GOTRS 0.6.2 introduced a pluggable multi-theme system with four distinct themes, each supporting light and dark modes. But this wasn’t just about aesthetics.

The Problem

Many users find web applications physically uncomfortable or outright unusable due to their visual presentation. The research is striking:

• 82% of smartphone users prefer dark mode when available¹
• 55% of visual impairment assistance features are more effective in dark mode²
• Over a third of users requesting dark themes cite underlying health concerns like photophobia or migraines³
• Applications offering dark mode see up to 30% increase in user retention⁴

Beyond dark mode, colour sensitivity varies widely. High contrast interfaces cause eye strain for some users; low contrast is unreadable for others. People with astigmatism (approximately 50% of the population) often find white text on black backgrounds harder to read due to a “halation” effect⁵. Warm tones suit some visual conditions; cool tones suit others. A single “default” theme inevitably excludes users.

Enterprise deployments add another dimension. Organisations want their branding. A ticketing system that clashes with corporate identity feels like a foreign tool rather than an integrated solution.

Our Solution

CSS custom properties power a pluggable theme architecture. Theme files define variables; components reference them. Swap the theme, everything updates.

Four themes ship today, each with light and dark variants:

• Synthwave - Neon cyan/magenta with grid backgrounds for users who want visual energy
• GOTRS Classic - Professional blue with clean solid backgrounds for corporate environments
• Seventies Vibes - Warm orange/brown with softer contrast for users sensitive to blue light
• Nineties Vibe - Light mode offers familiar desktop aesthetics; dark mode goes full terminal for developers who live in their IDE

Future releases will let users modify existing themes or design their own. Upload a company logo and colour palette, generate a branded theme automatically. Users with specific accessibility needs can tune contrast, saturation, and accent colours to their requirements.

All fonts are self-hosted for air-gapped deployments, loading dynamically based on active theme.

The Benefits

Something for everyone. Four themes with light/dark variants means eight visual options today. Users find what works for their eyes, their environment, their preferences.

Flexibility. The CSS custom property architecture means adding themes requires no code changes - just new variable definitions.

Personalisation. Users control their experience. An agent working night shifts uses dark mode. A customer with light sensitivity chooses warm tones. Everyone gets a comfortable interface.

White-label ready. Organisations deploy GOTRS with their branding. The ticketing system looks like their tool, not a third-party product.

Also in this release: bulk ticket actions with multi-select, and customer profile management with personal settings. Theme choice is just one part of putting users in control of their experience.