13

Ask DN: Why isn't there yet a osx dark finder mode or alternative?

over 7 years ago from , UI Designer

Dear Community,

I have been looking around for a good finder alternative since xtrafinder (like totalfinder) isn't supported anymore due to SIP. An app that may have solved this issue for creating a dark skin was Flavours, however it suffers from the same or a similar problem.

This is the best post I have found to see all "good" available finder alternatives. I tried my best to make path finder work with a darker theme, but it just does not solve the problem!

This is what we are looking for: darkfinder example

Osx has the option for a darkmode (only menubar... not system wide....), which has been really nice/convenient to use alongside with apps like Flux to automatically switch to this setting. However when I am using my laptop at night I would love the option to see a dark finder next to my dark iterm2 terminal and dark code editor.

btw a dark sketch would do wonders too ;)

who knows a solution and why are all finder alternatives sooooooo bad (the looks)?

20 comments

  • T. F., over 7 years ago

    There should be a dark mode for every app -- especially since we live in the day & age of ultra simplified flat designs where this really isn't hard to accomplish anymore. Btw how's about a dark DN ?

    8 points
  • Wil NicholsWil Nichols, over 7 years ago

    There's an incomplete version of a system-wide dark theme at /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemAppearance.bundle/Contents/Resources/ . To enable, boot into Restore mode, disable SIP, reboot, navigate to the above path, back up the bundle, and in the original, delete "SystemAppearance.car" and rename "DarkAppearance.car" to "SystemAppearance.car". Relaunch an app to see if in action, or reboot to see system-wide.

    The .car files can be edited using Alex Zielenki's ThemeEngine — https://github.com/alexzielenski/ThemeEngine

    Now, if an enterprising individual here, in his or her free time, could figure out how to change the fileview and sidebar background, invert or recolor the toolbar glyphs, and change the titlebar text color...

    Existing Dark Mode:

    Screenshot of Dark-mode Finder

    6 points
    • Dimitrie Hoekstra, over 7 years ago (edited over 7 years ago )

      this was done in el capitan?

      essentially this is what flavours did isn't it?

      0 points
      • Wil NicholsWil Nichols, over 7 years ago

        Unsure as to whether or not Flavours replaced the files or not, but it did use the same format. It also replaced app-specific resources and changed additional text colors.

        It didn't, however, fix glyph colors...

        0 points
  • Jake ZienJake Zien, over 7 years ago (edited over 7 years ago )

    Because Apple didn't build one yet and neither did anyone else.

    4 points
  • Andrew McWattersAndrew McWatters, over 7 years ago

    Well why don't you make one, silly head?

    3 points
  • Account deleted over 7 years ago

    Full view and Sketch file of the Finder Dark Mod:

    https://dribbble.com/shots/1790576-Yosemite-Finder-Dark-Mode

    :)

    1 point
  • Laurens SpangenbergLaurens Spangenberg, over 7 years ago

    If I recall correctly, early beta versions of OS X Yosemite did have a proper dark mode, it's just that implementing it is harder than it looks. I personally like how Linux (Gnome & elementary) implements the dark mode on a per-app basis, so apps such as Terminal, Photos, and Videos would be dark while the rest would be light.

    1 point
  • Eliza Bergman, over 6 years ago

    The lack of a finder dark mode has been one of my greatest pain points. Has anyone used Commander One PRO? I haven't found a way to fix the header or footer of the window, but the content area is quite customizable...

    0 points
  • T. F., over 7 years ago

    Considering that apple introduces nightshift with 9.3 on iOS, hopefully we will see a more advanced dark mode soon on whatever-california-attraction-apple-choices-to-adorn-itself-with-next OS.

    0 points
  • Joe Blau, over 7 years ago

    I know this isn't exactly what you're looking for but Apple has an way to invert the colors of the screen: Control + Option + Command + 8. Or you can access it by going to: System Preferences > Accessibility > Display > Invert Colors. I usually use this mode when I'm on an airplane and the screen is too bright.

    Here is the result: Inverted

    0 points