Pros of Solarized

• Offers both light and dark themes, providing versatility for different environments
• Carefully designed color palette based on color theory for reduced eye strain
• Widely adopted across various applications and platforms

Cons of Solarized

• More complex setup process with multiple files and options
• May require more system resources due to its comprehensive nature
• Some users find the color scheme too muted or low-contrast

Code Comparison

Molokai (Vim color scheme):

hi Normal          guifg=#F8F8F2 guibg=#272822
hi Comment         guifg=#75715E
hi CursorLine                    guibg=#3E3D32
hi CursorLineNr    guifg=#FD971F               gui=none
hi CursorColumn                  guibg=#3E3D32

Solarized (Vim color scheme):

let g:solarized_termcolors=256
syntax enable
set background=dark
colorscheme solarized

Molokai focuses on a vibrant, high-contrast color scheme inspired by TextMate's Monokai theme, while Solarized offers a more subdued, scientifically-designed palette with both light and dark variants. Molokai is simpler to implement but less customizable, whereas Solarized provides more options but requires more setup. Both are popular choices among developers, with Solarized having broader cross-application support.

Pros of Gruvbox

• More comprehensive color scheme with light and dark variants
• Extensive support for various text editors and applications
• Active community and regular updates

Cons of Gruvbox

• May be considered less visually striking than Molokai's vibrant colors
• Slightly more complex setup due to additional options and variants

Code Comparison

Molokai:

hi Normal          guifg=#F8F8F2 guibg=#272822
hi Comment         guifg=#75715E
hi CursorLine                    guibg=#3E3D32
hi CursorLineNr    guifg=#FD971F               gui=none
hi CursorColumn                  guibg=#3E3D32

Gruvbox:

hi Normal          guifg=#ebdbb2 guibg=#282828
hi Comment         guifg=#928374
hi CursorLine                    guibg=#3c3836
hi CursorLineNr    guifg=#fabd2f               gui=none
hi CursorColumn                  guibg=#3c3836

Both color schemes offer unique aesthetics and functionality. Molokai provides a vibrant, high-contrast theme inspired by TextMate's Monokai theme, while Gruvbox offers a more subdued, retro-inspired palette with extensive customization options. The choice between the two ultimately depends on personal preference and specific use cases.

Pros of Dracula

• More active development and maintenance
• Broader ecosystem with support for many applications beyond Vim
• Larger community and user base

Cons of Dracula

• Potentially more complex setup due to additional features
• May have a steeper learning curve for customization

Code Comparison

Molokai:

hi Normal          guifg=#F8F8F2 guibg=#272822
hi Comment         guifg=#75715E
hi CursorLine                    guibg=#3E3D32
hi CursorLineNr    guifg=#FD971F               gui=none
hi CursorColumn                  guibg=#3E3D32

Dracula:

hi Normal          guifg=#F8F8F2 guibg=#282A36
hi Comment         guifg=#6272A4
hi CursorLine                    guibg=#44475A
hi CursorLineNr    guifg=#F1FA8C               gui=none
hi CursorColumn                  guibg=#44475A

Both color schemes offer a dark theme with vibrant syntax highlighting. Molokai uses a darker background with more earthy tones, while Dracula opts for a slightly lighter background with cooler, more vivid colors. Dracula's comment color is more prominent, potentially improving readability for some users.

Pros of onedark.vim

• More modern and actively maintained color scheme
• Better support for newer syntax highlighting features
• Includes additional themes (light and dark variants)

Cons of onedark.vim

• Requires more configuration for optimal usage
• May not be compatible with older Vim versions

Code Comparison

onedark.vim:

if (has("autocmd") && !has("gui_running"))
  augroup colorset
    autocmd!
    let s:white = { "gui": "#ABB2BF", "cterm": "145", "cterm16" : "7" }
    autocmd ColorScheme * call onedark#set_highlight("Normal", { "fg": s:white })
  augroup END
endif

molokai:

let g:molokai_original = 1
let g:rehash256 = 1
colorscheme molokai

Summary

onedark.vim is a more modern and feature-rich color scheme compared to molokai. It offers better support for newer syntax highlighting features and includes additional theme variants. However, it may require more configuration and might not be compatible with older Vim versions. molokai, on the other hand, is simpler to set up but may lack some of the advanced features and customization options found in onedark.vim. The choice between the two depends on personal preference, Vim version, and desired level of customization.

Pros of Nord

• More comprehensive color scheme with a broader range of colors
• Active development and regular updates
• Extensive documentation and usage guidelines

Cons of Nord

• Larger file size and potentially more complex implementation
• May require more system resources due to its comprehensive nature

Code Comparison

Molokai:

hi Normal          guifg=#F8F8F2 guibg=#272822
hi Comment         guifg=#75715E
hi CursorLine                    guibg=#3E3D32
hi CursorLineNr    guifg=#FD971F               gui=none
hi CursorColumn                  guibg=#3E3D32

Nord:

let s:nord0_gui = "#2E3440"
let s:nord1_gui = "#3B4252"
let s:nord2_gui = "#434C5E"
let s:nord3_gui = "#4C566A"
let s:nord4_gui = "#D8DEE9"

Summary

Molokai is a simpler, more lightweight color scheme inspired by the Monokai theme for TextMate. It offers a vibrant and high-contrast color palette, which is particularly popular among developers working with languages like Python and JavaScript.

Nord, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive color scheme that aims to provide a cohesive and harmonious visual experience across various applications and platforms. It offers a broader range of colors and is actively maintained, with regular updates and extensive documentation.

While Molokai may be preferred for its simplicity and lower resource requirements, Nord offers a more refined and versatile color palette that can be applied consistently across different development environments and tools.

Pros of jellybeans.vim

• More extensive language support with syntax highlighting for a wider range of programming languages
• Offers better customization options, allowing users to fine-tune colors and styles
• Includes support for popular plugins like airline and lightline

Cons of jellybeans.vim

• May have a steeper learning curve for customization compared to Molokai's simplicity
• Some users report occasional inconsistencies in color rendering across different terminals

Code Comparison

Molokai:

hi Normal       ctermfg=252 ctermbg=none
hi CursorLine               ctermbg=234   cterm=none
hi CursorLineNr ctermfg=208               cterm=none

jellybeans.vim:

hi Normal       guifg=#e8e8d3 guibg=#151515
hi CursorLine                 guibg=#1c1c1c cterm=none
hi CursorLineNr guifg=#ffa500 guibg=#1c1c1c

Both color schemes aim to provide a dark, visually appealing environment for coding. Molokai offers a simpler setup with fewer customization options, while jellybeans.vim provides more extensive language support and customization possibilities. The code comparison shows that jellybeans.vim uses GUI colors in addition to terminal colors, potentially offering more consistent rendering across different environments.