> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bastani.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Theme reference

> Theme file format, every color token, and accepted color values.

# Theme reference

## Theme Format

```json theme={null}
{
  "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bastani-inc/atomic/main/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/theme/theme-schema.json",
  "name": "my-theme",
  "vars": {
    "blue": "#0066cc",
    "gray": 242
  },
  "colors": {
    "accent": "blue",
    "muted": "gray",
    "text": "",
    ...
  },
  "workingIndicator": {
    "dark": "#70759f",
    "lift": "#7f849c",
    "muted": "#789bd0",
    "accent": "blue",
    "bright": "#b8d2ff",
    "peak": "#eef4ff"
  }
}
```

* `name` is required, must be unique, and must not contain `/`.
* `vars` is optional. Define reusable colors here, then reference them in `colors` or `workingIndicator`.
* `colors` must define all 51 required tokens. `scrollbarThumb` is optional and falls back to `selectedBg` when omitted. `searchMatchBg` and `searchMatchText` remain accepted for older theme files but are unused.
* `workingIndicator` is optional and may override any subset of the six tones in the outward half of the ordinary `∀` ramp; Atomic derives omitted tones from selected background, accent, and text roles, then mirrors the palette back after `peak`. Explicit numeric values from 0 through 255 remain exact terminal palette indices. When a numeric index from 0 through 15 seeds an omitted tone, Atomic mixes from its built-in approximation of the common ANSI RGB value; the terminal still controls the actual appearance of the explicit index. Both explicit and derived tones update on theme hot reload.

The `$schema` field enables editor auto-completion and validation.

## Color Tokens

Every theme must define all 51 required color tokens. The optional tokens preserve compatibility with themes written before they existed: `scrollbarThumb` and unused `searchMatchBg` fall back to `selectedBg`, and unused `searchMatchText` falls back to `text`.

### Core UI (11 colors)

| Token          | Purpose                                       |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `accent`       | Primary accent (logo, selected items, cursor) |
| `border`       | Normal borders                                |
| `borderAccent` | Highlighted borders                           |
| `borderMuted`  | Subtle borders (editor)                       |
| `success`      | Success states                                |
| `error`        | Error states                                  |
| `warning`      | Warning states                                |
| `muted`        | Secondary text                                |
| `dim`          | Tertiary text                                 |
| `text`         | Default text (usually `""`)                   |
| `thinkingText` | Thinking block text                           |

### Backgrounds & Content (11 required, 3 optional)

| Token                | Purpose                                                                     |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `selectedBg`         | Selected line background                                                    |
| `scrollbarThumb`     | Fullscreen scrollbar thumb background; optional, falls back to `selectedBg` |
| `searchMatchBg`      | Unused leftover token; optional, falls back to `selectedBg`                 |
| `searchMatchText`    | Unused leftover token; optional, falls back to `text`                       |
| `userMessageBg`      | User message background                                                     |
| `userMessageText`    | User message text                                                           |
| `customMessageBg`    | Extension message background                                                |
| `customMessageText`  | Extension message text                                                      |
| `customMessageLabel` | Extension message label                                                     |
| `toolPendingBg`      | Tool box (pending)                                                          |
| `toolSuccessBg`      | Tool box (success)                                                          |
| `toolErrorBg`        | Tool box (error)                                                            |
| `toolTitle`          | Tool title                                                                  |
| `toolOutput`         | Tool output text                                                            |

### Markdown (10 colors)

| Token               | Purpose            |
| ------------------- | ------------------ |
| `mdHeading`         | Headings           |
| `mdLink`            | Link text          |
| `mdLinkUrl`         | Link URL           |
| `mdCode`            | Inline code        |
| `mdCodeBlock`       | Code block content |
| `mdCodeBlockBorder` | Code block fences  |
| `mdQuote`           | Blockquote text    |
| `mdQuoteBorder`     | Blockquote border  |
| `mdHr`              | Horizontal rule    |
| `mdListBullet`      | List bullets       |

### Tool Diffs (3 colors)

| Token             | Purpose       |
| ----------------- | ------------- |
| `toolDiffAdded`   | Added lines   |
| `toolDiffRemoved` | Removed lines |
| `toolDiffContext` | Context lines |

### Syntax Highlighting (9 colors)

| Token               | Purpose        |
| ------------------- | -------------- |
| `syntaxComment`     | Comments       |
| `syntaxKeyword`     | Keywords       |
| `syntaxFunction`    | Function names |
| `syntaxVariable`    | Variables      |
| `syntaxString`      | Strings        |
| `syntaxNumber`      | Numbers        |
| `syntaxType`        | Types          |
| `syntaxOperator`    | Operators      |
| `syntaxPunctuation` | Punctuation    |

### Thinking Level Borders (6 colors)

Editor border colors indicating thinking level (visual hierarchy from subtle to prominent):

| Token             | Purpose             |
| ----------------- | ------------------- |
| `thinkingOff`     | Thinking off        |
| `thinkingMinimal` | Minimal thinking    |
| `thinkingLow`     | Low thinking        |
| `thinkingMedium`  | Medium thinking     |
| `thinkingHigh`    | High thinking       |
| `thinkingXhigh`   | Extra high thinking |

### Bash Mode (1 color)

| Token      | Purpose                                 |
| ---------- | --------------------------------------- |
| `bashMode` | Editor border in bash mode (`!` prefix) |

### HTML Export (optional)

The `export` section controls colors for `/export` HTML output. If omitted, colors are derived from `userMessageBg`.

```json theme={null}
{
  "export": {
    "pageBg": "#18181e",
    "cardBg": "#1e1e24",
    "infoBg": "#3c3728"
  }
}
```

## Color Values

Four formats are supported:

| Format    | Example     | Description                           |
| --------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Hex       | `"#ff0000"` | 6-digit hex RGB                       |
| 256-color | `39`        | xterm 256-color palette index (0-255) |
| Variable  | `"primary"` | Reference to a `vars` entry           |
| Default   | `""`        | Terminal's default color              |

### 256-Color Palette

* `0-15`: Basic ANSI colors (terminal-dependent)
* `16-231`: 6×6×6 RGB cube (`16 + 36×R + 6×G + B` where R,G,B are 0-5)
* `232-255`: Grayscale ramp

### Terminal Compatibility

Atomic uses 24-bit RGB colors. Most modern terminals support this (iTerm2, Kitty, WezTerm, Windows Terminal, VS Code). For older terminals with only 256-color support, Atomic falls back to the nearest approximation.

Check truecolor support:

```bash theme={null}
echo $COLORTERM  # Should output "truecolor" or "24bit"
```