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Dark Mode Sucks

tomechangosubanana.com

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Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#101

Post by busymom0 »

No idea why this extremely poor "article" is getting so much attention on HN. There is a time and place for dark mode. For certain demographics, default dark mode may be more suitable than others. And letting the user change it covers all bases.

For example, on my site [1], I default to dark mode (not pure black though) and have settings for changing the theme to: Pure black, Light mode (white), and 2 custom themes which are off white, and a dark blue background.

I picked dark mode as default because my site is directed towards tech people (it's for STEM + Arts and Design) and thought dark mode works well for that theme.

[1] https://limereader.com/

Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#102

Post by vogu66 »

for what it's worth, my ophthalmologist recommended I use light mode only, with reduced blue and red (because red light actually activates the blue cones too apparently)

Then my screen time started affecting my sleep so I still use dark mode at night

But anyways all software should be configurable and follow the parent software (browser, OS) by default, css even allows for that now. There is even a "prefers-contrast" property in order to design for people who need high contrast stuff.

Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#103

Post by godelski »

simonw wrote: post #35

I occasionally get requests from readers to add a dark mode to my blog - https://simonwillison.net/ - and I'm never sure how much priority I should give those, as someone who almost never chooses to use dark mode. Dark mode fans: does it really bother you to read white web pages?

YES

Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#104

Post by HumanOstrich »

mh- wrote: post #74
semiinfinitely wrote: post #16

> your ambient lighting is crap . That will kill your eyesight it is a myth that dim lighting negatively impacts eyesight long term.

That depends entirely on what you're doing in that dim lighting. And how much time you spend in it. Spending all of your time in dim lighting is absolutely bad for your vision, or at least that is the contemporary consensus in optometry.

[Citation Needed]

Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#106

Post by HumanOstrich »

godelski wrote: post #96
tensor wrote: post #64

Just make it configurable. It's not that hard. The only thing I want to hear less about than light vs dark, tabs vs spaces, is the dripping condescension of morning people. Make it configurable and let people be.

Wikipedia, you can solve this with one line of code. Just changing one variable name... Seriously, the fact that light vs dark is even an issue is silly. It only exists out of laziness and that's what we should really be mad about

While I agree that it's not as complicated as some make it out to be, let's not pretend it's just one variable change.

Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#107

Post by moooo99 »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #33
moooo99 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it though? Most apps I am using are following the OS/browser preferences or are light mode as a default. One of the more notable exceptions is Discord, but that is largely explained away by the fact that the gaming focused audience often demands dark modes. Also, the dark mode setting in mist browsers is one search entry away. I really don't see the problem here

Well, I guess that's fine for the "gaming-focused audience," then. For the benefit of the rest of us, explain how to turn off "dark mode" when viewing specific websites that are hardwired to use it, while running Safari on iOS, or in Firefox on desktop, without installing various extensions that may not be available to users at work, or changing the way the whole OS appears. Edit due to rate-limiting: The Firefox the…

> while running Safari on iOS, or in Firefox on desktop, without installing various extensions that may not be available to users at work

Basically all browsers default to follow the operating systems appearance settings. I don't know why you're specifically asking to not change the OS settings, why would you prefer dark mode of your OS when you want the websites to be light mode?

To answer your question, I have no clue about Safari, but in Firefox you go to the settings page and right on the start page there is Language and Appearance where you can select your theme.

> when viewing specific websites that are hardwired to use it,

Yes, that is an issue. But that is not an issue of dark mode per-se, it is an issue with software quality and design decisions themselves. Some apps might implement their own theme switcher (which they should not do, but people seem to like making their own worse implementations of browser standards), others might not implement a dark or light mode to begin with.

Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#109

Post by godelski »

hyperhello wrote: post #32

What bothers me is when you copy something from dark mode, and then paste it somewhere normal and you see unreadable background-styled text ■■■■■■■■■■■■■.

I've never had that exact problem, but I often do (copy) (search bar) .

At least in Firefox, pasting into the search bar kills all formatting. This motion is easier than it sounds and you can do it really quickly. Or, you can just use shift like the sibling suggests, but I never remember and it seems to still fail at other things

Re: Dark Mode Sucks

#110

Post by HumanOstrich »

moth-fuzz wrote: post #82

I agree with the author - I'm sick of hearing the cliches from people who prefer 'dark mode'. But I remember long before there was 'light mode' and 'dark mode' there were themes based on a spectrum of hues and values - actual colors. Why not bring that back? "Light mode" can be way more bearable if it's not pure #ffffff. I dislike the invented dichotomy of light and dark anyway, there's an entire spectrum that design…

There are many light mode themes just like there are many dark mode themes. They even have colors.
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