Why I Created Aurorain

As developers, we spend thousands of hours looking at our code editor. A well-designed theme isn't just about aesthetics. It directly affects focus, readability, and even how enjoyable coding feels during long development sessions.

For years, I kept installing different VS Code themes hoping to find "the one." Every theme had something I liked, but none of them felt complete. Sometimes the syntax highlighting was too bright, sometimes comments blended into the background, and other times the color palette simply didn't feel comfortable after several hours of coding. I always found myself thinking, "I wish this part had a different color."

Eventually, I realized something simple: instead of searching for the perfect theme, why not build it myself?

From an Idea to a Marketplace Extension

Creating a VS Code theme turned out to be much more than choosing a few colors. I started by watching several YouTube tutorials to understand how VS Code themes are structured and how extensions are published. Once I understood the basics, the real work began.

The design process was almost entirely trial and error. Every UI element, syntax token, and language color had to be tested repeatedly. I spent hours comparing different combinations until the editor felt balanced, readable, and pleasant to use. Small adjustments often made a surprisingly big difference, and achieving the right visual harmony took far longer than I initially expected.

After finishing the first stable version, I tested Aurorain across different operating systems and displays to ensure the colors remained consistent. I also asked several developer friends to use it in their daily workflow and share honest feedback. Their suggestions helped refine many of the details, making the final version cleaner and more comfortable for everyday coding.

Why the Name "Aurorain"?

The name Aurorain is a combination of Aurora and Rain.

Aurora represents vibrant light, creativity, and inspiration, while Rain reflects calmness, focus, and a relaxing atmosphere. Together, they describe exactly the feeling I wanted this theme to create: a modern coding environment that is colorful enough to be engaging, yet soft enough to stay comfortable during long programming sessions.

Publishing Aurorain

Once the theme was polished, the next challenge was making it available to everyone. I learned how Visual Studio Code extensions are packaged, published, and maintained before finally submitting Aurorain to the VS Code Marketplace.

Seeing something that started as a personal idea become publicly available has been one of the most rewarding parts of this project. There's a unique satisfaction in using a tool you've built yourself every single day, and it's even more meaningful knowing that other developers can enjoy it as well.

If you're looking for a fresh coding experience with carefully selected colors, balanced syntax highlighting, and a theme built with real-world development in mind, I hope you'll give Aurorain a try.

Try it yourself: Marketplace Link