Service to sync GTK Theme with Color Scheme on GNOME Desktop Enviroment (and maybe compatible)

README.md

Sync GTK Theme with Dark Mode in GNOME ≥47

org.gnome.desktop.interface/color-scheme is the settings that GNOME uses to change the color scheme of GTK 4 apps themed with libadwaita. Some GTK apps will not trigger theme change because they're sentitive to org.gnome.desktop.interface/gtk-theme.

gtk_theme_sync_service.sh is a service that ensure both settings are in sync. org.gnome.desktop.interface/color-scheme is the source of truth.

Works on Fedora Workstation 41 + GNOME 47 and Night Theme Switcher GNOME Extension

Workaround inspired by this proposal

Installation

Save gtk_theme_sync_service.sh where it can then be accessible:

install -m 755 gtk_theme_sync_service.sh ${TARGET}/gtk_theme_sync_service

with ${TARGET} choosen among:

• /opt
• /usr/local/bin
• ${HOME}/.local/bin

Edit and save the systemd unit file:

systemctl [--user] edit --full --force gtk_theme_sync.service
# ... copy/paste, adapt ExecStart then save
systemctl [--user] enable --now gtk_theme_sync.service

Note: use --user if shellscript is installed under user's home directory

It's ready to rock!

systemctl [--user] edit --full gtk_theme_sync.service

Sublime Text

Be sure to enable Adaptive on each theme (dark and light) and auto color scheme:

{
  //...
  "theme": "auto",
  "dark_theme": "Adaptive.sublime-theme",
  "light_theme": "Adaptive.sublime-theme",
  "color_scheme": "auto",
  "dark_color_scheme": "Mariana.sublime-color-scheme",
  "light_color_scheme": "Breakers.sublime-color-scheme",
  //...
 }

gtk_theme_sync.service

[Unit]
Description=GTK Theme Sync Service

[Service]
ExecStart=/target/path/to/gtk_theme_sync_service
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=gnome-session.target

gtk_theme_sync_service.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

#set -x
set -o errexit
set -o nounset
set -o pipefail

function log {
  local -r message="$1"; shift
  echo "$(date +"%F %T"): ${message}"
}

function on_new_color_scheme {
  local -r color_scheme="$1"; shift

  log "Switched to ${color_scheme}"
  local GTK_THEME="Adwaita"
  case "${color_scheme}" in
    (*dark*)
      GTK_THEME="Adwaita-dark"
      ;;
    (*default*)
      GTK_THEME="Adwaita"
      ;;
  esac
  readonly GTK_THEME

  log "Applying ${GTK_THEME} GTK theme..."
  gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme "${GTK_THEME}"
}

log "Listening to 'org.gnome.desktop.interface/color-scheme' change ..."
while read -r COLOR_SCHEME
do
  on_new_color_scheme "${COLOR_SCHEME}"
done < <(gsettings monitor org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme)