4 ms·

Does (or will) Dark have a light mode? Given the name and seeing the dark mode screenshots in the article, I wonder. This is an honest worry for an older devel

Does (or will) Dark have a light mode? Given the name and seeing the dark mode screenshots in the article, I wonder. This is an honest worry for an older developer like me. When you're young, your eyes can focus on just about anything. This changes as you get older. A dark mode causes your pupils to open wider, where a light mode gets them to stop down. And if your lenses are imperfect, stopping down helps make things sharper. I'm posting this as a reminder and plea to younger developers: no matter how much you love your dark modes, please consider those of us who can't focus on them, and give light modes full support too. Thanks!

pbiggar 7y ago
We will absolutely support light mode, and we plan to deal with many other accessibility concerns (I touch on that very briefly at the end of my video). This sort of inclusivity is massively important to us. I hadn't realized Dark mode was tough for certain audiences - I'll add it to the list. (We also plan to get an a11y consultant in to make sure we get all of them)
- Stratoscope 7y ago
  Wonderful, thank you! While I've got you, let me put in a word for proportional font support if you don't already have it. Proportional fonts are another thing that make it easier for me to read code. Would be happy to chat with you about any of this stuff - contact info is in my HN profile.
  - pbiggar 7y ago
    Thank you for the kind offer! I will definitely reach out.
tempodox 7y ago
I second your request and I'm grateful for your comprehensible and respectful way of pointing out the problem. I usually just get frustrated and angry at software that only supports dark mode.
jaynetics 7y ago
Lack of light mode is also a problem when you have sub-optimal lighting in the workplace. Bright UIs can block out glare and reflections, thus preventing tiredness and headaches in such cases.
- boomlinde 7y ago
  I'd say that it is a problem when you have optimal lighting in the workplace. It's sad that we have to stare into a bright light all day just to accommodate natural sunlight, or shut the blinds and code in the dark. Can't wait for cheap, fast and unlit high contrast monitor technology resembling the experience of plain paper.
eternalny1 7y ago
I am the complete opposite ... I'm in my 40s and dark modes are the only thing I can use. The bright white glare bothers my eyes and I can't work for hours staring into it. I have to go dark on everything these days. Back to the light-on-dark computers I grew up with :)
- tluyben2 7y ago
  In my 40s as well and same here. Light mode hurts me. But always has. My first computer was monochrome green on black. Then MSX for many years where the first command after startup would be color15,1,1 (white on black) until I was able to make a custom eprom to have it at startup.
- svrtknst 7y ago
  I mainly use light modes, but very rarely use white ones. Similarly, I often find that many dark modes, esp. those emulating old-style terminals and computers, liek to put bright green colors on bright (as it were) black, or similar schemes that to me are more garish than, say, Base16.
dougdonohoe 7y ago
Amen to this (from a 50+ yr old).

pbiggar 7y ago

We will absolutely support light mode, and we plan to deal with many other accessibility concerns (I touch on that very briefly at the end of my video). This sort of inclusivity is massively important to us. I hadn't realized Dark mode was tough for certain audiences - I'll add it to the list. (We also plan to get an a11y consultant in to make sure we get all of them)

Stratoscope 7y ago
Wonderful, thank you! While I've got you, let me put in a word for proportional font support if you don't already have it. Proportional fonts are another thing that make it easier for me to read code. Would be happy to chat with you about any of this stuff - contact info is in my HN profile.
- pbiggar 7y ago
  Thank you for the kind offer! I will definitely reach out.

tempodox 7y ago

I second your request and I'm grateful for your comprehensible and respectful way of pointing out the problem. I usually just get frustrated and angry at software that only supports dark mode.

jaynetics 7y ago

Lack of light mode is also a problem when you have sub-optimal lighting in the workplace. Bright UIs can block out glare and reflections, thus preventing tiredness and headaches in such cases.

boomlinde 7y ago
I'd say that it is a problem when you have optimal lighting in the workplace. It's sad that we have to stare into a bright light all day just to accommodate natural sunlight, or shut the blinds and code in the dark. Can't wait for cheap, fast and unlit high contrast monitor technology resembling the experience of plain paper.

eternalny1 7y ago

I am the complete opposite ... I'm in my 40s and dark modes are the only thing I can use. The bright white glare bothers my eyes and I can't work for hours staring into it. I have to go dark on everything these days. Back to the light-on-dark computers I grew up with :)

tluyben2 7y ago
In my 40s as well and same here. Light mode hurts me. But always has. My first computer was monochrome green on black. Then MSX for many years where the first command after startup would be color15,1,1 (white on black) until I was able to make a custom eprom to have it at startup.
svrtknst 7y ago
I mainly use light modes, but very rarely use white ones. Similarly, I often find that many dark modes, esp. those emulating old-style terminals and computers, liek to put bright green colors on bright (as it were) black, or similar schemes that to me are more garish than, say, Base16.

dougdonohoe 7y ago

Amen to this (from a 50+ yr old).