Thread title says it all really - is there or will there be a dark theme for the forum?
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Thread title says it all really - is there or will there be a dark theme for the forum?
If you use Chrome, Firefox or one of their derivatives I highly recommend the Dark Reader extension. You can set any site to be dark (I've done it with Hexus and the forum,) and it does a good job of keeping it legible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spreadie
We've not planned one no, and with the awesome sauce that Spreadie just.....er....spread... you might sort it t'other way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spreadie
Do we need one?
I've always thought HEXUS colours to be quite friendly, really...
I'd be keen for one. Often viewing forum at night and my wife complains at the glow coming from the phone - nevermind the effect on keeping me awake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster
Have you seen forums with one? It's really good. Try "TheGearPage" or similar for a good example. I really like it. You'll need an account to get the option, but I find it much more pleasant on the eye. Plus it helps me tell if I'm logged in or not which can be useful at times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zak33
Oh, that's good to know. I mean, if you like it the way it is, who needs choice? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster
apparently we do have a choice. If we don't like it we should just not use it. That's the warped logic going on in another thread anyway.
^ Was just going to post that!Quote:
Originally Posted by atemporal
I dunno. It just doesn't seem right when well-known websites aren't in their signature colours.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spreadie
OCUK uses that blue scheme, Vodafone is all red, other places have theirs...
I mean I, of all people, will never be opposed to the idea of choice... but as a Champion of RGB around these parts, I'm also aware that Hexites seem vehemently opposed to it, particularly when it concerns colours other than Turn It Off or Whatever It Comes In. The mere thought of HEXUS jumping on the current Dark Theme fad is.... well... 'not computing'. :D
I think RGB is a waste of time, even if you can turn it off, because there is a cost to adding it in the first place. If they did an RGB model and a plain option with the cost saving that entails from not needing the LEDs and extra wiring + chassis space then great. But so often they don't - so in effect I have to pay extra to supplement the whim of those who want to bling their machine to a rainbow-unicorn glowing disco show. I don't mind others wanting it, i just don't want to have pay extra as a result.
I can list a dozen features on most motherboards that I have absolutely no use for and would put in the same box as your RGB, yet still I have to pay lots of money for Optical S/PDIF... or how about keyboards with keys I never ever use?Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
I wonder what the cost implications would be of manufacturing (and retailers stocking) two completely different product codes one with and one without.Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
I have no love for RGB but also no problem in turning it off. Ditto for overt case lighting, even if I have to turn it off with wirecutters. The same applies to side windows, though that's harder to neatly do something about.
I'd also say there's a difference with 'other threads' where the issue is about functions of the OS. After all, if the system turns RGB lignting back on, it'd be pretty obvious. Not so, about OS functions operating entirely invisibly. You may never know if yoy turn it off and some subsequent OS update re-enables it, unless you constantly check the status.
ok, thanks, not sure where I linked to another thread. your point is valid but my main comment here was +1 to the request for a forum dark-mode.Quote:
Originally Posted by Saracen999
I have it on very good authority, from people who think they know better, that manufacturers manufacturing and stocking several models of motherboard, each with variants that have different components included/excluded according to the exact requirements of each individual customer, would be far cheaper for the customer and far more cost efficient for the manufacturer (and retailers), than simply stocking one variant of each model with everything included on each....Quote:
Originally Posted by Saracen999
I won't tell you what foul names I call said experts, as I'll get banned, but it's not pretty....!! :D
How many modes do we need?Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
Is there a need for other modes to account for visual discrepancies, perhaps? I know there are two or three different schemes that address colour blindness, as well as various 'easy reading' variants. Worth considering? Serious question...
No, you miss my point. Don't put it on there at all. Not multiple lines - just the ones I want. Simples ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster
Possibly. Depends on how other development work goes. We are discussing it. Maybe I'll try to whip something up over the weekend.
any joy with this? Just dazzled myself on this site again.
Been very busy with Computex so not yet. Once it's over I should be able to do something.Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
Can you not turn your monitor brightness down, in the meantime?Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
Mine's only at 5%...
Anyone have suggestions for the exact colours they'd want? Obviously not straight black on white but any suggestions would be handy.
Cyan and yellow?
I like how twitch does it, basically replace everything that is white with black and vice versa, and leave the rest the same. Only the grey forum navigation stuff at the top would need to be changed and to go along with the HEXUS colours, just make those blue/orange.Quote:
Originally Posted by MLyons
Keep as is, swap white background for dark grey, drop pale grey borders and banners to mid grey. font a pale grey/off-white NOT bright white. It's about dimming the thing down. The blues and oranges will still work fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by MLyons
+1. this is a screenshot from thegearpage:
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...1GrZ3CLzgp8_uw
(best i could find on google sry)
and here is its normal appearance:
https://thumbnails.webinfcdn.net/thu...arpage.net.png
They seem to invert everything on the greyscale spectrum while leaving everything else the same and it works well.
You didn't, but atemporal did, which is what that bit referred to. It wasn't a link but rather a reference, which being more vague than a link means I had to guess at tbe 'other thread' in question.Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
That gearpage dark theme is perfect and got my vote. Got to love a dark theme!
soooo, any progress on this chaps? It would be a great addition to the site. I'd started to get my hopes up, but things seem to have dropped off the radar (or have they..?) Don't leave us in the dark light on this!
If you use a Chrome or Firefox based browser there's an extension called Dark Reader that flips white to black, you can set it on a site by site basis too. For example, this is how the forum looks to me with it on:
https://i.ibb.co/0ctt4t2/dark.jpg
A workaround but I prefer not to have to resort to extensions etc. If other sites can do it natively so it works on all devices that would be preferable here too (if possible)Quote:
Originally Posted by spacein_vader
Part of the problem is likely to be that for everybody that wants a dark theme, there are others (including me) that want a light one. To please everybody, we'd need both, and to be user-selectable.Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
Then, where there are sponsor-run forums, they either would (*) need to be excluded, or changes agreed.
And as soon as you start having multiple templates on a forum with customised sections and/or code, you increase the workload every time there's a major update.
(*) I would assume. Even when I had insider access, I never saw or was ever involved in anything to do with these relationships, so these comments are from personal opinion, not former insider knowledge. If it were the latter, I wouldn't be posting it.
I haven't seen a sponsor around here for ages, do they still visit?
other sites can do it. It's just a toggle in your user settings. It's not masses of work to have two defined colour schemes. Provided the website has been sensibly coded using variables to begin with. If they've hard-coded the settings every time, well... :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Saracen999
Two (or more) colour schemes is easy to implement. But when templates contain customised elements, every template has to be adjusted. And checked.
To be clear, I neither have nor ever have had any involvement on that side of HEXUS, so I don't know what they do, but I do have a couple of VB sites of my own. That's what I base my comment on.
Well from where I am a quick solve is the background white and then checking the post font still stands out. Most other colours could stay as they are. Given previous Hexus comments that they were looking at it, they thought there was mileage in it. Let's not try and find obstacles and just let Hexus comment hey?Quote:
Originally Posted by Saracen999
DR has poked me about my progress on this so here we go. At the bottom left of the page there should be a dropdown menu. In there, there should be a theme titled "BETA - DO NOT SELECT dark theme" if you select this you'll be able to see my current progress and provide feedback :hexlub:
Epic. The typing/reply entry box is still conventional white background but this all looks epic. You could possibly make the borders a dark grey to lift them from the black post entries, but not essential. I appreciate there;ll be more tweaks but as WIP this is chuffing brilliant. A big :clapping: :hexlub: from meQuote:
Originally Posted by MLyons
edit, ooh comedy it shows up the white in the smiley gifs doesn't it!!! If they get an overhaul can we add a face-palm? It's one of the most needed additions. That and a "talk to the hand" ;)
ps If you need beta testing always happy to help.
another thing is the top of page header menu (top top right) it's ok for regular users who know it's there, the dark grey is visible still, but is the aim to bump it to a shade lighter grey. I actually prefer the darker grey and would leave it like that, but it looks like the aim is to lighten it similar to the "welcome" colour. I like the way it currently is, and hovering over it makes it stand out nicely. I'd leave it like that tbh.
I'll play with it some more tonight when I'm in bed and let you know how I get on. If mrs ik9000 doesn't complain about the light waking her up we'll be onto a winner.
Erm not too sure we need to know how you get on :whip:Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
oh FFS... :embarrassed:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonj1611
the thanks, report, multiquote each side of posts all get a bit lost if you don't know they're there.
Mr Green loses all his teeth and starts to look more like Zippy with a hair dye. Not a bad laugh icon though :mrgreen:
subscriptions -> left hand side "my settings" menu titles backgrounds need dimming
None of my comments are putting obstacles in the way of anything, as I am not nor ever have been involved in Hexus development.Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
Well, one comment might be an obstacle, but only if the proposal was to have one available theme, a dark one, which would be that some people prefer it as it is. If it's user-selectable, then .... no problem. All I sought to do was outline what might be among the issues. Not sure how that amounts to obstacles.
Fair comment. Sry end of a rubbish day. Clearly carried over into the forum. Must leave work at work. (Harder to separate when it's wfh) My badQuote:
Originally Posted by Saracen999
Ps have you tried the beta? It's looking really good!
Oooh, nice. Thanks, Mason, I'm liking it a lot so far. :)
I like the dark theme so far - although the 'quick reply' box at the bottom is a bit bright now compared to the rest of the page...
No prob, IK.Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
And yup. Tried the Beta. Unless something I can't remember has changed it's very like the one shown quite a while ago but I don't remember if it was mods-only or 'public' at that time. It's okay I guess, but doesn't suit my eyes. That might be more to do with my sight than anything, but nonetheless, I find it .... uncomfortable, and straining. Which kinda brings me back to .... providing the current (or something close) theme remains at least an option, I don't really have an opinion on a 'dark' theme, because I wouldn't be using it.
same with "go advanced." It either needs inverting to match the rest of the page or the background making a darker grey so the box still stands out but is not as hammering on the eyes.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrJim
other areas needing to be incorporated into the dark theme are the personal profile and message pages etc where lots of the backgrounds are still white.
Some of the "thanked by" "thanks given" links in the about me information don't appear when viewing in dark mode.
A useful addition would also be a setting in the user preferences so it automatically sets the dark mode on log-in for those who prefer it. (and so folk who don't want it can still opt for the traditional appearance).
once in dark mode a number of pages lose the drop down menu to toggle back out of dark mode. Currently stuck in it which is fine, except for some missing links in the about me information that is now inaccessible.
It is there, just hover around the area where the selection is and it should show upQuote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
The beta theme is really cool, much easier on the eyes for sure! Thanks for implementing!
It varies for me. Sometimes the footer below the bottom-most blue menu bar doesn't appear at all, and only the blue background of the menu bar appears, no buttons/hyperlinks or text. It only seems to do this is dark mode, and particularly when more than one hexus tab is open (using firefox if that makes any difference). Other times everything is there as it should be. I'll try and get some screenshots later but busy atm.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonj1611It is there, just hover around the area where the selection is and it should show upQuote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
The footer issue should now be fixed. Working on the other suggestions now.
Things have clearly progressed since I last visited. This looks great! Thank you :)
I still get some white text boxes but generally good :clapping:
things still needing updating:
text entry boxes and menus still bright white
insert image/link/video etc pop-up boxes still white background etc
The scan forums area is still bright white and does not show in dark mode at all.
profile/about me still bright white (but also missing some links like the "find thanked posts" etc)
private messages, inbox etc still bright white
Is there any plan to give the wider Hexus website a similar dark mode?
^^^^ This :) please!Quote:
Originally Posted by ik9000
+1. I was going to say#metoo then realised that's something else entirely and probably gets me flamed for #misappropriation :mrgreen:Quote:
Originally Posted by Duckboy79