6 ms·

While it’s not strictly necessary anymore, because most OS’s have at least a basic feature that mimics flux built in now, I feel like we owe the devs a huge deb

While it’s not strictly necessary anymore, because most OS’s have at least a basic feature that mimics flux built in now, I feel like we owe the devs a huge debt for forcing the conversation about the toll our ultra high brightness screens have on our sleep patterns and quality and our eyes. Plus, it’s a great example of a really high quality piece of software developed with a lot of care and a huge long term commitment.

int_19h 5y ago
The problem with OS-provided facilities for this is that they often don't give you enough control. I still use f.lux on an Android phone that I rooted specifically for this purpose, because that's the only way I can get dark red on black text in Kindle (for night reading).
- dp-hackernews 5y ago
  I used to use f.lux on Android until I found "Twilight" https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.urbandroid.lux https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.urbandroid... I also used to use f.lux on Linux until i found "Redshift" http://jonls.dk/redshift/ http://jonls.dk/redshift/
  - int_19h 5y ago
    Twilight doesn't do the same thing. It, and all other screen filters on Android that do not require root, can only add color, not subtract it. Thus, it cannot make white text on black background into red text on black background - it can only make it into pink text on red background.
gjvc 5y ago
Amen to that -- f.lux was a revelation to me. Donated.
neal_jones 5y ago
Agreed. I learned about it while at a coding bootcamp when I felt like my eyes were going to break. Total game changer for me.
joshspankit 5y ago
I still advocate for the use of f.lux itself. Not only does it support them continuing to lead the charge, but we are also at risk of OS makers reducing the functionality if we don’t keep them on their toes. f.lux still lets me go to a lower colour temp than either Windows or OSX. I know I’m a niche audience, but it makes a difference to me and I don’t think I’ll get anywhere by shouting at the giant Wall of Apple to expand their range.
- cHaOs667 5y ago
  I also still run it on every Mac I own. Love the tool and its functions.
- hn_throwaway_99 5y ago
  Glad someone else commented this. The a stock MacOS and Android features don't get nearly red enough for my preferences at night.
  - jthrowsitaway 5y ago
    I used to run custom Android ROMs and now on my Pixel devices the #1 thing I miss are warmer temperatures. The stock options barely do anything.
    - hn_throwaway_99 5y ago
      Use Twilight app on your Pixel. Note that thankfully you can also give it Assistive permissions so that it can redden the whole screen (otherwise it won't have permission to redden things like the status bar and notifications pulldown).
- aghilmort 5y ago
  there's also some sort of associative positive placebo effect -- oh flux kicked in and it just makes us feel better somatically / prophylactically -- time to relax, deep breath, not stressing about or late night coding or life or whatever
whazor 5y ago
I still recommend it on Mac because you can manually fill in your location. Mac OSX temporarily disables your WiFi in to figure out your location, which can cause stuttering in live streams. With Flux you can also switch the dark theme of Mac, so it completely replaces Mac implemention.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
88913527 5y ago
I wonder how Flux works in regions which reach 24 hours of sunlight or 24 hours of nighttime in certain seasons. Can you make reasonable (or meaningful) assumptions about sleeping hours in those conditions? The program seems to kick in around sunset. What if there is no sunset?
- cprecioso 5y ago
  There is a preset for "close to the poles". I can't remember what it did exactly though, I haven't used it in a long time.
- hoosieree 5y ago
  Given latitude/longitude, you can make a lot of assumptions - current weather, time zone, daylight savings (ugh) in effect or not. I'm sure there would still be plenty of edge cases, but this would be plenty accurate for me.
jjfoooo4 5y ago
I appreciate how once installed I just don’t have to think about it at all. If I fly somewhere, it pops up and confirms where I am, but otherwise it simply works flawlessly and entirely in the background for years on end.
gsich 5y ago
True, but Windows 10 mode looks different. Might just be subjective.
emaro 5y ago
Also note that most OS night light modes just toggle and don't allow a smooth transition.
vlunkr 5y ago
It's true, how often does a little tool like this get mimicked in every major OS? It's too bad the devs don't get a payout for that, but it's a pretty unique achievement.
- phoenix3200 5y ago
  I got a payout back in the day for something low-level on iOS... http://thebigboss.org/dimmer-quit-blinding-yourself http://thebigboss.org/dimmer-quit-blinding-yourself
ycombinator_acc 5y ago
It doesn't actually help your sleep. That claim has been debunked in multiple studies, including this recent one: https://news.byu.edu/intellect/is-night-shift-really-helping-you-sleep-better https://news.byu.edu/intellect/is-night-shift-really-helping...

int_19h 5y ago

The problem with OS-provided facilities for this is that they often don't give you enough control. I still use f.lux on an Android phone that I rooted specifically for this purpose, because that's the only way I can get dark red on black text in Kindle (for night reading).

dp-hackernews 5y ago
I used to use f.lux on Android until I found "Twilight" https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.urbandroid.lux https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.urbandroid... I also used to use f.lux on Linux until i found "Redshift" http://jonls.dk/redshift/ http://jonls.dk/redshift/
- int_19h 5y ago
  Twilight doesn't do the same thing. It, and all other screen filters on Android that do not require root, can only add color, not subtract it. Thus, it cannot make white text on black background into red text on black background - it can only make it into pink text on red background.

gjvc 5y ago

Amen to that -- f.lux was a revelation to me. Donated.

neal_jones 5y ago

Agreed. I learned about it while at a coding bootcamp when I felt like my eyes were going to break. Total game changer for me.

joshspankit 5y ago

I still advocate for the use of f.lux itself. Not only does it support them continuing to lead the charge, but we are also at risk of OS makers reducing the functionality if we don’t keep them on their toes. f.lux still lets me go to a lower colour temp than either Windows or OSX. I know I’m a niche audience, but it makes a difference to me and I don’t think I’ll get anywhere by shouting at the giant Wall of Apple to expand their range.

cHaOs667 5y ago
I also still run it on every Mac I own. Love the tool and its functions.
hn_throwaway_99 5y ago
Glad someone else commented this. The a stock MacOS and Android features don't get nearly red enough for my preferences at night.
- jthrowsitaway 5y ago
  I used to run custom Android ROMs and now on my Pixel devices the #1 thing I miss are warmer temperatures. The stock options barely do anything.
  - hn_throwaway_99 5y ago
    Use Twilight app on your Pixel. Note that thankfully you can also give it Assistive permissions so that it can redden the whole screen (otherwise it won't have permission to redden things like the status bar and notifications pulldown).
aghilmort 5y ago
there's also some sort of associative positive placebo effect -- oh flux kicked in and it just makes us feel better somatically / prophylactically -- time to relax, deep breath, not stressing about or late night coding or life or whatever

whazor 5y ago

I still recommend it on Mac because you can manually fill in your location. Mac OSX temporarily disables your WiFi in to figure out your location, which can cause stuttering in live streams. With Flux you can also switch the dark theme of Mac, so it completely replaces Mac implemention.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

88913527 5y ago

I wonder how Flux works in regions which reach 24 hours of sunlight or 24 hours of nighttime in certain seasons. Can you make reasonable (or meaningful) assumptions about sleeping hours in those conditions? The program seems to kick in around sunset. What if there is no sunset?

cprecioso 5y ago
There is a preset for "close to the poles". I can't remember what it did exactly though, I haven't used it in a long time.
hoosieree 5y ago
Given latitude/longitude, you can make a lot of assumptions - current weather, time zone, daylight savings (ugh) in effect or not. I'm sure there would still be plenty of edge cases, but this would be plenty accurate for me.

jjfoooo4 5y ago

I appreciate how once installed I just don’t have to think about it at all. If I fly somewhere, it pops up and confirms where I am, but otherwise it simply works flawlessly and entirely in the background for years on end.

gsich 5y ago

True, but Windows 10 mode looks different. Might just be subjective.

emaro 5y ago

Also note that most OS night light modes just toggle and don't allow a smooth transition.

vlunkr 5y ago

It's true, how often does a little tool like this get mimicked in every major OS? It's too bad the devs don't get a payout for that, but it's a pretty unique achievement.

phoenix3200 5y ago
I got a payout back in the day for something low-level on iOS... http://thebigboss.org/dimmer-quit-blinding-yourself http://thebigboss.org/dimmer-quit-blinding-yourself

ycombinator_acc 5y ago

It doesn't actually help your sleep. That claim has been debunked in multiple studies, including this recent one: https://news.byu.edu/intellect/is-night-shift-really-helping-you-sleep-better https://news.byu.edu/intellect/is-night-shift-really-helping...