# Dark Theme Implementation
## Overview
EVE now features a comprehensive dark theme system that ensures all UI elements look beautiful in both light and dark modes, with automatic system preference detection.
## Features
### Theme Options
1. **Light Mode** ☀️ - Clean, bright interface
2. **Dark Mode** 🌙 - Easy on the eyes, default theme
3. **System Mode** 🖥️ - Automatically follows OS theme preference
### Key Capabilities
- **Automatic Detection** - Respects system dark mode preferences
- **Persistent Storage** - Theme choice saved across sessions
- **Instant Switching** - Changes apply immediately
- **Comprehensive Coverage** - All UI elements support both themes
- **Beautiful UI** - Carefully crafted color schemes for both modes
## Implementation Details
### Architecture
#### Theme Manager (`src/lib/theme.ts`)
A singleton class that handles:
- Theme state management
- LocalStorage persistence
- System preference detection via `prefers-color-scheme` media query
- Dynamic HTML class application (`dark` class on root element)
- Real-time system theme change detection
```typescript
export class ThemeManager {
setTheme(theme: 'light' | 'dark' | 'system'): void
getTheme(): 'light' | 'dark' | 'system'
isDark(): boolean
}
```
#### Settings Store Integration
Theme preference is stored in `settingsStore`:
- Persisted to LocalStorage via Zustand middleware
- Accessible throughout the app
- Defaults to `'dark'`
#### CSS Variables
TailwindCSS dark mode classes are used throughout:
- `dark:bg-gray-800` for dark backgrounds
- `dark:text-white` for dark text colors
- `dark:border-gray-700` for dark borders
- etc.
### Components with Dark Mode
All components support dark mode via Tailwind's `dark:` prefix:
#### Core UI
- ✅ `App.tsx` - Main app container
- ✅ `ChatInterface.tsx` - Chat area
- ✅ `ChatMessage.tsx` - Message bubbles
- ✅ `SettingsPanel.tsx` - Settings modal
#### Selectors
- ✅ `ModelSelector.tsx` - AI model dropdown
- ✅ `CharacterSelector.tsx` - Character picker
#### Advanced Features
- ✅ `ConversationList.tsx` - Conversation browser
- ✅ `MessageContent.tsx` - Markdown renderer
- ✅ `CodeBlock.tsx` - Code syntax highlighting
- ✅ `MermaidDiagram.tsx` - Diagram renderer
- ✅ `TTSControls.tsx` - Audio controls
- ✅ `VoiceInput.tsx` - Microphone controls
- ✅ `FileUpload.tsx` - File upload area
- ✅ `FilePreview.tsx` - File preview cards
### Theme Selector UI
Located in `SettingsPanel` > Appearance section:
- **Visual Design**: Three large, clickable cards
- **Icons**: Sun (light), Moon (dark), Monitor (system)
- **Active State**: Blue border and background highlight
- **Responsive**: Works on all screen sizes
- **Accessible**: Clear labels and visual feedback
## User Experience
### Default Behavior
1. App opens in **dark mode** by default
2. User can change theme in Settings > Appearance
3. Theme persists across app restarts
4. System mode respects OS preference changes in real-time
### Theme Persistence
- Stored in: `localStorage` → `eve-settings` → `theme` field
- Survives app restarts
- Synced across all app windows/tabs (if web version)
### Visual Consistency
#### Dark Mode Palette
- **Background**: Gray 900-800 gradient
- **Cards**: Gray 800
- **Borders**: Gray 700
- **Text**: White / Gray 300
- **Accents**: Blue 500
#### Light Mode Palette
- **Background**: Blue 50 → Indigo 100 gradient
- **Cards**: White
- **Borders**: Gray 200-300
- **Text**: Gray 800 / Gray 600
- **Accents**: Blue 500
## Technical Implementation
### 1. Theme Initialization
In `App.tsx`:
```typescript
useEffect(() => {
const themeManager = getThemeManager()
themeManager.setTheme(theme)
}, [theme])
```
### 2. HTML Class Application
The theme manager adds/removes the `dark` class on ``:
```typescript
if (isDark) {
document.documentElement.classList.add('dark')
} else {
document.documentElement.classList.remove('dark')
}
```
### 3. CSS Variable System
In `index.css`:
```css
:root {
--background: 0 0% 100%;
--foreground: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
/* ... more variables */
}
.dark {
--background: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
--foreground: 210 40% 98%;
/* ... dark mode overrides */
}
```
### 4. Component Styling
Components use Tailwind's `dark:` prefix:
```jsx
Content
```
## Browser Compatibility
- ✅ Chrome/Edge (Chromium)
- ✅ Firefox
- ✅ Safari
- ✅ Tauri Desktop (All platforms)
Uses standard web APIs:
- `matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)')`
- `localStorage`
- CSS classes
## Testing
### Manual Testing Checklist
- [x] Light theme applies correctly
- [x] Dark theme applies correctly
- [x] System theme follows OS preference
- [x] Theme persists after app restart
- [x] Theme selector shows correct active state
- [x] All components visible in both themes
- [x] Text readable in both themes
- [x] Borders visible in both themes
- [x] Hover states work in both themes
- [x] Focus states work in both themes
### OS Integration Testing
**macOS**:
1. System Preferences > General > Appearance
2. Select "Light" or "Dark"
3. EVE updates if theme set to "System"
**Windows**:
1. Settings > Personalization > Colors
2. Choose "Light" or "Dark"
3. EVE updates if theme set to "System"
**Linux**:
1. DE settings (varies by desktop environment)
2. Toggle light/dark mode
3. EVE updates if theme set to "System"
## Best Practices
### For Future Component Development
When creating new components, always include dark mode support:
```tsx
// ✅ Good - Has dark mode support
// ❌ Bad - No dark mode support
```
### Color Guidelines
| Element | Light Mode | Dark Mode |
|---------|-----------|-----------|
| Primary BG | `bg-white` | `dark:bg-gray-800` |
| Secondary BG | `bg-gray-50` | `dark:bg-gray-900` |
| Card BG | `bg-white` | `dark:bg-gray-800` |
| Text Primary | `text-gray-800` | `dark:text-white` |
| Text Secondary | `text-gray-600` | `dark:text-gray-300` |
| Text Muted | `text-gray-500` | `dark:text-gray-400` |
| Border | `border-gray-200` | `dark:border-gray-700` |
| Hover BG | `hover:bg-gray-100` | `dark:hover:bg-gray-700` |
| Accent | `text-blue-500` | (same) |
## Benefits
### User Benefits
✅ **Reduced Eye Strain** - Dark mode easier on eyes in low light
✅ **Battery Savings** - Dark pixels use less power on OLED screens
✅ **Personal Preference** - Users choose what they like
✅ **Modern Feel** - Follows current UI trends
✅ **Accessibility** - Better for light-sensitive users
### Developer Benefits
✅ **Consistent System** - Single theme manager for entire app
✅ **Easy to Maintain** - Standard Tailwind classes
✅ **Type Safe** - TypeScript theme types
✅ **Well Documented** - Clear implementation guide
✅ **Future Proof** - Easy to add more themes
## Future Enhancements
### Potential Additions
- **Custom Themes** - User-defined color schemes
- **Accent Color Picker** - Customize primary color
- **Theme Presets** - Additional theme options (Nord, Dracula, etc.)
- **Contrast Modes** - High contrast variants
- **Per-Window Themes** - Different themes per window
- **Theme Animations** - Smooth color transitions
- **Theme API** - Allow extensions to add themes
### Animation Ideas
```css
* {
transition: background-color 0.2s, color 0.2s, border-color 0.2s;
}
```
Could make theme switches feel more polished.
## Troubleshooting
### Theme Not Applying
1. Check browser console for errors
2. Verify `dark` class on `` element
3. Check LocalStorage for `eve-settings` entry
4. Clear cache and reload
### System Theme Not Detected
1. Verify OS has theme preference set
2. Check browser permissions
3. Test with `window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches`
### Components Look Wrong
1. Check for missing `dark:` classes
2. Verify color variables are defined
3. Check for conflicting styles
4. Use browser DevTools to inspect
## Summary
EVE now has a professional, fully-featured dark theme system that:
- Works automatically out of the box
- Respects user and system preferences
- Covers every UI element
- Persists across sessions
- Follows modern design principles
- Is easy to maintain and extend
The implementation is complete, tested, and production-ready! 🎉
---
**Implementation Date**: October 5, 2025
**Status**: ✅ Complete
**Version**: v0.2.0-rc