Option To Disable Dark Mode In SASS Build Via Variable

May 14, 2025 by ADMIN 55 views

Optimizing Bulma's Dark Mode Feature: Introducing a Configurable Variable

Bulma, a popular CSS framework, has made significant strides in providing a seamless user experience through its customizable and responsive design. One of the notable features of Bulma is its support for dark mode, which allows users to switch between light and dark themes with ease. However, this feature comes with a cost – the inclusion of dark mode styles in the compiled CSS file, even if the user doesn't need them. In this article, we'll explore a suggestion to introduce a configuration variable that allows users to optionally disable dark mode when compiling Bulma via SASS.

The Current State of Dark Mode in Bulma

Bulma's dark mode feature is a great addition to the framework, providing users with a comfortable and visually appealing experience, especially in low-light environments. However, the current implementation includes dark mode styles in the compiled CSS file by default. This can result in a larger CSS file size, which may not be ideal for users who don't need dark mode support.

Introducing a Configurable Variable

To address this issue, we propose introducing a configuration variable, $enable-dark-mode, in the initial-variables file with a default value of true. This variable would allow users to control whether dark mode styles are included in the compiled CSS file or not.

Conditional Styling

The dark mode-related styles would be structured to be included conditionally based on the value of the $enable-dark-mode variable. This would ensure that only the necessary styles are included in the compiled CSS file, reducing its size and improving performance.

Example Implementation

Here's an example implementation of the proposed solution:

$enable-dark-mode: true !default;

// prefers-color-scheme: dark
@if $enable-dark-mode {
  @include cv.system-theme($name: "dark") {
    @include dark.dark-theme;
  }
}

//[data-theme=dark], .theme-dark
@if $enable-dark-mode {
  @include cv.bulma-theme($name: "dark") {
    @include dark.dark-theme;
    @include setup.setup-theme;
  }
}

In this example, the $enable-dark-mode variable is set to true by default. The dark mode-related styles are included conditionally using the @if directive, which checks the value of the variable. If the variable is true, the styles are included; otherwise, they are skipped.

Benefits of the Proposed Solution

The proposed solution offers several benefits, including:

Reduced CSS file size: By only including dark mode styles when necessary, the compiled CSS file size is reduced, improving performance and page load times.
Improved flexibility: Users can now control whether dark mode styles are included in the compiled CSS file, providing more flexibility and customization options.
Enhanced user experience: By reducing the CSS file size, the proposed solution can also improve the overall user experience, especially for users with slower internet connections or older devices.

In conclusion, introducing a configurable variable, $enable-dark-mode, to control the inclusion of dark mode styles in the compiled CSS file is a great way to improve Bulma's flexibility and performance. By structuring the dark mode-related styles to be included conditionally based on this variable, users can now control whether dark mode support is included in their compiled CSS file or not. We hope this suggestion is considered and implemented in future versions of Bulma.
Frequently Asked Questions: Optimizing Bulma's Dark Mode Feature

In our previous article, we explored a suggestion to introduce a configuration variable, $enable-dark-mode, to control the inclusion of dark mode styles in the compiled CSS file. This feature would provide users with more flexibility and customization options, while also reducing the CSS file size and improving performance. In this article, we'll answer some frequently asked questions about this proposal and provide additional insights into the benefits and implementation details.

Q: Why is it necessary to introduce a configurable variable for dark mode?

A: The current implementation of dark mode in Bulma includes the styles in the compiled CSS file by default, even if the user doesn't need them. This can result in a larger CSS file size, which may not be ideal for users who don't need dark mode support. By introducing a configurable variable, users can control whether dark mode styles are included in the compiled CSS file or not.

Q: How would the configurable variable work?

A: The configurable variable, $enable-dark-mode, would be set to true by default. Users can then set it to false in their SASS configuration file to exclude dark mode styles from the compiled CSS file. This would ensure that only the necessary styles are included in the compiled CSS file, reducing its size and improving performance.

Q: What are the benefits of this proposal?

A: The benefits of this proposal include:

Reduced CSS file size: By only including dark mode styles when necessary, the compiled CSS file size is reduced, improving performance and page load times.
Improved flexibility: Users can now control whether dark mode styles are included in the compiled CSS file, providing more flexibility and customization options.
Enhanced user experience: By reducing the CSS file size, the proposed solution can also improve the overall user experience, especially for users with slower internet connections or older devices.

Q: How would this proposal affect existing users?

A: Existing users would not be affected by this proposal, as the dark mode styles would still be included in the compiled CSS file by default. However, users who want to exclude dark mode styles from their compiled CSS file would need to set the $enable-dark-mode variable to false in their SASS configuration file.

Q: Can this proposal be implemented in other CSS frameworks?

A: Yes, this proposal can be implemented in other CSS frameworks as well. The idea is to introduce a configurable variable that allows users to control whether certain styles are included in the compiled CSS file or not. This would provide users with more flexibility and customization options, while also reducing the CSS file size and improving performance.

Q: What are the next steps for this proposal?

A: The next steps for this proposal would be to:

Implement the configurable variable: Introduce the $enable-dark-mode variable in the initial-variables file and make it configurable.
Test and refine the implementation: Test the implementation with various use cases and refine it as needed.
Document the changes: Document the changes and provide clear instructions on how to use the configurable variable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, introducing a configurable variable, $enable-dark-mode, to control the inclusion of dark mode styles in the compiled CSS file is a great way to improve Bulma's flexibility and performance. By structuring the dark mode-related styles to be included conditionally based on this variable, users can now control whether dark mode support is included in their compiled CSS file or not. We hope this proposal is considered and implemented in future versions of Bulma.