Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#1

Post by florians » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 5:36 AM UTC

It’s 2025. HN lights up a dark room like a flashlight. Can we add a few lines of CSS to support dark mode? 5 years ago and I believe the alligator needs to move https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23197966

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#2

Post by f30e3dfed1c9 » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 6:57 AM UTC

Just use a browser that lets you apply a custom style sheet and apply one.

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#3

Post by vednig » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 7:19 AM UTC

just go to https://hacked.stream if you need it, you'll still need to upvote via HN interface until proxy is implemented

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#4

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 7:40 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#5

Post by specproc » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 7:42 AM UTC

f30e3dfed1c9 wrote: post #2

Just use a browser that lets you apply a custom style sheet and apply one.

I think the point is that it's a very simple interface. I'm in the camp of it ain't broke, so let's not fix it.

It gives you an API, doesn't get in your way if you wanna add CSS. Everyone is free to consume HN as they they please, adding extra cruft really isn't in the spirit.

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#6

Post by coolThingsFirst » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 7:43 AM UTC

No, dark mode is redundant and makes sites feel too new-agey.

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#7

Post by busymom0 » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 7:58 AM UTC

I recently built a site for myself which defaults to dark mode and shows me the top posts from HN, Lobste.rs, Tildes, SlashDot, Bear and a few tech/STEM related subreddits in a time-ordered list. Maybe you will find its useful:

https://limereader.com/

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#8

Post by walletdrainer » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 8:02 AM UTC

specproc wrote: post #5

f30e3dfed1c9 wrote: post #2

Just use a browser that lets you apply a custom style sheet and apply one.

I think the point is that it's a very simple interface. I'm in the camp of it ain't broke, so let's not fix it. It gives you an API, doesn't get in your way if you wanna add CSS. Everyone is free to consume HN as they they please, adding extra cruft really isn't in the spirit.

I’m not sure a couple of lines of CSS really counts as “extra cruft”

Basically this and prefers-color-scheme: dark https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23202647

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#9

Post by HelloUsername » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 8:11 AM UTC

One can always add those stylesheets themselves in their browser, or through the uBlock Origin extension. Otherwise (one of the many darkmode extensions) "Dark Reader" is available for Safari (macOS and iOS), Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox (Windows, macOS, Android). On iOS you can also use Firefox (or Brave) that has builtin darkmode for all websites.

Re: Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue

#10

Post by bob1029 » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 8:13 AM UTC

You are allowed to reduce your display brightness. I run my iPhone at the lowest possible setting at night (right now). Try it sometime. It might seem really dim at first but your eyes will adjust in a few minutes.

I think dark mode can be deceptive. Blazing hot white text on a pitch black oled background is like visual caffeine to me. I would not want to be staring at this if I was adjacent to bedtime.