automatic-darkmode-for-iterm.org

Automatic darkmode for iTerm

iTerm2 supports dark and light mode, but it won’t change the colors automatically.

But we’re lucky! iTerm has great scripting support. See the Scripting Documentation. We can use that to automatically switch profiles based on the system appearance.

Here’s how:

1. Launch iTerm, then in the menubar click Scripts → AutoLaunch → Install Python runtime
2. Create two profiles and name them Light and Dark. It probably makes sense to create one profile to your liking with a light theme, duplicate it and set the dark theme on the duplicate.
3. Copy the script below into $HOME/Library/ApplicationSupport/iTerm2/Scripts/AutoLaunch/auto_darkmode.py:

#!/usr/bin/env python3.7

import asyncio
import time
import subprocess
import iterm2

def is_dark_mode():
    cmd = 'defaults read -g AppleInterfaceStyle'
    p = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                         stderr=subprocess.PIPE, shell=True)
    return bool(p.communicate()[0])

async def set_profile(connection):
    app = await iterm2.async_get_app(connection)

    profile = "Light"
    if is_dark_mode():
        profile = "Dark"

    partialProfiles = await iterm2.PartialProfile.async_query(connection)
    for partial in partialProfiles:
        if partial.name == profile:
            full = await partial.async_get_full_profile()
            # Set profile in _all_ sessions
            for window in app.terminal_windows:
                for tab in window.tabs:
                    for session in tab.sessions:
                        await session.async_set_profile(full)
            return

async def main(connection):
    await set_profile(connection)
    while True:
        time.sleep(2)
        await set_profile(connection)

iterm2.run_forever(main)

If you run into issues, try running the script via the menubar Scripts → AutoLaunch → auto_darkmode.py

Similar to Automatic darkmode for Vim, this will check the system appearance every two seconds and set the profile accordingly.