Chalkboard Color Scheme for Komodo

This color scheme is updated regularly. (View Updates)

Komodo PHP Sample
Komodo PHP Sample

Komodo Edit 5 has been my default code editor for the past week or so. It is much faster and nicer to look at than previous versions that I have tried. I switch default code editors almost as often as I switch default browsers. There are so many good ones out there, but none feels exactly right. Considering I spend most of my days switching between browsers and editor, I like to keep up with the latest that is available for mac.

One of the things I am most picky about in an editor is the color scheme. It is very hard for me to find schemes that I can stand to stare at for long periods of time. Schemes with white/light backgrounds and colored text are usually too bright for me and dark schemes are usually either too high or too low contrast. For this reason, I usually end up making my own.

If anyone else is using Komodo Edit (or Komodo IDE) and is similarly picky about color schemes, I have made it available for download.

Click here to download the LB Chalkboard scheme

Komodo CSS sample
Komodo CSS Sample

I should mention that the only language specific colors I made changes to are PHP, CSS, HTML, XML, and JavaScript. Also, I am still changing things as I come across them.

Update (3/4/09): Changed CSS comment color from green to default grey.

Update (3/21/09): Downloaded the trial version of Komodo IDE 5 yesterday and noticed that schemes switched over automatically. [update: bought Komodo IDE 5 after trial expired. Still loving it (1/17/10)]

Update (3/24/09): Fixed issue with some defaults changing from white to black text after update to Komodo 5.1. Added language specific colors for Smarty.

Update (8/23/09): Changed Common Syntax bracehighlight background color from dark grey to yellow for increased visibility.

Update (9/17/09): Changed Find highlighting indicator background color from yellow to green for increased readability.

Update (1/17/10): Changed Tag matching indicator background color from orange to light blue for increased readability.

Update (4/20/10): Identifiers color added for JavaScript.

Update (5/30/10): Changed colors of identifiers and strings for JavaScript because the orange identifiers were burning out my retinas. Identifiers are now off-white and strings are light orange.

Update (10/14/10): A few settings were changed slightly after installing Komodo 6.0. Still assessing whether I will change them back or keep them as is.

Update (6/1/11): CSS identifier color changed to increase readability, reduce eye-strain, and match other scheme colors better.

Update (7/9/11): All is well in Komodo 7.0-alpha3 except for the new HTML5 scheme not matching at all. Will get to that if I can ever find some time.

Update (12/28/11): This scheme has been included as a default scheme in Komodo 7 and is now called Dark_Chalkboard. Thanks to ActiveState for including it.

14 thoughts on “Chalkboard Color Scheme for Komodo”

  1. Very pretty. There are still some styles (e.g. see “element.name” in the javascript_sample.js in Komodo’s sample project) that need tweaking. Similar kinds of things in Python scripts. However, after that, I’d love to see if getting this as a default Komodo scheme would be possible (if you are willing).

    Reply
  2. I see what you’re saying about the styles. Curious why there are no Common Syntax settings for things like variables and regex.

    I am really loving this version of Komodo Edit. I think it’s a keeper 🙂 Would be very happy to contribute the scheme as a default. Still making minor tweaks here and there. I will try to keep the download link updated with the latest version.

    Reply
  3. > Curious why there are no Common Syntax settings
    > for things like variables and regex.

    Just inertia. There should be an easy way to do that. There will be the next time we are able to find time to spend on the scheme system.

    Reply
    • Thanks! i just updated the CSS identifier color to better match the rest of the scheme and improve readability. The example CSS photo in the post is updated if you want to take a look.

      Reply
  4. Thanks for Sharing, this is a really nice color sheme, almost exactly as I wanted so this is perfect 🙂
    But, is there a way to also darken the toolbar background or the whole window? would be a nice-to-have, so if not it’s not critical 😀

    Reply
  5. Thanks, Glad you like it 🙂 As far as I know, the window appearance is determined by the operating system rather than by the Komodo scheme.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Sanbor Cancel reply