Claude Code Inspired Dark Theme for Zed

A dark theme for the Zed editor inspired by Claude and Anthropic's brand colors, featuring warm orange accents and a comfortable coding environment.

Features

Design Philosophy

• Warm color palette: Based on Anthropic's brand colors with orange accents
• Comfortable contrast: Cream text on dark brown backgrounds for reduced eye strain
• Semantic highlighting: Each syntax element has a distinct, purposeful color

Color Palette

Primary Colors

• Claude Orange: #E67D22 - Keywords, accents, active elements
• Light Orange: #FFB38A - Functions, hover states
• Cream: #F5E6D3 - Primary text, high contrast
• Muted Tan: #C4A584 - Secondary text, parameters

Syntax Highlighting

• Keywords: Claude orange with increased weight
• Functions: Light orange, italicized for methods
• Strings: Warm green (#98C379)
• Numbers: Coral (#FF9966)
• Comments: Muted tan, italicized
• Types: Soft blue (#61AFEF) for contrast
• Variables: Cream for readability

UI Elements

Editor

• Dark backgrounds with warm brown undertones
• Active line highlighting with subtle orange accent
• Orange-tinted scrollbars and selections
• Line numbers in muted colors, active line in orange

Panels & Surfaces

• Layered backgrounds for depth perception
• Slightly lighter surfaces for panels and sidebars
• Consistent border colors throughout

Status Indicators

• Git: Green (created), Orange (modified), Red (deleted)
• Diagnostics: Warm palette for errors/warnings/info
• Success: Warm green matching the overall theme

Terminal Colors

Full ANSI color palette with warm-tinted variants matching the Claude aesthetic.

Installation

Option 1: Install from Zed Extension Registry (Coming Soon)

Once published, you'll be able to install directly from Zed:

1. Open Zed's command palette (cmd-shift-p on macOS)
2. Type "Extensions" and select "zed: extensions"
3. Search for "Claude Code Inspired Dark"
4. Click Install

Option 2: Install as Dev Extension

1. Clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/ericbuess/claude-code-inspired-dark.git

2. In Zed, open the command palette (cmd-shift-p on macOS)

3. Type "install dev extension" and select zed: install dev extension

4. Navigate to the cloned repository folder and select it

5. Restart Zed when prompted

6. Open settings (cmd-,) and select "Claude Code Inspired Dark" from the theme picker

Customization Tips

Desktop Wallpaper

For a cohesive look, consider using a complementary wallpaper:

• Solid dark backgrounds work best
• Orange or warm-toned gradients complement the theme
• Claude's brand coral (#D97757) or theme orange (#E67D22) create a unified aesthetic

macOS System Settings

For optimal visual experience with the Claude theme:

1. Window Tiling: Drag Zed window to top-middle of screen
   • Creates a small border around the window
   • Allows wallpaper to show through on all sides
   • Enhances the transparency effect
2. Reduce Motion: Turn OFF in System Settings → Accessibility → Display
   • Allows smooth theme transitions and hover effects
3. Cursor Colors: Match cursor to theme colors
   • System Settings → Accessibility → Display → Pointer
   • Set to match theme accent colors

File Structure

.
├── extension.toml           # Extension manifest
├── themes/
│   └── claude-code-inspired-dark.json   # Theme definition
├── screenshot.png           # Theme preview
├── README.md               # This file
└── LICENSE                 # MIT license

Repository

This theme is open source and available at: https://github.com/ericbuess/claude-code-inspired-dark

Credits

Created with Claude's assistance for optimal VM distinction and brand consistency.