Ergonomics research has shown a long time ago that dark text on light background is easier to read on computer screens for long periods of time. These screenshots demonstrate that developers in 2002 had got the message.
Young developers nowadays seem to mostly use dark backgrounds, which to me feels like a weird '70s throwback. I suspect it's primarily an identity signal: it's harder to feel like you're hacking The Matrix if your IDE looks like Word from a distance.
Young developers nowadays seem to mostly use dark backgrounds, which to me feels like a weird '70s throwback. I suspect it's primarily an identity signal: it's harder to feel like you're hacking The Matrix if your IDE looks like Word from a distance.