Leave VS 2010 theme (and the theme editor extension) as an option
When you came out with the VS 2010 theme, you said that it allowed you to focus on the code windows. The benefit that the theme provided hasn't changed, so please allow that theme to stay in VS 11, as well as the "Color Theme Editor" extension by Matthew Johnson (http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/20cd93a2-c435-4d00-a797-499f16402378) so those that want to tweak or even choose another theme can do so. Please don't force us to use a "metro style" theme (even if you add some color). You worked so hard to create a good looking 2010 theme, don't throw it away...that would be such a waste.
If you allow VS 11 to not look Metro, it doesn't mean your new Metro apps will lose traction. If you feel you have to make Studio look Metro to persuade Metro app development, then that would mean there's a self-confidence problem.
Dean Jackson
shared this idea
I’m going to mark this as completed so you can get your votes back – note that Matthew Johnson has released a VS 2012 color theme editor as you requested (link below) – I know it doesn’t have everything you requested in this idea, but hopefully this helps to address your feedback.
thanks,
Doug Turnure – Visual Studio PM
http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/366ad100-0003-4c9a-81a8-337d4e7ace05
74 comments
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Martin Kirk commented
DIE METRO... DIE... EVIL BLAST FROM THE PAST...
/sobs in dispair
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Anonymous
commented
Productivity should be the number one priority. VS 2010 theme is MUCH more productive than VS 2012 RC as the icons are quicker to find when there are many of them.
When I want to be fully immersed in code only I get rid of the panels.
This is how it should be. Full stop, don't just listen to your designer team that has NO idea of what programmers need. Actually please fire a few of them and concentrate on IDE optimization and speed. For once listen to your community.
I will never adopt VS 2012 in my company without a productive theme like the one used in VS 2010. -
ITMAGE
commented
Ed: I didn't even realize that until your post. It's not much but I found this: http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/747648/no-windows-forms-aplication-project-template-for-c-in-vs2012-rc-ultimate
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ed
commented
I guess Microsoft is trying to phase out VC++ from its VS, how can the most importance feature of VS, Windows Form the main reason most people use VS, be left out of VS2012.
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Osaka
commented
Awaiting text-mode version of VS. (Monochrome green on black, of course). It is more "less distractive".
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B Fenske
commented
Why not just take it to it's logical conclusion: Black background with all lines and text in phosphor green? Now *that* would be retro! Wait, "metro"? I thought you said "retro"... In that case it looks pretty lame.
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Steven Roehl
commented
Previous version of VS that I purchased was 2005. I liked that UI. This one is plain gross. I won't buy it. I won't use it. This isn't Windows.
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Claus Bernth
commented
Development tools are all about productivity, there is *no* added value, whatsoever, in learning another GUI so please, please, please let every user choose between the VS2010 theme, and whatever fancy design you decide to ship as default.
Thanks!
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Andrew Buchanan
commented
If you look at the new metro-style management web interface for windows azure, I think it's nice. It's clean, functional, has color :-), etc.
And the sample apps that come with windows 8 don't look like this either. It's a mystery to me where the light theme even came from....
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Andrew Buchanan
commented
Yeah it looks terrible.
The icons in solution explorer are plain awful with no color.The menu's are all caps. And there is no visual separator between rows in the menu. It doesn't even look like metro to me. the metro start screen has color. this is early 90ish. or something.
I much prefer vs 2010 or 2008 styling. I'm not even a metro hater, I like win8 so far, but this is not good.
Please add a normal looking theme with some color for those of us who like life.
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John
commented
I liked the look of VS2008, hated the look of VS2010 (too dark and a lot of the pop out tabs didn't have clear lines showing where the boxes ended) and am somewhat stuck in the it's ok for VS2012 (with the exception of all caps anywhere, it's just hard to read).
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Andrii commented
Maybe give your votes to
http://visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio/suggestions/2819619-leave-vs-2010-theme-and-the-theme-editor-extensio
And add comments with your ideas -
David
commented
Or sell that product with a rope and a chair please ....
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mrdev
commented
Pointy haired boss: "Make icons gray like Chrome"
Designer: "Icons are too small to be gray"
Pointy haired boss: "talk to developer"
Developer: "All icons are 16x16..., too much legacy code..., not enough time..."RESULT:
====================
=== S U C K A G E ===
==================== -
Adam
commented
Please make the UI less depressingly gray and boring. I don't know what new-age design guidelines led to this abomination, but give us the ability to keep our VS 2010 appearance. Done. The end. Everyone's happy.
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Pradeep commented
I have using VS 2012 since it developer preview. I am not liking this new grayish theme. It is so much difficult to find out the grayed out item and not grayed out item. Color contrast is not good.
Please provide the VS 2010 based theme for VS 2012 so that we don't need to put effort to learn a new UI or at least create a well contrast based theme.
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Floele
commented
Since it has become apparent that the VS team is unwilling or unable to make a proper VS 2012 theme, I'd really appreciate the VS 2010 theme as an option. The visuals were the least of an issue in VS 2010.
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Ed
commented
The market differentiator that made Microsoft succeed above all competitors was the ability to personalize the user experience.
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Petr Vones
commented
Visual Studio is multi-language and multi-target developer tool. It is not a designer for limited Metro-style applications only !
I don't understand why it is supposed to look so horrible, especially on different systems than Windows 8. It is supposed to look native on particular system.
I'm investigating whether is possible to get a refund for remaining MSDN subcription because you've made product which is almost useless for its original purpose I bought the subscription for.
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t.t
commented
In the new version it is definately much ****** to distinguish between buttons and toolbars and to find the right spot for drags and drops. This is not even Metro. This is one big Grey window that distracts from coding because it continuously challenges you to find the right spots to click.
