Scale text by font size ratio when applying system theme

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## v0.2.0 - 2026/10/21
+## Unreleased
+
+### Breaking changes
 
 ### Added
 
-- Follow the operating system's native theme on macOS, Windows and Linux (KDE, GNOME), applying the OS colors, fonts, radii and accessibility preferences.
+- Follow the operating system's native theme on macOS, Windows and Linux (KDE, GNOME) via `native-theme`, applying the OS colors, fonts, radii and accessibility preferences; the bundled themes remain as the fallback when the OS theme cannot be read
 - Add an identity import dialog, importing an existing identity by pasting its `nsec` secret key (encrypted with a new passphrase), NIP-49 `ncryptsec` (unlocked with its passphrase), or `bunker://` NIP-46 URI
 - Add a dropdown menu on the signed-in user button in the sidebar
 - Add sign-out feature, confirmed by an alert dialog before deleting the stored session credential
@@ -16,7 +18,6 @@
 
 ### Changed
 
-- Use the built-in light/dark syntax highlighting palette instead of the Signed palette bundled in `signed.json` when the native theme is active
 - Increase the default theme corner radii from 2 to 4 and large radii from 6 to 8
 - Surface backend errors as error notifications in the workspace instead of silently dropping them
 - Break ties in repository activity lists by event id, so same-second events order deterministically
@@ -44,6 +45,8 @@
 - Remove the light/dark theme pickers and the font size, corner radius, focus ring and shadow settings from the settings dialog; colors and geometry now come from the native theme
 - Remove dead code: the unused `login`/`logout` family, the unwired `SyncProgress` pipeline, `merge_pull_request`, inbox mark-read/archive APIs and the wasm32-only code paths
 
+### Deprecated
+
 ## v0.2.0-alpha - 2026/09/27
 
 ### Added

Cargo.lock

@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "assets"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "gpui-component",
@@ -1863,7 +1863,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "dock"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "gpui-base",
  "gpui-component",
@@ -5562,7 +5562,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "metadata"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "flume 0.11.1",
@@ -5699,7 +5699,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "fontdb",
  "inventory",
  "native-theme-derive",
- "notify",
  "objc2 0.6.5",
  "objc2-app-kit 0.3.2",
  "objc2-core-foundation",
@@ -6654,7 +6653,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "paths"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "dirs 6.0.0",
 ]
@@ -8237,7 +8236,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "settings"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "gpui-pre",
@@ -8334,17 +8333,15 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "signed"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "assets",
  "dock",
- "flume 0.11.1",
  "gpui-component",
  "gpui-pre",
  "gpui-pre-platform",
  "gpui-pre-reqwest-client",
  "metadata",
- "native-theme",
  "native-theme-gpui",
  "paths",
  "settings",
@@ -8356,7 +8353,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "signed_core"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "nostr",
  "serde",
@@ -8365,7 +8362,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "signed_git"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "diffy",
@@ -8383,7 +8380,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "signed_nostr"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "nostr-connect",
@@ -8395,7 +8392,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "signed_state"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "bitcoin_hashes 1.2.0",
@@ -8419,7 +8416,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "signed_ui"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "assets",
  "futures",
@@ -10018,7 +10015,7 @@ checksum = "b6c140620e7ffbb22c2dee59cafe6084a59b5ffc27a8859a5f0d494b5d52b6be"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "utils"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "nostr",
 ]
@@ -11267,7 +11264,7 @@ checksum = "1ebf944e87a7c253233ad6766e082e3cd714b5d03812acc24c318f549614536e"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "workspace"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "assets",

Cargo.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ members = ["crates/*", "desktop"]
 default-members = ["desktop"]
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 edition = "2024"
 publish = false
 
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ reqwest_client = { package = "gpui-pre-reqwest-client", version = "0.3.8" }
 gpui-component = { version = "=0.7.1", features = ["tree-sitter-languages"] }
 gpui-base = "=0.7.1"
 
-native-theme = { version = "0.6.1", features = ["watch"] }
 native-theme-gpui = { version = "0.6.1", default-features = false, features = ["system-fonts"] }
 
 dock = { path = "crates/dock" }

crates/workspace/src/views/sidebar/mod.rs

@@ -514,13 +514,10 @@ impl SidebarPanel {
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) -> impl IntoElement {
         let name = announcement.name().map(SharedString::from);
-        let owner = self.directory.read(cx).profile(&announcement.owner, cx);
-        let avatar = Avatar::new(announcement.owner)
-            .name(owner.name())
-            .picture(owner.picture())
-            .xsmall();
-
+        // The sidebar rows are compact, so the avatar matches the 16px nav icons.
+        let avatar = Avatar::new(format!("{}:{}", announcement.owner, announcement.id)).xsmall();
         let announcement = announcement.clone();
+
         let addr = announcement.addr();
         let unpushed = self.unpushed.get(&addr).copied().unwrap_or(0);
         let unsynced = self.sync_directory.read(cx).unsynced(&addr, cx);
@@ -776,24 +773,32 @@ pub(super) fn server_host(relay: &RelayUrl) -> SharedString {
         .unwrap_or_else(|| SharedString::from(relay.to_string()))
 }
 
-/// The bound owner's avatar, falling back to the repo's pixel avatar when unowned.
+/// The repository's pixel avatar, with the bound owner's avatar at its bottom right.
 fn local_avatar(
     entry: &ResolvedLocalRepo,
     directory: &Entity<ProfileDirectory>,
     cx: &App,
 ) -> AnyElement {
+    // Matches the other sidebar rows, and the badge below sits at its corner.
+    let avatar = Avatar::new(entry.path.to_string_lossy()).xsmall();
+
     let Some(owner) = entry.nip34.as_ref().and_then(|binding| binding.owner) else {
-        return Avatar::new(entry.path.to_string_lossy())
-            .xsmall()
-            .into_any_element();
+        return avatar.into_any_element();
     };
 
     let profile = directory.read(cx).profile(&owner, cx);
 
-    Avatar::new(owner)
-        .name(profile.name())
-        .picture(profile.picture())
-        .xsmall()
+    div()
+        .relative()
+        .child(avatar)
+        .child(
+            div().absolute().bottom_neg_0p5().right_neg_0p5().child(
+                Avatar::new(owner)
+                    .name(profile.name())
+                    .picture(profile.picture())
+                    .size(px(14.)),
+            ),
+        )
         .into_any_element()
 }
 

desktop/Cargo.toml

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ product-name = "Signed"
 description = "Nostr Git client for browsing repositories and collaborating"
 identifier = "info.reya.signed"
 category = "DeveloperTool"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.0-alpha"
 out-dir = "../dist"
 before-packaging-command = "cargo build --release"
 resources = ["Cargo.toml", "src"]
@@ -38,9 +38,7 @@ gpui.workspace = true
 gpui_platform.workspace = true
 dock = { workspace = true }
 gpui-component.workspace = true
-native-theme.workspace = true
 native-theme-gpui.workspace = true
-flume.workspace = true
 reqwest_client.workspace = true
 tracing.workspace = true
 tracing-subscriber.workspace = true

desktop/src/main.rs

@@ -5,9 +5,8 @@ use dock::TAB_BAR_HEIGHT;
 use gpui::*;
 use gpui_component::{Theme, ThemeMode, ThemeRegistry, theme};
 use gpui_platform::application;
-use native_theme::watch::ThemeSubscription;
 use native_theme_gpui::{SystemTheme, apply_system_theme};
-use settings::{AppearanceMode, Settings, SettingsStore};
+use settings::{AppearanceMode, SettingsStore};
 
 actions!(signed, [Quit]);
 
@@ -29,21 +28,26 @@ fn main() {
             SettingsStore::set_global(store.clone(), cx);
 
             let settings = store.read(cx).settings().clone();
-            {
-                let registry = ThemeRegistry::global_mut(cx);
-                for (name, content) in Assets.themes() {
-                    if let Err(err) = registry.load_themes_from_str(&content) {
-                        tracing::error!("Failed to load theme {name}: {err}");
-                    }
+            let registry = ThemeRegistry::global_mut(cx);
+
+            for (name, content) in Assets.themes() {
+                if let Err(err) = registry.load_themes_from_str(&content) {
+                    tracing::error!("Failed to load theme {name}: {err}");
                 }
             }
 
-            match apply_native_theme(&settings, cx) {
-                Ok(()) => start_theme_watcher(cx),
+            match SystemTheme::from_system() {
+                Ok(mut system) => {
+                    let native = system.light.defaults.font.size;
+                    if native > 0.0 {
+                        let scaling = settings.theme.font_size / native;
+                        system.accessibility.text_scaling_factor *= scaling;
+                    }
+                    apply_system_theme(&system, cx);
+                }
                 Err(error) => {
                     tracing::warn!("native theme unavailable ({error})");
 
-                    let registry = ThemeRegistry::global_mut(cx);
                     let light_theme = registry
                         .themes()
                         .get(settings.theme.light_theme.as_str())
@@ -73,15 +77,15 @@ fn main() {
                     } else {
                         tracing::warn!("{} theme is missing", settings.theme.dark_theme);
                     }
-
-                    match settings.appearance {
-                        AppearanceMode::System => Theme::sync_system_appearance(None, cx),
-                        AppearanceMode::Light => Theme::change(ThemeMode::Light, None, cx),
-                        AppearanceMode::Dark => Theme::change(ThemeMode::Dark, None, cx),
-                    }
                 }
             }
 
+            match settings.appearance {
+                AppearanceMode::System => Theme::sync_system_appearance(None, cx),
+                AppearanceMode::Light => Theme::change(ThemeMode::Light, None, cx),
+                AppearanceMode::Dark => Theme::change(ThemeMode::Dark, None, cx),
+            }
+
             std::fs::create_dir_all(paths::nostr_dir()).ok();
             std::fs::create_dir_all(paths::repos_dir()).ok();
 
@@ -124,62 +128,3 @@ fn main() {
             cx.activate(true);
         });
 }
-
-/// Apply the OS theme to the app, scaling the font size to match the system font size.
-fn apply_native_theme(settings: &Settings, cx: &mut App) -> native_theme::Result<()> {
-    let mut system = SystemTheme::from_system()?;
-    let native = system.light.defaults.font.size;
-    if native > 0.0 {
-        let scaling = settings.theme.font_size / native;
-        system.accessibility.text_scaling_factor *= scaling;
-    }
-
-    apply_system_theme(&system, cx);
-
-    match settings.appearance {
-        AppearanceMode::System => Theme::sync_system_appearance(None, cx),
-        AppearanceMode::Light => Theme::change(ThemeMode::Light, None, cx),
-        AppearanceMode::Dark => Theme::change(ThemeMode::Dark, None, cx),
-    }
-
-    Ok(())
-}
-
-/// Holds the watcher subscription so it lives as long as the app.
-struct ThemeWatcher {
-    _subscription: ThemeSubscription,
-}
-
-impl Global for ThemeWatcher {}
-
-/// Re-apply the OS theme whenever it changes at runtime.
-fn start_theme_watcher(cx: &mut App) {
-    let (sender, receiver) = flume::unbounded();
-    match native_theme::watch::on_theme_change(move |event| {
-        if let Err(error) = sender.send(event) {
-            tracing::warn!("theme change dropped ({error})");
-        }
-    }) {
-        Ok(subscription) => {
-            cx.set_global(ThemeWatcher {
-                _subscription: subscription,
-            });
-            cx.spawn(async move |cx| {
-                while receiver.recv_async().await.is_ok() {
-                    tracing::info!("OS theme changed; re-applying");
-                    cx.update(|cx| {
-                        let store = SettingsStore::global(cx);
-                        let settings = store.read(cx).settings().clone();
-                        if let Err(error) = apply_native_theme(&settings, cx) {
-                            tracing::warn!("failed to apply updated OS theme ({error})");
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
-            })
-            .detach();
-        }
-        Err(error) => {
-            tracing::warn!("OS theme watching unavailable ({error})")
-        }
-    }
-}

docs/NATIVE-THEME-MIGRATION.md

@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+# Native theme migration plan
+
+Integrate [`native-theme`](https://github.com/tiborgats/native-theme) (via the
+`native-theme-gpui` connector) so the app follows the OS native theme on
+macOS, Windows and Linux (KDE/GNOME), instead of only the bundled
+`signed.json` themes.
+
+Principles for this migration: plug the connector in, migrate what it
+replaces, do not wrap it, and do not adopt its optional subsystems (icons,
+theme-drawn widgets, presets UI) in this pass.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Current state
+
+| Piece | Location | Notes |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Startup theme setup | `desktop/src/main.rs` | `gpui_component::init` + `theme::init`, loads `signed.json` into `ThemeRegistry`, sets `Theme::global_mut` fields (`radius`, `radius_lg`, `focus_ring`, `shadow`, `font_size`, `mono_font_size`, `light_theme`, `dark_theme`), then `Theme::change` / `Theme::sync_system_appearance` |
+| Runtime theme application | `crates/workspace/src/views/sidebar/settings_dialog.rs` | `apply_theme()` re-reads settings into the global `Theme`; `apply_appearance()` maps `AppearanceMode` to `Theme::change` / `sync_system_appearance` |
+| System appearance follow | `crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs` | `cx.observe_window_appearance` → `Theme::sync_system_appearance` when appearance is `System` |
+| Theme settings | `crates/settings/src/settings.rs` (`ThemeSettings`) | `light_theme`, `dark_theme`, `font_size`, `mono_font_size`, `radius`, `radius_lg`, `focus_ring`, `shadow` |
+| Bundled themes | `crates/assets/assets/themes/signed.json` | `Signed Light` / `Signed Dark` colors + a `highlight` section (editor/syntax colors) |
+| Theme consumers | `dock`, `signed_ui`, `workspace` | ~50 `cx.theme()` call sites via `gpui_component::ActiveTheme` |
+
+Dependencies today (branch `feat/native-theme`, commit `eb4fbb0`):
+`gpui-pre` 0.3.9, `gpui-pre-platform` 0.3.9, `gpui-component` 0.8,
+`gpui-base` 0.8, toolchain 1.96.
+
+## 2. What the connector does
+
+`native-theme-gpui` turns a `native_theme::ResolvedTheme` (read from the OS,
+or from a bundled preset) into a fully configured `gpui_component::Theme` and
+installs it:
+
+- all 139 `ThemeColor` fields, fonts, `radius`, `shadow`, `focus_ring`,
+  scrollbar and base-layer values;
+- a `ThemeConfig` per mode, so the app's existing
+  `Theme::change(mode, None, cx)` / `Theme::sync_system_appearance(..)`
+  switch between the native light and dark palettes unchanged;
+- an internal observer that restores the native values gpui-component
+  overwrites on each rebuild;
+- accessibility: the OS text-scaling factor scales fonts (through the window
+  rem), reduce-motion and reduce-transparency are forwarded.
+
+Because the connector produces a regular gpui-component `Theme`, every
+existing `cx.theme()` call site keeps working without modification. That is
+the core reason this integration is small.
+
+Key APIs: `SystemTheme::from_system()`, `apply_system_theme(&system, cx)`,
+`apply(theme, &resolved, &prefs, cx)`, `from_preset(name, is_dark, &prefs)`,
+`AccessibilityPreferences::from_system()`.
+
+## 3. Gate 0 — version compatibility (blocking)
+
+Verified against crates.io and the upstream repo on 2026-10-21:
+
+| Fact | Value |
+| --- | --- |
+| Latest connector | `native-theme-gpui` 0.6.1 (2026-10-09); upstream `main` is the same |
+| Connector requires | `gpui-component ^0.7.1`, `gpui-base ^0.7.1`, `gpui-pre ^0.3.8`, Rust ≥ 1.95 |
+| `gpui-component`/`gpui-base` 0.7.1 pin | `gpui-pre =0.3.8` |
+| `gpui-component`/`gpui-base` 0.7.3 pin | `gpui-pre =0.3.9` |
+| `gpui-component` 0.8.0 pins | `gpui-pre =0.3.9` (0.8.0 published 2026-10-19) |
+| This branch | moved 0.7.1 / 0.3.8 → 0.8 / 0.3.9 in `eb4fbb0` ("chore: update deps") |
+
+The pins are mutually exclusive: with the app on `gpui-component` 0.8, cargo
+cannot unify the graph — the connector would pull a second `gpui-pre` 0.3.8
+and a second `gpui-component` 0.7.x, and `apply(.., cx)` would not even
+type-check against the app's `App`. **The connector cannot be added on top of
+gpui-component 0.8 today.**
+
+### Decision
+
+Revert the GPUI-side dependency bump on this branch and align with the
+connector's supported closure (recommended):
+
+```toml
+# [workspace.dependencies]
+gpui = { package = "gpui-pre", version = "0.3.8" }
+gpui_platform = { package = "gpui-pre-platform", version = "0.3.8", features = ["font-kit", "x11", "wayland"] }
+reqwest_client = { package = "gpui-pre-reqwest-client", version = "0.3.8" }
+
+gpui-component = { version = "=0.7.1", features = ["tree-sitter-languages"] }
+gpui-base = "=0.7.1"
+
+native-theme-gpui = { version = "0.6.1", default-features = false, features = ["system-fonts"] }
+```
+
+- This is the state of `master` before `eb4fbb0`, the version set the
+  connector was verified against (2026-10-08 stamp). The exact `=0.7.1`
+  pins are required, not a style choice: a caret `"0.7.1"` resolves 0.7.3,
+  whose `gpui-pre =0.3.9` pin drags the graph onto 0.3.9, outside the
+  closure the connector is verified against. The three `gpui-pre-*` family
+  crates are published in lockstep; all three move back to 0.3.8 together.
+- The connector re-exports the `native-theme` types that appear in its
+  public signatures (`SystemTheme`, `AccessibilityPreferences`, …), so the
+  app does **not** need `native-theme` as a direct dependency.
+- The cost of the revert is the two one-line tweaks `eb4fbb0` made for 0.8
+  (the `Deref` removal in `crates/dock/src/dock_area.rs` is restored; the
+  0.7.1 `ResizeHandle::on_drag` hands the closure an `Rc<T>` and requires
+  `E: Render`). The nostr changes in that commit are unrelated and stay.
+- When `native-theme-gpui` releases gpui-component 0.8 support (upstream has
+  bumped within days of each gpui-component release so far), bump both sides
+  together in one commit.
+
+Alternative, rejected for now: staying on gpui-component 0.8 and waiting for
+upstream 0.8 support. Nothing in this migration depends on 0.8-only APIs, and
+0.8.0 shipped two days before this plan, so the revert is the cheaper path.
+
+Note: the connector's README quick-start shows the `gpui-kit` facade crate;
+this project depends on `gpui-component` + `gpui-base` directly, which is
+equivalent — no `gpui-kit` dependency is needed.
+
+## 4. Target design
+
+### 4.1 Theme source
+
+The native OS theme becomes the primary source. The bundled `signed.json`
+registry stays as the fallback when the OS theme cannot be read (unsupported
+Linux desktop, headless, etc.). This keeps the existing startup code as the
+fallback branch instead of deleting a working safety net.
+
+### 4.2 Startup flow (`desktop/src/main.rs`)
+
+Order is load-bearing:
+
+1. `gpui_component::init(cx)` and `theme::init(cx)` — must run before
+   `apply` (connector requirement).
+2. `SettingsStore` load — already before any theme work.
+3. `ThemeRegistry` load from `Assets.themes()` — kept, feeds the fallback.
+4. Apply the native theme:
+
+```rust
+// native_theme_gpui re-exports SystemTheme from native-theme.
+match native_theme_gpui::SystemTheme::from_system() {
+    Ok(system) => native_theme_gpui::apply_system_theme(&system, cx),
+    Err(error) => {
+        tracing::warn!("native theme unavailable ({error}); using bundled themes");
+        // existing path: registry lookups + Theme::global_mut field setup
+    }
+}
+// shared: the existing `match settings.appearance { .. }` block stays,
+// now driving native palettes per mode on the native path.
+```
+
+`apply_system_theme` installs both the light and dark variants plus their
+configs, so the subsequent `Theme::change` / `sync_system_appearance` for the
+user's `AppearanceMode` picks the right native palette.
+
+Sizing note: gpui-component derives the window rem from `theme.font_size`, so
+every rem-relative element scales with it. The OS-reported UI font (13 on
+macOS) is smaller than the 16 this app is designed around, so the native path
+multiplies `system.accessibility.text_scaling_factor` by
+`settings.theme.font_size / native_size` before applying — the connector's
+supported scaling knob, which also preserves any OS accessibility scaling.
+The same factor scales `mono_font_size`, so code text follows the UI size
+(the pre-migration app used 13 for mono while the UI was 16).
+
+On the native path, do **not** set `radius` / `font_size` / `light_theme` /
+`dark_theme` etc. on `Theme::global_mut` — the connector owns those fields,
+and overwriting them fights its observer.
+
+### 4.3 Appearance switching (no changes)
+
+- `AppearanceMode::System | Light | Dark` and `apply_appearance()` in
+  `settings_dialog.rs` work as-is.
+- `workspace.rs`'s `observe_window_appearance` → `sync_system_appearance`
+  keeps following the OS while in `System` mode.
+- `Theme::change(mode, None, cx)` reproduces the native palette for the mode
+  because the connector installed a `ThemeConfig` per variant.
+
+Known gap (not addressed here): gpui-component's system-appearance follow is
+driven by window-activation events. A live OS theme change while the window
+is focused may not propagate on Linux until the window is re-focused;
+native-theme's `watch` feature (a theme-change watcher) is a possible
+follow-up, out of scope.
+
+### 4.4 Settings dialog (`settings_dialog.rs`)
+
+Keep:
+
+- the **Appearance** row (`System` / `Light` / `Dark`) and its handler.
+
+Remove (the native theme now owns all of these):
+
+- **Light Theme** / **Dark Theme** pickers and `theme_options()` — colors are
+  chosen by the OS. This is also the only way to avoid the connector's
+  registry trap: selecting a registry theme would overwrite the connector's
+  per-mode configs on the next `Theme::change` and silently drop native
+  colors until restart.
+- **Font size**, **Mono font size**, **Radius**, **Large radius**,
+  **Focus ring**, **Shadows** rows and their handlers — the resolved theme
+  provides geometry, and the connector already scales fonts by the OS text
+  size. Keeping manual overrides would require re-applying them after every
+  upstream rebuild, a permanent fight with the connector.
+
+`apply_theme()` and `theme_options()` are deleted outright: with the pickers
+and number fields gone they have no remaining callers. The fallback logic
+lives only in `main.rs`'s `Err` branch; the Appearance handler keeps working
+through `apply_appearance()` alone (`Theme::change` picks up whatever configs
+are installed, bundled or native).
+
+`ThemeSettings` keeps its fields and serde shape — the fallback branch still
+reads them, existing settings files keep parsing, and the tests in
+`settings.rs` stay valid. They become fallback-only tuning (editable via
+`settings.json`). Deleting the fields is a possible follow-up cleanup if the
+fallback ever moves to native-theme presets.
+
+### 4.5 Syntax highlighting (known trade-off)
+
+`signed.json` carries a `highlight` section (editor and syntax colors) used by
+code and markdown rendering (`TextView` in the files view and elsewhere). The
+connector's installed per-mode configs carry upstream's default highlighter
+styles, so on the native path the active syntax palette is upstream's, not
+Signed's.
+
+Decision for this pass: accept upstream's defaults — zero code. If the Signed
+syntax palette must be kept later, investigate whether gpui-component 0.7
+exposes a syntax-theme setter that survives `Theme::change`; do not build an
+override mechanism now.
+
+### 4.6 Features
+
+Use the connector with narrowed features; the app uses its own SVG icons and
+gpui-component widgets:
+
+```toml
+native-theme-gpui = { version = "0.6.1", default-features = false, features = ["system-fonts"] }
+```
+
+`system-fonts` keeps a theme font family the system lacks drawing in the
+platform's substitute. `widgets` (theme-drawn checkbox/switch/etc.),
+`material-icons`, `lucide-icons`, `system-icons`, `svg-rasterize` are all
+unused here and each carries build weight (the icon bundles are ~2 MB).
+Adopting any of them is a separate, deliberate follow-up.
+
+## 5. Change list
+
+| File | Change |
+| --- | --- |
+| `Cargo.toml` | Revert gpui-side pins to 0.3.8 / `=0.7.1` (Gate 0); add the `native-theme-gpui` workspace dep |
+| `desktop/Cargo.toml` | Add `native-theme-gpui` |
+| `desktop/src/main.rs` | Native apply with bundled fallback (§4.2); move the settings-field setup into the fallback branch |
+| `crates/workspace/src/views/sidebar/settings_dialog.rs` | Remove theme picker + font/radius/focus/shadow rows; shrink `apply_theme` to fallback-only (§4.4) |
+| `CHANGELOG.md` | Added: native OS theme via `native-theme`; Removed: manual theme/font/radius settings |
+
+Unchanged:
+
+- every `cx.theme()` consumer in `dock`, `signed_ui`, `workspace` — including
+  the dock/tab skins and window controls, which keep reading tokens;
+- `crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs` appearance observer;
+- `crates/settings` (fields stay), `crates/assets` (`signed.json` stays as
+  the fallback), `crates/dock`.
+
+## 6. Validation
+
+1. `cargo check`, `cargo test --workspace`, `cargo clippy` across the workspace
+   (toolchain 1.96 satisfies the connector's 1.95 MSRV).
+2. Manual matrix, per platform available (macOS first; KDE and GNOME Linux;
+   Windows):
+   - cold start matches the OS theme and accent; radius, fonts and controls
+     read as native;
+   - switching Appearance `System ↔ Light ↔ Dark` in settings switches native
+     palettes;
+   - with `System`, changing the OS theme and re-focusing the window updates
+     the app;
+   - settings dialog, dock tabs, diffs, files view, markdown rendering look
+     correct; the syntax palette difference from §4.5 is reviewed and
+     accepted;
+   - `cargo run` once with native detection forced to fail (e.g. temporarily
+     return early in the match) to prove the bundled fallback still works.
+3. `cargo tree -i gpui-pre` and `cargo tree -i gpui-component` must each show
+   exactly one version — the whole point of Gate 0.
+
+## 7. Explicitly out of scope
+
+- native-theme icon sets / `CustomIconName` mapping — the app keeps its own
+  SVG assets.
+- theme-drawn widgets (`widgets` feature).
+- a preset-picker UI (`from_preset`) in settings.
+- runtime OS-theme watching (`watch` feature).
+- per-field user overrides layered on the native theme.
+- migrating `signed.json` into a native-theme `Theme` definition.