Dark Mode Style

General
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This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

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Hey sorry for reviving this discussion, I know it was brought up in both 2019 and 2024.

I know about this thread: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/dark-mode-style/55516

But sorry I need to bring it up again. I don’t understand why this isn’t on the to-do list. It is an accessibility issue, not just a preference issue, and using an extension has limitations.

I use an extension on my laptop, but using the Ecosia app on my mobile device doesn’t seem to translate. Maybe I need an extension compatible with Ecosia? Idk, I have it set in dark mode, but iNat is still light.

I would also like to see a dark mode in the iNat app. That’s not something a browser extension can solve, unless there already is one and I can’t find it. Been looking in my account settings.

Sorry for reviving this, I just don’t think leaving it as “use an extension” is satisfactory? I also don’t fully understand why the developers are resistant to adding it on the future feature list. I don’t even say that as a judgment, I honestly don’t understand why. I wouldn’t imagine it’s THAT complicated. I get it requires resources, so I understand it taking time, but why scrap it? I genuinely don’t get that.

Browser extensions can only go so far, and do nothing about the iNat app itself (again, am I missing a setting somewhere?)

I just think ignoring it is a bit of an accessibility oversight. Sorry to be that person. I don’t want to be that person, I just feel like it is, and I don’t fully understand the reason behind denying the request that has come up more than once.

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I moved the above post to this existing thread and re-opened to keep discussion in one place.

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Thanks! I couldn’t respond here cause it was closed. I went to General cause that’s where the other discussion was. This works.

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Accessibility remains an UNresolved issue on iNat

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/discussion-accessibility-for-inaturalist/66483 which is also closed

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That does indicate a bigger issue. What I really don’t understand is the resistance to this one. While I agree that all accessibility features matter, I do understand that some are more difficult to implement if you’re low on resources.

Dark Mode seems so simple though. It’s why I’m confused. Is there something I’m not understanding? Why resist a relatively simple feature that could help so much?

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From staff:

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Ok that’s good! I understand that it takes time, I just look at these previous threads and keep seeing it’s being scrapped or denied, which I really didn’t understand.

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Perhaps it can be in the goals for the second half of the year ?

https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/123394-our-product-goals-for-january-june-2026

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“I’ll close this as it’s not something we’ll be moving forward on.”

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If you read the feature request that you pulled this quote from, you will see that the request was for a dark mode on the iNaturalist site, not the app. The quote you are replying to specifically talks about plans for the app, which is different.

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I’m not sure why it is planned for the app, but denied for the website. I also strongly support a darkmode option.

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I’m not sure either. I know that there are extensions you can get, but those have limitations.

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If you read the linked threads above, the general reasoning seems to be:

  • For the website, there are many extensions that do a reasonable (though not perfect) job or implementing a dark mode.
  • Staff have long hoped to do a large redesign for central portions of the main website like Explore page. Investing a lot of effort to make the website a bit better than extensions in dark mode (and then having to change everything anyways if it is redesigned wholesale) might not be the best use of time.
  • Development focus of new features is concentrated on the app currently (hence the lack of broad development of the website). Since it is being built from the ground up, adding a dark mode during development will be more effective/efficient. Dark mode is a planned feature for the app.

Essentially it seems to come down to: There’s limited staff time for development and a dark mode for the new app will be easier and more efficient to create than for the website.

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Yes, this is a good point. For example the autistic neurotype, like mine, often manifests as heightened sensory sensitivity. Among others, this means my eyes are very sensitive to light. I can for example make my way quite easily in a typical Finnish forest at night if the stars are out, even more easily with snow cover, and people often say they can’t see anything, while I can still pick out some details. You can just imagine the pain something like store lighting causes. Thus, I have dark mode always on, if possible, and have a builtin dark mode converter in my browser.

The app and the website are uncomfortably bright as it stands.