '5') {
+            //     token.xterm256 = true;
+            //     token.fgColor = int.tryParse(colors[2]) ?? 0;
+            //   } else {
+            //     token.bgColor = int.tryParse(colors[0]) ?? 1;
+            //     token.fgColor = int.tryParse(colors[1]) ?? 0;
+            //   }
+            // }
+            token.text = _consumeUntil(consts.esc);
+            return token;
+          }
+          if (next == null) {
+            break;
+          }
+          token.text += next;
+        }
+        return token;
+      default:
+        token.text += char;
+        return token;
+    }
+  }
+
+  String _consumeUntil(String char) {
+    String? next = reader.peek();
+    if (next == null) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    var result = '';
+    while (!reader.isDone) {
+      if (next == char) {
+        break;
+      }
+      next = reader.peek();
+      if (next == null) {
+        break;
+      }
+      result += reader.read();
+      next = reader.peek();
+    }
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  // String peekUntil(String char) {
+  //   String? next = reader.peek();
+  //   if (next == null) {
+  //     return '';
+  //   }
+  //   var result = '';
+  //   var originalIndex = reader.index;
+  //   while (!reader.isDone) {
+  //     if (next == char) {
+  //       break;
+  //     }
+  //     next = reader.peek();
+  //     if (next == null) {
+  //       break;
+  //     }
+  //     result += reader.read();
+  //     next = reader.peek();
+  //   }
+  //   reader.setPosition(originalIndex);
+  //   return result;
+  // }
+
+  @override
+  int index = 0;
+
+  @override
+  bool get isDone => index >= reader.length;
+
+  @override
+  peek() => _tokens[index];
+
+  @override
+  read() => _tokens[index++];
+
+  @override
+  int get length => _tokens.length;
+
+  @override
+  setPosition(int position) => index = position;
+}
+
diff --git a/lib/src/color_parser/reader.dart b/lib/src/color_parser/reader.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e78791
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/color_parser/reader.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import 'base.dart';
+
+class StringReader implements IReader<String> {
+  final String input;
+
+  @override
+  int index = 0;
+
+  StringReader(this.input);
+
+  @override
+  int get length => input.length;
+
+  @override
+  bool get isDone => index >= length;
+
+  @override
+  String? peek() {
+    if (isDone) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    return input[index];
+  }
+
+  @override
+  String? read() {
+    if (isDone) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    return input[index++];
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void setPosition(int position) {
+    index = position;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/src/consts.dart b/lib/src/consts.dart
index 550b080..83d293a 100644
--- a/lib/src/consts.dart
+++ b/lib/src/consts.dart
@@ -1 +1,10 @@
+const newline = '\n';
+const cr = '\r';
 const lf = '\n';
+const esc = '\x1B';
+const colorPatternRaw = r'\[\d*m';
+
+const boldByte = 1;
+const italicByte = 3;
+const underlineByte = 4;
+
diff --git a/lib/src/message.dart b/lib/src/message.dart
index 15f816d..b2d9cae 100644
--- a/lib/src/message.dart
+++ b/lib/src/message.dart
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import 'color_parser/parser.dart';
 import 'consts.dart';
 import 'parser.dart';
 import 'symbols.dart';
@@ -6,11 +7,13 @@ class Message {
   final List<int> bytes;
   late final String text;
   late final List<List<int>> commands;
+  late final List<ColorToken> coloredText;
 
   Message(this.bytes) {
-    final parser = MessageParser(bytes).parse();
-    commands = parser.commands;
-    text = parser.text;
+    final stringParser = MessageParser(bytes).parse();
+    commands = stringParser.commands;
+    text = stringParser.text;
+    coloredText = ColorParser(text).parse();
   }
 
   /// Returns true if the message contains the given WILL command
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ class Message {
   }
 
   String toDebugString() {
-    return '${commands.map((e) => e.map((x) => symbolMap[x] ?? x)).join(' ')}${lf}n$text';
+    return '${commands.map((e) => e.map((x) => symbolMap[x] ?? x)).join(' ')}$lf$text';
   }
 
   int get firstLiteralByteIndex {
diff --git a/script_runner.yaml b/script_runner.yaml
index 0983499..762601c 100644
--- a/script_runner.yaml
+++ b/script_runner.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 scripts:
   - name: mud-test
-    cmd: HOST=aardmud.net PORT=6555 dart example/ctelnet_example.dart
-    env:
-      HOST: aardmud.net
-      PORT: 6555
+    cmd: HOST=smud.ourmmo.com PORT=3000 dart example/example.dart
diff --git a/test/color_parser_test.dart b/test/color_parser_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97d578d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/color_parser_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import 'package:ctelnet/src/color_parser/parser.dart';
+import 'package:ctelnet/src/consts.dart';
+import 'package:test/test.dart';
+
+const inputs = [
+  '$esc[32mYou are standing in a small clearing.$esc[0m',
+  'You are standing in a small clearing.',
+  '$esc[0m$esc[1m$esc[0m$esc[1m$esc[31mWelcome to SimpleMUD$esc[0m$esc[1m$esc[0m',
+  '$esc[0m$esc[37m$esc[0m$esc[37m$esc[1m[$esc[0m$esc[37m$esc[1m$esc[32m10$esc[0m$esc[37m$esc[1m/10]$esc[0m$esc[37m$esc[0m'
+];
+
+void main() {
+  group('ColorParser', () {
+    test('parse colors - simple', () {
+      final input = inputs[0];
+      final output = ColorParser(input).parse();
+      expect(output, [
+        ColorToken(text: 'You are standing in a small clearing.', fgColor: 32, bgColor: 0),
+        ColorToken.empty(),
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    test('formatted', () {
+      final input = inputs[0];
+      final output = ColorParser(input).parse();
+      expect(output[0].formatted, inputs[0]);
+    });
+  });
+}
diff --git a/test/ctelnet_test.dart b/test/ctelnet_test.dart
index dc5751e..7004d56 100644
--- a/test/ctelnet_test.dart
+++ b/test/ctelnet_test.dart
@@ -7,26 +7,32 @@ import 'package:test/test.dart';
 final host = InternetAddress.anyIPv4;
 final port = 5555;
 ServerSocket? server;
-Future<StreamSubscription<Socket>> startServer() async {
+Future<StreamSubscription<Socket>> startServer({bool verbose = false}) async {
+  void d(Object msg) {
+    if (verbose) {
+      print(msg);
+    }
+  }
+
   Future<ServerSocket> serverFuture = ServerSocket.bind(host, port);
   final timeout = Duration(seconds: 1);
   await Future.delayed(timeout);
-  print('Server init on $host:$port');
+  d('Server init on $host:$port');
   server = await serverFuture;
-  print('Server started on ${server!.address.address}:${server!.port}');
+  d('Server started on ${server!.address.address}:${server!.port}');
   return server!.listen(
     (Socket socket) {
-      print('Listening on ${socket.remoteAddress.address}:${socket.port}');
+      d('Listening on ${socket.remoteAddress.address}:${socket.port}');
       socket.listen((List<int> data) {
         String result = String.fromCharCodes(data);
         socket.write(result);
       });
     },
     onError: (e) {
-      print('Server error: $e');
+      d('Server error: $e');
     },
     onDone: () {
-      print('Server done');
+      d('Server done');
     },
     cancelOnError: true,
   );
@@ -42,7 +48,6 @@ void main() {
       onError: (e) {
         expect(e, isA<TimeoutException>());
       },
-      onData: (d) {},
       onConnect: () {},
       onDisconnect: () {},
     );
@@ -60,7 +65,6 @@ void main() {
       port: port,
       timeout: Duration(seconds: 1),
       onError: (e) {},
-      onData: (d) {},
       onConnect: () async {
         expect(client!.status, equals(ConnectionStatus.connected));
       },
@@ -75,3 +79,4 @@ void main() {
     expect(client.status, equals(ConnectionStatus.disconnected));
   });
 }
+