Disagree. All apps should start by following the system mode. That way you get the app the way you like it and don’t have to change it.
this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2023
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ShowerThoughts
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Yup. The latest app I've built has 3 modes.
- System (default)
- Light
- Dark
It gives that setting right on start-up and saves the users selection as the new default straight after. It's not too hard to implement. At least not in Angular. Native Android on the other hand is a pain in the neck. I found react native to also bee rather painful.
App i’m working on with a friend has this too, way more user friendly and not at all hard to implement.
React native has been a pain in my butt and I regret picking it for my final year project
Yep. Did this with Buttercup Password Manager. Default should be the most intuitive, ie supporting the most users without needing to change any settings.
Yes to this. It bugs me so much that they have the “follow system” option and it’s practically never the default.
It would be such a simple way of giving users a slightly customised experience out of the box.
You have a very good point.
There are people out there who prefer light mode.
Those people go outside more probably.
I prefer light mode as well, but light is a lot more painful than dark when it's unexpected
I work outside and I prefer dark mode. Sunlight and screen light are different. Light mode fans are just heathens.
Now that most electronic devices have bright ass screens this needs to be default, or some non blinding neutral. Getting tired of opening an app or website on my phone and being blinded. Not sure if it is true, but to me dark mode also feels easier to read in a bright room or outside.
Can just lower the brightness on your device, then no app can go brighter than that.
That's authoritarian. Lol I don't like dark mode at all, why force it on me?
Light mode is much more comfortable to read to me. I hate it when apps force dark mode.
It is actually healthier for your eyes, too.
How is it anymore "authoritarian" than starting in light mode by default lol?
It's actually objectively the best option for the default, including over system default, for many reasons. It's a better default than light mode because for dark mode users light mode can be immediately painfully bright, whereas even the most steadfast light mode user would take a few minutes at least to feel eye strain in dark mode, which is plenty of time to switch to light mode. It's better than system default because often apps set to the system theme will flash light mode before loading the system option.
Following the system theme is good, but so many times, apps start in light mode by default before loading these settings. This results in an awful white flash before the app is able to query the system what theme it should use. The shell for apps for before they load should definitely be dark imo
I have trouble with dark mode — after images, headaches. Much prefer light.
Same for me, my pupils dilate more so the bright parts irritate them more. Light mode in a properly lit room is much more comfortable, although something like Solarised or Gruvbox is a little better than black on white.
I remember times (10 years ago?) when 'light' was considered normal and a friend would laugh at me for using white on black terminal and editor (actually VIM in a terminal) windows – „that is like old CRT monitors back in the day… now everyone normal uses black text on white background – like in Microsoft Word and everything, as that is natural”.
So often people would argue just for current trend and not what works for them. For me black background is a must for terminal or code editors, but I don't mind light themes in typical desktop applications. Dark is as good, and maybe even better (not enough to bother me), provided it is consistent, at least within the application, preferable over whole system.
That makes sense though I think some people have trouble reading in dark mode. What about a neutral mode for the default so it is not to dark or to light?
Was about to say. I hate light mode and always default to dark, but I'd also be 100% with a "just not blinding fucking white" mode as a middle ground.
This should have been posted in unpopular opinion because I have to hard disagree with you.
well I had to fix few things on friend's phone but the first thing I had to do was to reduce phone brightness from 80% to 30% just to switch between themes & then tinker with app options. It was a blinding experience. My eyes are so accustomed to dark themes... but everyone has own preferences.
Here's the way I see it. I need light theme on desktop for my work. I need dark theme on my phone. Both feel right in their particular case.
Time to introduce ADHD mode, where the program can't decide and repeatedly switches back and forth between light and dark.
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