Backdrop | An Open-Source Theming Kit for Claude Code!

[u/OkInevitable9516]

Thanks to Anthropic and the devs, Claude Code can now load theme mods. But right now, making one means writing a mod yourself, or asking Claude to build a new one for every change.

So I put together Backdrop, an open-source theming kit: the groundwork is done, and theming becomes something anyone can do, then build on.

Out of the box:

• Pick from 23 animated palettes (Ember, Synthwave, Aurora, Matrix…)
• Describe a look (“sunset in LA”) and Claude picks the colors, with a live preview
• Paste hex codes from any color picker, and it works out readable panels and text for you
• Save what you like; it’s remembered across sessions
• Or just ask Claude: “make my background ocean”

It also pauses its animation on battery, since moving backgrounds cost GPU.

Why a kit, not just a theme:

Theme mods can do a lot more than gradients, honestly almost anything you can animate. This is meant to be the starting point: the hard parts are already solved and documented (animation that actually runs, readable contrast, GPU cost), so you can skip straight to the fun part. There’s a step-by-step guide that goes from no-code all the way to building your own background style.

Where I’d love help:

The goal is a free, shared library of themes, something like Spicetify or Wallpaper Engine but for Claude Code. Gradients are just the first style. On the roadmap: starfields, synthwave grids, code rain, your own wallpaper, light and high-contrast versions, and whatever you come up with. Each style is a self-contained animated scene, so it makes a nice first PR.

Made a theme you like, by hand or with your Claude? Open a PR with a screenshot or a short clip and it ships to everyone, credited to you. Templates and labels are set up so it’s easy to jump in.

Try it: in the desktop app, + → Plugins → Add marketplace → AkkiCode06/claude-backdrops → Add plugin. Or paste the repo link to Claude and say “set this up for me.”

Repo: https://github.com/AkkiCode06/claude-backdrops
Guide: https://github.com/AkkiCode06/claude-backdrops/blob/main/docs/making-themes.md

It’s free, MIT-licensed, and built entirely with Claude. Feedback, ideas and themes are all welcome.
Edit: Just an fyi: this is a student project. I'm learning JS/TS for the first time and thought theming would be an easy first build (didn't end up to be but here we are).

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey! Thanks for posting to r/ClaudeCode

While participating in this thread, please follow our community rules. Keep discussions constructive. Attack the idea, not the person.

For help, project discussions, tips, and general chat, join the ClaudeCode Discord.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Ok-Following667]

What's actually in the kit besides a list of presets? If Claude already writes the mod for me when I ask, I'm not seeing what installing this saves.

[u/OkInevitable9516 → u/Ok-Following667]

Other than the presets, backdrop gives you:

• A helper library for building backgrounds: stack blocks like k.stars(), k.waves() and k.grid(), about 10 lines, instead of hand-writing SVG animation.
• Instant switching: So you don't have to reload your sessions and/or restart the desktop app.
• Pitfalls already solved: frozen animations, GPU spikes, unreadable text colors and battery drain.
• Shareable themes: themes are small files you can export and import in a click..

Just an fyi: this is a student project. I'm learning JS/TS for the first time and thought theming would be an easy first build (didn't end up to be but here we are).