dim.nvim

A time-based color dimming engine for Neovim.

dim.nvim gradually desaturates and compresses the contrast of your existing colorscheme, making Neovim visually “less attractive” outside working hours — without changing the colorscheme itself.

It works like f.lux / Night Shift, but for your editor.

---

Features

• Works with any colorscheme
• Preserves your theme — no switching
• Smooth time-based dimming
• Fully reversible
• Supports manual and automatic modes
• Lua override hooks (weekends, holidays, focus mode, etc.)
• Works with lualine, file trees, LSP highlights, etc.

---

Preview

Installation

lazy.nvim

{
  "ademkin/dim.nvim",
  lazy = false,
  priority = 1000,  -- load with colorscheme to prevent flicker
  ---@type DimOpts
  opts = {
    enabled = true,
    schedule = {
      ["06:00"] = 1.0,
      ["08:00"] = 0.0,
      ["16:00"] = 0.0,
      ["20:00"] = 1.0,
    },
  }
}

packer.nvim

use {
  "ademkin/dim.nvim",
  config = function()
    ---@type DimOpts
    require("dim").setup({
      enabled = true,
      schedule = {
        ["06:00"] = 1.0,
        ["08:00"] = 0.0,
        ["16:00"] = 0.0,
        ["20:00"] = 1.0,
      },
    })
  end
}

---

Quick start (manual mode)

You can use dim.nvim without any configuration:

{
  "ademkin/dim.nvim",
  lazy = false,
  priority = 1000,  -- load with colorscheme to prevent flicker
  config = function()
    vim.cmd('Dim tint 0.5')
  end,
}

This applies a static dim (0 = none, 1 = maximum).

---

Time-based schedule

Automatically increase dimming in the evening:

---@type DimOpts
opts = {
  enabled = true,
  schedule = {
    ["06:00"] = 1.0,
    ["08:00"] = 0.0,
    ["16:00"] = 0.0,
    ["18:00"] = 0.7,
    ["20:00"] = 1.0,
  },
}

The dim level will smoothly interpolate between those values during the day.

---

Override

Overrides in dim.nvim are filters. They receive the current dim value (from the schedule) and may return a modified one.

Signature:

---@type Override
override = function(amount)
  return new_amount or nil
end

If the function returns:

• a number → it replaces the current dim
• nil → the current dim is kept

Example: shift minimum dimming on weekends

---@type DimOpts
opts = {
  enabled = true,
  schedule = {
    ["06:00"] = 1.0,
    ["08:00"] = 0.0,
    ["16:00"] = 0.0,
    ["20:00"] = 1.0,
  },
  ---@type Override
  override = function(amount)
    local day = os.date("%A")
    if day == "Saturday" or day == "Sunday" then
      return math.max(amount, 0.5)
    end
  end,
}

Example: Force maximum dim on weekend

---@type DimOpts
opts = {
  enabled = true,
  schedule = {
    ["06:00"] = 1.0,
    ["08:00"] = 0.0,
    ["16:00"] = 0.0,
    ["20:00"] = 1.0,
  },
  ---@type Override
  override = function()
    local day = os.date("%A")
    if day == "Saturday" or day == "Sunday" then
      return 1.0
    end
  end,
}

---

Update Interval

By default plugin run updates once a minute. You can adjust it:

---@type DimOpts
opts = {
  enabled = true,
  update_interval = 1000, -- once a second
  schedule = {
    ["06:00"] = 1.0,
    ["08:00"] = 0.0,
    ["16:00"] = 0.0,
    ["20:00"] = 1.0,
  },
}

---

Commands

Command	Description
:Dim enable	Enable dimming
:Dim disable	Disable dimming
:Dim toggle	Toggle on/off
:Dim tint {0..1}	Apply static dim
:Dim start	Start scheduled dimming
:Dim stop	Stop scheduled dimming
:Dim state	Show internal state

---

How it works

dim.nvim transforms all highlight colors in-place using a perceptual grayscale + contrast compression model.

It does not:

• change your colorscheme
• define new highlight groups
• touch your config files

It only mutates colors at runtime and can always restore the original values.

---

Philosophy

Working late is often encouraged by beautiful UIs. dim.nvim makes Neovim visually boring when it should be.

Your brain notices.