Guide · Open source
How to use Solarized color scheme in Vim and terminals
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Solarized is a color scheme: a fixed palette of sixteen colors, eight neutral tones and eight accents, that you apply to terminals, text editors and other apps so text and code are easier to read. This guide explains what it contains, how to get the files, which applications have ready-made ports, and how to use the dark and light versions. By the end you will know where to start for your own setup.
Solarizedaltercation/solarized · ★ 16k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Clone the repository. Run git clone git://github.com/altercation/solarized.git to get the full set of ports.
- 2Find your application. Look through the Editors and IDEs and Terminal Emulators lists in the README for your tool.
- 3Open the matching folder. Go to the folder or application-specific repository for your editor or terminal.
- 4Follow that port's README. Each port has its own setup steps, so read the instructions in its folder before you change any settings.
- 5Try both modes. Switch between dark and light backgrounds to check that the scheme still feels consistent for your work.
- 6Build a custom port if needed. If your app is not listed, use the published palette values to create your own theme and submit it back to the project if you wish.
What Solarized contains
Solarized is a sixteen color palette made of eight monotones and eight accent colors, designed for terminal and GUI applications. The author built it around CIELAB lightness relationships and a set of hues based on fixed color wheel relationships.
It is designed so the dark and light modes feel like one scheme. The README says Solarized reduces brightness contrast on purpose, while keeping contrasting hues so syntax highlighting stays readable.
- Sixteen colors: eight monotones and eight accents
- Designed to work in both dark and light background modes
- Can also scale down to a five color palette for design work
Download Solarized from the repository
The full Git repository contains the ports for many applications. Clone it with the command below, then open the folder for the application you use.
The README also says the application-specific repositories are kept in sync with the main repository through git-subtree, so you can pull any of them to get the most up-to-date version. A downloadable zip and a canonical project page are also linked from the README.
- Full repository: https://github.com/altercation/solarized
- Canonical project page: http://ethanschoonover.com/solarized
git clone git://github.com/altercation/solarized.gitChoose a port for your editor or terminal
The README lists ports for several editors and IDEs, including Vim, Emacs, IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans, Visual Studio, TextMate, BBEdit and TextWrangler, and Coda and SubEthaEdit. Terminal ports include Xresources, iTerm2, OS X Terminal.app, PuTTY and the Xfce terminal.
Vim is the most prominent port. The Vim-only portion has its own repository for use with Pathogen and similar plugin managers. Follow the README inside the port you choose for its exact setup steps.
- Vim: separate repository, for use with Pathogen and similar tools
- Emacs, IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans, Visual Studio: listed in the main repo and in standalone repos
- Terminals: Xresources, iTerm2, OS X Terminal.app, PuTTY, Xfce terminal
- Palettes for Adobe Photoshop, Apple Color Picker and GIMP
Use the dark and light modes
Solarized keeps the same selective contrast relationships and overall feel when you switch between light and dark backgrounds. This is useful if you change modes often while editing text and code.
If your application has no listed port, the README suggests downloading the palettes or pulling the values from its table and building your own. The author says contributions can be submitted back for inclusion on the page.
- Keep the same mode-switching habit across editors if you use several
- Check the README of the port for any limits, such as the TextMate dark theme being a work in progress
Build your own colors from the published values
The README includes a Sass example that inverts Solarized based on the class of the HTML tag, for instance a dark background with red accents. It lists the base and accent values as hex codes, such as base03 as #002b36 and red as #dc322f.
Use this approach only if your app has no port. The README says the monotones have symmetric CIELAB lightness differences, which is why switching modes keeps the same perceived brightness contrast.
- Monotone and accent values are published as hex codes
- Symmetric CIELAB lightness is what makes inversion straightforward
What people use it for
- Reducing glare during long coding sessions in a terminal
- Keeping a consistent look when switching between dark and light editor backgrounds
- Applying a ready-made theme in Vim, Emacs, IntelliJ IDEA or Visual Studio
- Pulling a five color palette for web design work
- Creating a theme for a terminal emulator with no listed port, using the published values
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Solarized?
Clone the full repository with git clone git://github.com/altercation/solarized.git, then open the folder for your editor or terminal. Follow the README in that port for its specific setup steps.
Is Solarized free to use?
Yes, the project is listed under the MIT licence. Check the licence file in the repository for the full terms.
What are the requirements for Solarized?
The source does not list any prerequisites. What you need depends on the application you apply the theme to, so check that port's README.
Does Solarized work in Vim?
Yes. Vim is the most prominent port, and the Vim-only portion is available in its own repository for use with Pathogen and similar tools.
Is Solarized low contrast, and is it hard to read?
The README says Solarized deliberately reduces brightness contrast, so it is not a high-contrast scheme. It keeps contrasting hues so code remains readable, but people who need strong contrast may prefer another scheme.
What are good alternatives to Solarized?
Comparable color schemes include Dracula, Gruvbox, Nord and Tokyo Night. Try a few in your own editor to see which one suits your eyes and background.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
Solarized suits developers who spend long hours in a terminal or editor and want a low-glare scheme that works well in both dark and light modes. It is a poor pick if you need high contrast, or if your editor has no port and you do not want to build one from the published values.
Install options & downloads