Ask HN: Why do you use Dark Mode on your computer?
16 comments
At night, to reduce the impact of screen use on your circadian rhythm, I think it's best to use dark mode + a program like f.lux or redshift to reduce blue light (which impacts the melatonin suppression).
Like others said, there is also a fashion component, dark modes are visually nice if you ask me.
Like others said, there is also a fashion component, dark modes are visually nice if you ask me.
Honestly, I think it's just fashion.
Back in college I used to enjoy coding on a green-screen VT220 (fluorescent green on dark glass) but I don't think I'd go back...
Back in college I used to enjoy coding on a green-screen VT220 (fluorescent green on dark glass) but I don't think I'd go back...
As someone who's had dark mode turned on only a few months ago, after being in "normal" mode for 20+ years, I can tell you this: there will come a time when the "whiteness" does mess with you.
Since I work probably 14 hours/day on my computer, it starts to matter. At some point, I simply couldn't focus on the screen, even with my glasses on. And at that point I switched to dark mode. And it's slowly been better.
However, if this is not an issue for you, by all means, don't use it :D
Since I work probably 14 hours/day on my computer, it starts to matter. At some point, I simply couldn't focus on the screen, even with my glasses on. And at that point I switched to dark mode. And it's slowly been better.
However, if this is not an issue for you, by all means, don't use it :D
It appears only now because you never thought to use it before. People who want a dark mode will actively make it happen, whether or not the OS allows for it as a toggle.
> Besides, light mode is much more readable in the sun light
Kind of missing the point here.
Why would you want something readable in sunlight... be the mode that you use at nighttime?
White is harsh to my eyes, no matter the brightness. Especially at night. So I tend to find a dark mode solution regardless of what I am using. I have several stylus schemes that enable a dark mode on sites that don't have one.
I've been using Adwaita-dark as my theme in xUbuntu for years, as well. Before that, before Win10 took the ability away, all of my Windows themes were configured to be darker. Going back to the late 80s.
Original DOS could be considered "dark mode," after all... it's just white text on a black background.
Terminals, too.
The 'hype' basically amounts to: "The OS lets us set a theme without us using third party options." Before the OS, app or site has an integrated dark mode option, you bet your pretty penny we've been looking for other ways to make it happen.
> Besides, light mode is much more readable in the sun light
Kind of missing the point here.
Why would you want something readable in sunlight... be the mode that you use at nighttime?
White is harsh to my eyes, no matter the brightness. Especially at night. So I tend to find a dark mode solution regardless of what I am using. I have several stylus schemes that enable a dark mode on sites that don't have one.
I've been using Adwaita-dark as my theme in xUbuntu for years, as well. Before that, before Win10 took the ability away, all of my Windows themes were configured to be darker. Going back to the late 80s.
Original DOS could be considered "dark mode," after all... it's just white text on a black background.
Terminals, too.
The 'hype' basically amounts to: "The OS lets us set a theme without us using third party options." Before the OS, app or site has an integrated dark mode option, you bet your pretty penny we've been looking for other ways to make it happen.
You are making an assumption that we work on bright lit rooms. I don't. I prefer the ambiance of darker rooms. The themes I use etc reflect that preference, otherwise my eyes have to look at something really bright when everything else is dark.
They say that black on white is better because the cornea tightens giving better focus. However in my experience as a developer you tend to sit in front of a screen for hours. Bright themes get tiring after a while, even in well lit rooms. Having said that I don't prefer white on black. I actually have off white on dark grey.
Example: https://i.imgur.com/YPGYzGJ.png
They say that black on white is better because the cornea tightens giving better focus. However in my experience as a developer you tend to sit in front of a screen for hours. Bright themes get tiring after a while, even in well lit rooms. Having said that I don't prefer white on black. I actually have off white on dark grey.
Example: https://i.imgur.com/YPGYzGJ.png
I'm almost 40 and when I look at a bright screen when the room/environment is not bright enough, I get a migraine within minutes. (And the migraine would stay for days)
The only way I can work as a software engineer is to have the screen be relatively dark (dark themes on code editors, terminal, github, or pretty much any app I use extensively). That said, I don't really need "dark mode" on an OS (e.g. macOS). Making menu bars etc. dark has a pretty minimal effect; the vast majority of the screen is code editor / terminal 90% of the time, and that's what really matters to me.
The only way I can work as a software engineer is to have the screen be relatively dark (dark themes on code editors, terminal, github, or pretty much any app I use extensively). That said, I don't really need "dark mode" on an OS (e.g. macOS). Making menu bars etc. dark has a pretty minimal effect; the vast majority of the screen is code editor / terminal 90% of the time, and that's what really matters to me.
I don't know about the real damage it can do to our eyes, but I always preferred "dark" themes in every software I use now and I used in the past. It simply feels more comfortable to me.
I have used it even in some in Microsoft Word with the white over dark blue "mode" or "theme, but I think they removed it in Office 2010 (and annoyed me a lot). At least in the last Office versions it has the black theme that do practically the same.
I have used it even in some in Microsoft Word with the white over dark blue "mode" or "theme, but I think they removed it in Office 2010 (and annoyed me a lot). At least in the last Office versions it has the black theme that do practically the same.
> Why is it so trendy right now? If it's actually so useful, why does it appear only now?
I believe you could track this fairly reliably to the introduction of dark mode on iOS a year or two ago. At this point most platforms support native dark/light mode, including via browser preferences. So it's become more of an expectation that sites should support it.
I believe you could track this fairly reliably to the introduction of dark mode on iOS a year or two ago. At this point most platforms support native dark/light mode, including via browser preferences. So it's become more of an expectation that sites should support it.
consider this 1d graph
1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
now, blur it just a bit
1.0 0.8 0.4 0.8 1.0
you'll notice that instead of 100% contrast in the center, it's only 60%, which is just barely enough contrast to see. Why the blur? Old eyes with stuff floating in them, along with the slow but certain onset of cataracts
do the same thing in dark mode
0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.0
The contrast in the middle is still 100%, even with blurring because most of the page isn't white pixels.
The older you get, the more aware you become of accessibility issues, especially if you've learned to dread the phrase "new normal" from personal experience.
The problem is most "dark modes" don't actually include black, so it's only part way there.
1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
now, blur it just a bit
1.0 0.8 0.4 0.8 1.0
you'll notice that instead of 100% contrast in the center, it's only 60%, which is just barely enough contrast to see. Why the blur? Old eyes with stuff floating in them, along with the slow but certain onset of cataracts
do the same thing in dark mode
0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.0
The contrast in the middle is still 100%, even with blurring because most of the page isn't white pixels.
The older you get, the more aware you become of accessibility issues, especially if you've learned to dread the phrase "new normal" from personal experience.
The problem is most "dark modes" don't actually include black, so it's only part way there.
Good question. I have it only because I don't want the light mode, nor the gray alternative.
A mode with like beige or eggshell would be ideal until we get e-ink displays as standard.
Honestly I actually dislike the dark mode look, but it happens to be more comfortable to my eyes and as you mentioned also saves power.
I don't, but on bad screens it helps with eye fatigue (at least, in my experience).
Now that i have a decent IPS, i don't need it anymore.
Now that i have a decent IPS, i don't need it anymore.
1. Light mode is harsh on the eyes, especially in the dark and ruins night vision.
2. Light mode attracts more insects at night.
2. Light mode attracts more insects at night.
light attract bugs :>
seriously, IMHO my eyes feel less tired with a darker display after many many hours of screentime.
seriously, IMHO my eyes feel less tired with a darker display after many many hours of screentime.
I can't, it hurts my eyes. Leaves me with interlace line ghosts and gives me eye strain. Dunno why.
Because my coworkers set the monitor brightness insanely high and white mode hurts my eyes
After reading some scientific stuff, I kind of understood that to not damage your eyes, the best is to keep the same brightness level when your sight switches from a context to another.
Which means that during the day, light mode is supposed to be healthier for your eyes, because you're switching between your monitor and somewhere else in the room.
And this means that on your computer, you should avoid switching from a dark window to a light window, or vice versa. But while it's easy to have 100% of your content in light theme (well.. 99% due to Spotify), the opposite seems more complicated. So, choosing to use dark mode as possible will force a switch dark <-> light from times to times.
Besides, light mode is much more readable in the sun light, when you need the maximum amount of brightness.
The only reason I can find to use dark mode is to use less energy, especially with OLED screens (for longer battery life or ecological reasons).