Introduction #

I’m probably one of the few programmers who prefer using a light theme during the day and a dark theme at night. For many years, I’ve defaulted to a dark theme, until the moment I realized that the contrast was horrible in bright places. I had to squint to see clearly on my screen when, for example, sitting next to a window. It surprised me one day when a colleague asked me: “Are you using a light theme?!” in an overly bright office. It wasn’t much of a question — judging from the bewildered look on his face. Just for fun, I’d like to determine whether I’m indeed one of the few programmers using a light theme by gathering some statistics:

81.9% of smartphone users operate their devices in dark mode. — https://www.marketingscoop.com/small-business/dark-mode-users/

When we look at what software engineers have to say, the percentage is even higher — just 2 out of 25 software engineers prefer a light theme… How fascinating. So that means I’m indeed part of a minority.

92% of software engineers prefer to use their integrated development environment in the dark mode in 2020 (Zipdo). — https://forms.app/en/blog/dark-mode-statistics

My Personal Preference #

As mentioned earlier, I like to enjoy my light theme when there’s plenty of natural light, and a dark theme when no or little light is present. That might seem like I prefer my light themes bright and shiny, but that’s definitely not the case. My light theme should be soothing. After trying a bunch of themes I ended up with gruvbox. It’s like writing on old parchment from half a century ago. Unfortunately for me, I occasionally need to switch to different apps like web browsers and other tools, and here’s where my problem starts. The stark contrast between my light theme’s lemon chiffon and the harsh white of other apps makes my eyes burn. It’s not just uncomfortable — it disrupts my focus.

Color Filters to the Rescue #

What if I could just tint my screen. Make white more like lemon chiffon or even peach flavoured. And then it struck me… There are already quite a few apps allowing to tint your screen. Some even use the time of the day to determine which tint to apply.

f.lux #

One application I used a lot in the past is f.lux. After reading the EULA today, I honestly believed I couldn’t install a personal license on my work computer. However, it seems that my interpretation was off. It’s a good thing their FAQ exist:

Can I use the free version of f.lux on my work computer?

Yes, with the knowledge and permission of your employer. Our EULA allows users to download and use the software on work machines. Our license is with you, the end user, and not with the company. If you have rights to install it yourself, and your employer approves, we allow it under our personal license.

What makes f.lux awesome is the gradual tinting of the screen. While working, you don’t really notice the screen gradually becoming less white. Custom colours make it possible to already tame your whites at the beginning of the day.

Native MacOS Color Filters #

If you’re not into installing external applications, and you happen to be on MacOS, there’s an accessibility tool called “Color Filters”. I like this a bit more, as f.lux makes my screen a bit too reddish. My ideal white is like lemon chiffon and not like peachy-orange. MacOS’s Color Filters make it possible to tint your screen in any colour you like!

Conclusion #

I’m quite happy I’ve decided to use colour tinting to tame the intensity of pure white. It’s much easier on the eyes when switching between my terminal and different applications. It would be ideal to spend the entire day in my beloved terminal, but for now, that’s not feasible. Unless maybe one day I switch back to Emacs and do everything within it…

Posted on Sep 3, 2025 (updated on Sep 6, 2025)