# Telegram Desktop night theme file (night.tdesktop-theme)

## Metadata

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Institute | Molodetz Institute — Research & Retrieval Division |
| Subject | tui-framework-design |
| Document type | Source Dossier |
| Tier | 1 |
| Source title | night.tdesktop-theme (Telegram Desktop built-in Night theme) |
| Source URL | https://raw.githubusercontent.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/dev/Telegram/Resources/night.tdesktop-theme |
| Source publisher / author | Telegram Desktop contributors (tdesktop project) |
| Source type | repository |
| Source date (published) | Unknown — not stated |
| Date researched | 2026-10-11 |
| Researched by | tai (agent), model: Muse Spark, on behalf of retoor |
| Research method | direct page fetch |
| Confidence | High |
| Status | Active |

## Summary

The authoritative built-in dark theme for Telegram Desktop: dark-slate incoming bubbles against muted-blue outgoing bubbles, light in-bubble timestamps, near-transparent shadows, and brighter re-tones of the same 8-hue peer palette. Pairs key-by-key with the day file.

## Key findings

- Message bubbles: incoming `msgInBg #182533`, outgoing `msgOutBg #2b5278`; selected-bubble overlay `#2e70a5`; shadows near-transparent.
- Message text is near-white incoming (`#f5f5f5`-ish) and white outgoing.
- In-bubble time color: incoming `#6d7f8f`, outgoing `#7da8d3`.
- Service pills: `msgServiceBg #213040d5`.
- Chat-list unread pill ("badge"): `#4082bc`, muted `#3e546a`, white text; name `#f5f5f5`, snippet `#7f91a4`, date `#8696a8`.
- Group sender-name peer palette (night re-tones): red `#fb6169`, green `#85de85`, yellow `#f3bc5c`, blue `#65bdf3`, purple `#b48bf2`, pink `#ff5694`, sea `#62d4e3`, orange `#faa357`.
- Top bar background and compose background are `#17212b`.

## Pros / strengths

- Authoritative source: the actual shipped built-in dark theme.
- Exact hexes that pair with the day file, so every role has a verified light and dark default.
- Confirms the peer palette survives re-toning across schemes rather than being replaced.

## Cons / limitations / caveats

- Desktop only: iOS, Android, and Web dark defaults were not verified against this file.
- No geometry (radii, paddings, spacing, tail shape) is in evidence from this source.
- Key semantics inferred from names; rendering behavior needs the client code.

## Relevance to tai

Canonical dark-theme defaults for the Telegram look-and-feel decisions, and the dark half of every day/night role pair tai's theme defaults should carry.

## Changelog

| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-11 | Initial dossier created. |