I built my own VS Code theme from scratch because nothing felt right at 2am

May 16, 2026 · 4:19 PM UTC ·3 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 25 views

#vscode #webdev #opensource #productivity #coding

I built my own VS Code theme from scratch because nothing felt right at 2am

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Vinay Kumar created a custom VS Code theme called Aura Dark after feeling dissatisfied with existing options during a late-night coding session. The theme features a warm dark background and distinct colors for various syntax elements, designed to reduce eye strain during long coding sessions. Aura Dark supports over 35 programming languages with dedicated rules for each, aiming to enhance the coding experience.

Key facts

▪Aura Dark is a deep purple VS Code theme built specifically for long coding sessions.
▪The theme includes a warm background and distinct colors for every syntax element to reduce eye strain.
▪It supports over 35 programming languages with dedicated token rules, ensuring a tailored experience for developers.

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Original publisher	DEV.to (Top)
Canonical URL	https://dev.to/vinaycodes/i-built-my-own-vs-code-theme-from-scratch-because-nothing-felt-right-at-2am-31on
Publication time	Sat, 16 May 2026 16:19:36 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-05-16T16:40:19.008Z
Last seen	2026-05-16T16:40:19.008Z
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Indexing	May the item be indexed (stored, ranked, made findable)?	Allowed
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.

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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

try { if(localStorage) { let currentUser = localStorage.getItem('current_user'); if (currentUser) { currentUser = JSON.parse(currentUser); if (currentUser.id === 3934365) { document.getElementById('article-show-container').classList.add('current-user-is-article-author'); } } } } catch (e) { console.error(e); } Vinay Kumar Posted on May 16 I built my own VS Code theme from scratch because nothing felt right at 2am #productivity #webdev #vscode #opensource It was 2am. I was deep in a coding session and my theme just looked… off. I'd tried everything — One Dark Pro, Dracula, Tokyo Night, Catppuccin. All great themes. None of them felt mine. So instead of sleeping like a normal person, I built my own. 😭 The Story Behind It 🌙 I remember the exact night I decided to build this.

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