Sequel Theme for Zed
Two dark themes built from the Sequel palette. Both keep the syntax quiet and mostly monochrome, so one accent color carries hierarchy.
Sequel Ink
The original Sequel palette: warm neutrals with a gold accent.
| Token | Hex | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ink | #080808 |
Editor, panels, title bar |
| Lifted | #0D0D0C |
Sidebar, popovers, inputs |
| Graphite | #2A2723 |
Borders, guides |
| Muted | #5F594F |
Line numbers |
| Gold | #B3A58E |
Accent, numbers, focus |
| Paper | #F4F1E9 |
Primary text, cursor |
Sequel Void
The current Sequel palette: green-tinted neutrals with an emerald accent.
| Token | Hex | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Void | #070908 |
Editor, panels, title bar |
| Lifted void | #0D100E |
Sidebar, popovers, inputs |
| Dark rule | #252B27 |
Borders, guides |
| Jade deep | #213F30 |
Selection hue |
| Emerald | #55A77A |
UI accent, focus |
| Emerald bright | #76C694 |
Numbers, constants |
| Warm white | #F1F3ED |
Primary text, cursor |
Accessibility
scripts/audit.mjs checks both variants on every change.
- Text contrast (WCAG 2.2 SC 1.4.3). Every text, syntax, status and terminal color reaches 4.5:1 on every surface. Comments and punctuation sit near 6:1, so they stay quiet without dropping below the threshold.
- Readable highlights. Selection, search matches, diff hunks, word diffs, merge markers and the debugger line are dark tints at a fixed OKLCH lightness. They differ from each other by hue and chroma, not brightness, so every syntax color keeps 4.5:1 on top of them.
- UI indicators (WCAG 2.2 SC 1.4.11). Focus borders, icons and the active line number reach 3:1.
- Color-vision deficiency. Git and diagnostic colors were chosen in OKLCH and checked with the Machado, Oliveira & Fernandes (2009) simulation for protanopia, deuteranopia and tritanopia. Added and deleted stay at least 15 OKLab ΔE apart under every type, because they differ in lightness as well as hue.
- More than color. Vim and Helix mode badges show the mode name, and deleted lines use a different gutter marker from added and modified lines.
Development
node scripts/build.mjs # writes themes/sequel.json
node scripts/audit.mjs scripts/zed-theme-keys.txt # contrast, CVD and key coverageEdit colors in scripts/build.mjs, not in themes/sequel.json.
Install
Search for Sequel in zed: extensions, then pick Sequel Ink or
Sequel Void in theme selector: toggle.
For local development, run zed: install dev extension and select this folder.
License
MIT