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Windows10 Theme

The Windows10 theme brings the polished, professional aesthetic of Microsoft’s Windows 10 to your Sway desktop, featuring the signature blue accent color and refined visual design.

Theme Overview

A professional theme featuring the iconic Windows blue (#0078d7) accent on a sophisticated dark background (#0e141c), delivering a familiar and polished desktop experience.

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Color Scheme

The Windows10 theme faithfully recreates the Windows 10 dark mode aesthetic:

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Primary Colors

  • Background: #0e141c - Deep navy blue-black
  • Foreground: #f3f6fb - Cool white
  • Active/Selected: #0078d7 - Windows blue
  • Inactive: #4c5a6a - Muted blue-gray

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Waybar Colors

The Waybar configuration uses semi-transparent backgrounds for a modern, acrylic-like appearance similar to Windows 10 taskbar effects.
  • Base: rgba(24, 36, 50, 0.92) - Semi-transparent dark blue
  • Mantle: rgba(16, 24, 34, 0.85) - Darker transparent layer
  • Crust: #0e141c - Solid navy background
  • Text: #f3f6fb - Cool white text
  • Text Dim: rgba(243, 246, 251, 0.82) - Dimmed text
  • Accent: #0078d7 - Windows signature blue
  • Accent Hover: #1991ff - Brighter blue hover state
  • Hover: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08) - Subtle hover effect
  • Outline: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.10) - Subtle outline
  • Danger: #e81123 - Windows red
  • Success: #3bd16f - Windows green

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Terminal Colors (Kitty)

The terminal configuration maintains readability while complementing the theme: Core Terminal Colors:
  • Foreground: #a9b1d6 - Soft blue-gray text
  • Background: #1a1b26 - Dark navy
  • Cursor: #f38ba8 - Pink cursor with underline
  • Selection: Blue text on dark background
ANSI Color Palette:
  • Black: #414868
  • Red: #f7768e
  • Green: #73daca
  • Yellow: #e0af68
  • Blue: #7aa2f7
  • Magenta: #bb9af7
  • Cyan: #7dcfff
  • White: #c0caf5

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Theme Structure

The Windows10 theme includes comprehensive configuration:

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Directory Layout

themes/Windows10/
├── sway/
│   └── theme.conf           # Window manager colors and borders
├── waybar/
│   ├── config.jsonc         # Status bar configuration
│   ├── style.css            # Status bar styling
│   └── colors.css           # Color definitions
├── kitty/
│   ├── kitty.conf           # Terminal settings
│   └── colors.ini           # Terminal color palette
├── rofi-style/
│   ├── _core/
│   │   └── palette.rasi     # Rofi color palette
│   ├── themes-witcher.rasi  # Theme switcher menu
│   ├── selector-app.rasi    # Application launcher
│   └── power-menu.rasi      # Power menu styling
└── wallpaper.jpg            # Theme wallpaper

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Sway Configuration

The theme configures Sway with Windows-inspired styling:
The Windows10 theme uses unique styling with thicker borders (4px) and larger fonts (Noto Sans 16) to match the Windows 10 aesthetic.
Window Manager Settings:
  • Font: Noto Sans 16 (instead of the typical monospace font)
  • Border Width: 4px borders for normal windows, 1px for floating
  • Gaps: 6px inner gaps, 0px outer gaps (Windows-like)
  • Titlebar: Minimal padding (1px) with no border thickness
  • Window Decorations: Blue borders on focused windows, blue-gray on inactive

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Rofi Configuration

Rofi menus adopt the Windows 10 style:
  • Font: Noto Sans 16 (matching system font)
  • Colors: Windows blue accent with dark background
  • Style: Clean, modern menu appearance

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Activation

Activate the Windows10 theme using the Config-Sway theme switcher: 
# Using the theme switcher
Super + Shift + T  # Opens theme selector
# Select "Windows10" from the menu
Or manually via command line: 
~/.config/sway/scripts/theme-switcher.sh Windows10
This theme features unique gap settings (6px inner, 0px outer) that create a more compact, Windows-like window layout compared to other themes.

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Customization

Customize the Windows10 theme:
  1. Adjust Blue Accent: Edit ~/.config/themes/Windows10/sway/theme.conf to modify the $active variable
  2. Waybar Transparency: Adjust opacity values in ~/.config/themes/Windows10/waybar/colors.css
  3. Border Thickness: Modify default_border in theme.conf (currently 4px)
  4. Font Size: Change the Noto Sans size if 16pt is too large or small
  5. Wallpaper: Use a Windows 10-style wallpaper for full effect

Acrylic Effects

The Waybar uses semi-transparent backgrounds (0.92 and 0.85 opacity) to create an acrylic-like effect similar to Windows 10’s transparency features.

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Visual Characteristics

  • Aesthetic: Professional, polished, modern
  • Contrast: Moderate contrast with blue accents
  • Best For: Professional work, productivity, familiar environment
  • Mood: Professional, efficient, focused
  • Eye Strain: Low - well-balanced colors
  • Familiarity: High for Windows users

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Design Philosophy

The Windows10 theme recreates key Windows 10 design elements:
  • Fluent Design: Modern, clean aesthetic
  • Signature Blue: The iconic #0078d7 Windows accent color
  • Acrylic Transparency: Semi-transparent UI elements
  • Professional Typography: Noto Sans for readability
  • Balanced Spacing: 6px gaps for comfortable window management

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Differences from Other Themes

The Windows10 theme stands out with:
  • Thicker borders: 4px instead of 2px
  • Different font: Noto Sans instead of monospace/JetBrains Mono
  • Unique gaps: 6px inner, 0px outer (other themes use 5px/10px)
  • Titlebar styling: Minimal padding for a cleaner look
  • Semi-transparent UI: Waybar uses opacity for modern effect

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Use Cases

The Windows10 theme is perfect for:
  • Users transitioning from Windows to Linux
  • Professional environments requiring a polished appearance
  • Those who appreciate Windows 10’s design language
  • Maintaining visual consistency with Windows systems
  • Productivity-focused workflows
For users who miss the Windows aesthetic, this theme provides a familiar and comfortable environment while enjoying the power of Sway and Wayland.

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