How to Create and Deploy a Custom Theme for VS Code
Tags: vscode, theme
Published: 2024-07-03 14:46:43

# How to Create and Deploy a Custom Theme for VS Code

Creating a custom theme for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) allows you to personalize your development environment and share your unique aesthetic with the community. This guide will walk you through the steps to create, package, and deploy a custom theme on the VS Code Marketplace.

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## Step 1: Set Up Your Development Environment

Before you start, make sure you have the following tools installed:
- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/)
- [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/)

You will also need to install Yeoman and the Visual Studio Code Extension Generator:

```bash
npm install -g yo generator-code
```

## Step 2: Generate the Theme Extension

Use Yeoman to generate a new theme extension:

```bash
yo code
```

Follow the prompts:
- Select `New Color Theme`.
- Enter a name for your theme.
- Choose `Dark` or `Light` based on your preference.
- Decide whether to start with an existing theme or start fresh.

This will generate a new directory with the necessary files for your theme extension.

## Step 3: Customize Your Theme

Navigate to the generated directory and open it in VS Code. The main file you'll be working with is `themes/YourThemeName-color-theme.json`. This JSON file defines the colors for various UI components and syntax highlighting.

Here's a basic example of what the JSON structure looks like:

```json
{
  "name": "YourThemeName",
  "type": "dark",
  "colors": {
    "editor.background": "#1E1E1E",
    "editor.foreground": "#D4D4D4",
    "activityBar.background": "#333333"
  },
  "tokenColors": [
    {
      "scope": "comment",
      "settings": {
        "foreground": "#6A9955"
      }
    },
    {
      "scope": "keyword",
      "settings": {
        "foreground": "#569CD6"
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

Customize the colors to match your desired theme. You can refer to the [VS Code Theme Color Reference](https://code.visualstudio.com/api/references/theme-color) for a list of customizable properties.

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## Step 4: Test Your Theme

To see your changes in action, press `F5` to open a new VS Code window with your theme applied. Make adjustments as needed by editing the `YourThemeName-color-theme.json` file and restarting the window.

## Step 5: Package Your Theme

Once you're satisfied with your theme, it's time to package it for deployment. First, install the `vsce` tool, which is used to package and publish VS Code extensions:

```bash
npm install -g vsce
```

In the root of your theme project, run the following command to create a `.vsix` file:

```bash
vsce package
```

This command generates a `.vsix` file that you can use to install the theme locally or publish it to the Marketplace.

## Step 6: Publish Your Theme

To publish your theme, you need to create a publisher account on the [Visual Studio Code Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/manage/publishers).

### Create a Publisher

1. Visit the [Publisher Management page](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/manage/publishers).
2. Click on `New Publisher` and follow the instructions to create your publisher profile.

### Generate a Personal Access Token

1. Go to the [Azure DevOps page](https://dev.azure.com/).
2. Click on your profile picture and select `Security`.
3. Under `Personal access tokens`, click `New Token`.
4. Name your token, set the expiration date, and select `All accessible organizations`.
5. Click `Create` and copy the generated token.

### Publish the Theme

Use the `vsce` tool to publish your theme. Run the following command, replacing `your-publisher-name` with your publisher name:

```bash
vsce publish --pat <your_personal_access_token>
```

You can also automate this step by saving your publisher name and personal access token in the `package.json`:

```json
"publisher": "your-publisher-name"
```

Then, run:

```bash
vsce publish
```

Your theme should now be available on the [Visual Studio Code Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/vscode).

## Step 7: Update and Maintain Your Theme

To update your theme, make changes to the `YourThemeName-color-theme.json` file, increment the version number in the `package.json` file, and run the `vsce publish` command again.

---

{% github https://github.com/SH20RAJ/shade-vscode-theme %}


By following these steps, you can create, customize, and share your very own VS Code theme. Happy theming!