GitHub Darcula Optimized

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A dark theme for Visual Studio Code that keeps the restrained, low-contrast workbench of GitHub Dark Dimmed while applying a modern JetBrains Darcula-inspired syntax palette. The UI and code highlighting are designed as separate layers so each can do its job well.

Install

Visual Studio Marketplace

1. Open the Extensions view in Visual Studio Code.
2. Search for GitHub Darcula Optimized.
3. Select the extension published by kwarwang and click Install.
4. Open the Command Palette, run Preferences: Color Theme, and select GitHub Darcula Optimized.

Extension ID: kwarwang.github-darcula-optimized.

Install a packaged VSIX

As an alternative, download a packaged .vsix file and use either method below:

• In VS Code, run Extensions: Install from VSIX... and select the downloaded file.
• From a terminal, run:

code --install-extension github-darcula-optimized-1.0.0.vsix

A GitHub source repository cannot be installed directly as a VS Code extension. It must first be packaged as a .vsix file or published to the Visual Studio Code Marketplace.

Design

The theme has two layers:

1. github-dark-dimmed-base.json provides the base GitHub Dark Dimmed UI and syntax configuration.
2. github-darcula-optimized-color-theme.json includes that base and overrides workbench colors, such as the editor, sidebar, and tabs, together with TextMate and semantic token colors.

This structure keeps the upstream base separate from project-specific changes. Most adjustments should be made in the optimized layer rather than directly in the base file.

Core palette

Project structure

.
├── package.json
├── README.md
├── README_CN.md
├── THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md
├── .github/
│   └── assets/
│       └── theme-preview.jpg
├── docs/
│   └── GITHUB_PUBLISHING.md
├── examples/
│   └── theme-preview.ts
└── themes/
    ├── github-dark-dimmed-base.json
    └── github-darcula-optimized-color-theme.json

• package.json: the VS Code extension manifest, including the extension identity, version, and theme entry point.
• .github/assets/theme-preview.jpg: the theme preview used in both README files.
• examples/theme-preview.ts: a standalone syntax sample used to demonstrate and reproduce the preview.
• themes/github-dark-dimmed-base.json: a vendored copy of the GitHub Dark Dimmed base theme.
• themes/github-darcula-optimized-color-theme.json: the main theme containing this project's overrides and optimizations.
• THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md: source and license notices for the base theme.
• docs/GITHUB_PUBLISHING.md: the maintainer's checklist for the first private GitHub push.

Local preview

1. Open the project directory in VS Code.
2. Press F5 to launch an Extension Development Host window.
3. In the new window, open the Command Palette and run Preferences: Color Theme.
4. Select GitHub Darcula Optimized.

If F5 does not launch the Extension Development Host directly, select a VS Code Extension Development Host configuration in the Run and Debug view and run it again.

Customize the theme

• Workbench UI colors are defined in the main theme's colors field.
• General syntax highlighting is defined in tokenColors.
• Languages with semantic highlighting support primarily use semanticTokenColors.
• To inspect the scope applied to a piece of code, run Developer: Inspect Editor Tokens and Scopes from the Command Palette.

Reload the Extension Development Host after making changes. To make future upstream synchronization easier, avoid editing github-dark-dimmed-base.json directly.

Compatibility

• Visual Studio Code 1.85.0 or later.
• Semantic highlighting is enabled. Since language extensions provide different semantic tokens, a small number of colors may vary by language service.

Attribution and licensing

This project includes a GitHub Dark Dimmed configuration derived from GitHub VS Code Theme, which is available under the MIT License. See THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md for the third-party copyright and full license text.

No license has yet been selected for this project's original modifications. The maintainer should add one before making the repository public: source availability alone does not grant permission to use, modify, or distribute the project.