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Add dark mode support via appearance-aware colour palettes (RFC 0007) #24

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Merged
willwade merged 1 commit into from
Jun 19, 2026
Merged

Add dark mode support via appearance-aware colour palettes (RFC 0007) #24

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2 changes: 2 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/color.dtd
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Expand Up @@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
gameGuideColor CDATA #IMPLIED
oneButtonDynamicOuterGuidesColor CDATA #IMPLIED
conversionNodeColor CDATA #IMPLIED
appearance (light|dark) #IMPLIED <!-- Light/dark classification for system appearance matching (see RFC 0007) -->
companion CDATA #IMPLIED <!-- Name of the opposite-appearance partner palette -->
>

<!-- Group Color Definition -->
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34 changes: 34 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.default.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "Default" (RFC 0007). Inherits all node/group colours from
Default and overrides only the UI chrome so the canvas is legible on a dark
background. Switched to by dasher_set_appearance(ctx, 2) when Default is active. -->
<colors name="Default Dark"
parentName="Default"
appearance="dark"
companion="Default"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
33 changes: 33 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.euroasian.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "European/Asian (Original)" (RFC 0007). Inherits all
node/group colours and overrides only UI chrome for a dark background. -->
<colors name="European/Asian (Original) Dark"
parentName="European/Asian (Original)"
appearance="dark"
companion="European/Asian (Original)"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
33 changes: 33 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.euroasian2.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "European/Asian for Colourblind" (RFC 0007). Inherits all
node/group colours and overrides only UI chrome for a dark background. -->
<colors name="European/Asian for Colourblind Dark"
parentName="European/Asian for Colourblind"
appearance="dark"
companion="European/Asian for Colourblind"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
35 changes: 35 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.rainbow.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "Rainbow" (RFC 0007). Inherits Rainbow's letter/group
colours and overrides only UI chrome so the canvas reads on a dark
background. Switched to by dasher_set_appearance(ctx, 2) when Rainbow is
active. -->
<colors name="Rainbow Dark"
parentName="Rainbow"
appearance="dark"
companion="Rainbow"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
33 changes: 33 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.thai.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "Thai" (RFC 0007). Inherits all node/group colours and
overrides only UI chrome for a dark background. -->
<colors name="Thai Dark"
parentName="Thai"
appearance="dark"
companion="Thai"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
33 changes: 33 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.turbo.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "TurboLUT" (RFC 0007). Inherits all node/group colours and
overrides only UI chrome for a dark background. -->
<colors name="TurboLUT Dark"
parentName="TurboLUT"
appearance="dark"
companion="TurboLUT"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
33 changes: 33 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.vowels.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "Vowels" (RFC 0007). Inherits all node/group colours and
overrides only UI chrome for a dark background. -->
<colors name="Vowels Dark"
parentName="Vowels"
appearance="dark"
companion="Vowels"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
33 changes: 33 additions & 0 deletions Data/colours/colour.vowels2.dark.xml
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE colors SYSTEM "color.dtd">
<!-- Dark companion of "Vowels2" (RFC 0007). Inherits all node/group colours and
overrides only UI chrome for a dark background. -->
<colors name="Vowels2 Dark"
parentName="Vowels2"
appearance="dark"
companion="Vowels2"
backgroundColor="#1E1E1E"
defaultLabelColor="#FFFFFF"
defaultOutlineColor="#3A3A3A"
crosshairColor="#FFFFFF"
inputLineColor="#FF5A5A"
inputPositionColor="#FFFFFF"
rootNodeColor="#2F5D2F"
conversionNodeColor="#6A6A6A"
selectionHighlightColor="#FF5A5A"
selectionInactiveColor="#7A2A2A"
circleOutlineColor="#CCCCCC"
circleStoppedColor="#FF5A5A"
circleWaitingColor="#FFCC00"
circleStartedColor="#5AFF5A"
firstStartBoxColor="#FF5A5A"
secondStartBoxColor="#FFCC00"
twoPushDynamicActiveMarkerColor="#5AFF5A"
twoPushDynamicInactiveMarkerColor="#55FFFF"
twoPushDynamicOuterGuidesColor="#2F5D2F"
infoTextColor="#FFFFFF"
infoTextBackgroundColor="#000000"
warningTextColor="#1E1E1E"
warningTextBackgroundColor="#FFCC00"
gameGuideColor="#FF99CC">
</colors>
18 changes: 18 additions & 0 deletions docs/C_API.md
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Expand Up @@ -438,6 +438,24 @@ void dasher_set_palette(dasher_ctx* ctx, const char* palette_name);

`dasher_get_palette_preview_colors` writes 4 ARGB preview colours into `out_colors` (must have room for 4 ints). Returns 0 on success.

### Appearance / dark mode (RFC 0007)

Palettes may declare an `appearance` (`light`/`dark`) and a `companion` (their opposite-appearance partner) in their XML. Use these to follow the OS light/dark preference without hardcoding name pairs per frontend.

```c
int dasher_get_palette_appearance(dasher_ctx* ctx, int index); // 0=unspecified, 1=light, 2=dark, -1=oor
const char* dasher_find_companion_palette(dasher_ctx* ctx, const char* palette_name); // NULL if none
int dasher_set_appearance(dasher_ctx* ctx, int appearance); // 1=light, 2=dark; 0 on success, -1 if no companion
```

`dasher_set_appearance` switches the current palette to its companion that matches the requested appearance; if the current palette already matches it is a no-op. If no companion is available it returns `-1` and leaves the palette unchanged (the user's explicit choice is respected). Companion lookup is bidirectional, so legacy palettes without metadata are still paired with a dark companion that names them.

Typical frontend usage on an OS appearance change:

```c
dasher_set_appearance(ctx, is_dark ? 2 : 1);
```

## Game Mode

```c
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