How do I install Zenburn.nvim with lazy.nvim?

Add it to your lazy.nvim spec: use { 'phha/zenburn.nvim' }, then call require('zenburn').setup() in your config. This mirrors the packer setup shown in the README for easy integration.

Zenburn.nvim vs tokyonight.nvim: which is better for eye strain?

Zenburn.nvim is specifically designed with a low-contrast, harmonious palette to reduce eye strain during long sessions, while tokyonight offers higher contrast and vibrant colors. For pure eye comfort, Zenburn is the preferred choice.

Does Zenburn.nvim support telescope.nvim?

The README does not list telescope.nvim among supported plugins. It may work with default highlighting, but for optimal integration, you might need to request or contribute custom highlighting, as the project encourages plugin additions via pull requests.

How can I customize the colors in Zenburn.nvim?

The project discourages adding new colors to maintain palette discipline, but you can override highlights in your Neovim config using vim.api.nvim_set_hl. However, this is not officially supported and may break with updates, so it's best to stick to the curated palette.

Is Zenburn.nvim good for light mode or does it only have a dark theme?

Based on the README and screenshots, Zenburn.nvim is a dark theme only, as it ports the classic low-contrast Zenburn scheme. There's no mention of a light variant, so it's not suitable for users preferring light backgrounds.

What's the performance impact of Zenburn.nvim compared to other themes?

As a Lua-based theme, it should have minimal performance impact on Neovim due to Lua's efficiency. The setup is straightforward, and since it avoids complex animations or dynamic elements, it's unlikely to cause slowdowns compared to heavier VimScript themes.

Open-Awesome

zenburn.nvim

MITLua

A modern Lua port of the classic Zenburn low-contrast color scheme for Neovim, designed for long coding sessions.

GitHub

112 stars26 forks0 contributors

What is zenburn.nvim?

Zenburn.nvim is a modern Lua port of the classic Zenburn color scheme for Neovim. It provides a low-contrast palette designed to reduce eye strain and improve focus during long programming sessions, with updated support for Treesitter and contemporary Neovim plugins.

Target Audience

Neovim users who work for extended periods and prefer a calming, low-contrast visual environment, especially those using modern plugins like Treesitter, Lualine, and nvim-cmp.

Value Proposition

It offers a time-tested, eye-friendly color scheme rebuilt for modern Neovim with extensive plugin compatibility, avoiding the harsh contrasts and visual noise common in many themes.

Overview

Zenburn for the modern age

Use Cases

Best For

Neovim users seeking a low-contrast color scheme to reduce eye strain
Developers who code for long hours and want improved visual comfort
Neovim configurations using Treesitter for enhanced syntax highlighting
Users of popular Neovim plugins like Lualine, nvim-cmp, or nvim-tree
Those migrating from Vim Zenburn to a modern Lua-based Neovim version
Developers who prefer curated, harmonious color palettes over bright, high-contrast themes

Not Ideal For

Users requiring high-contrast themes for accessibility or visibility in bright environments
Developers who heavily rely on plugins not listed in the supported set, such as telescope or fzf-lua
Those who prefer vibrant, colorful themes with dynamic elements like gradient backgrounds or light modes
Teams needing extensive theme customization or integration with traditional Vim (non-Neovim editors)

Pros & Cons

Pros

Modern Lua Port

Rebuilt from VimScript to Lua for better Neovim integration and performance, as emphasized in the features, ensuring compatibility with modern setups.

Eye-Friendly Design

Low-contrast palette reduces eye strain during long sessions, adhering to Zenburn's original philosophy for improved focus and visual comfort.

Wide Plugin Compatibility

Includes custom highlighting for Treesitter, Lualine, and popular plugins like nvim-cmp, ensuring a cohesive visual experience across tools.

Consistent Color Curation

Maintains a disciplined palette to avoid color bloat, providing a harmonious and uncluttered interface as noted in the contributing guidelines.

Cons

Limited Customization

The README explicitly discourages adding new colors to avoid bloat, restricting users who want to tweak or extend the theme extensively.

Neovim-Exclusive

As a Lua port, it is not compatible with traditional Vim, limiting its use to Neovim users and excluding those on older setups.

Potential Plugin Gaps

While many plugins are supported, newer or less common ones may lack custom highlighting, relying on default styles that could break visual consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

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