Unhelpful Theme Errors

[joegm]

When writing and experimenting with themes I've noticed that if there is anything wrong with a theme (syntax error, missing key, misspelled key) and you try to select it with :theme <mytheme> the error is always:

Invalid theme: 'ui.selection' required

This message shows up even when ui.selection is present and is most of the time completely irrelevant to the actual issue with the theme. I like the theming in Helix but this makes it a lot harder to work with. I'd prefer individual errors for, say:

• Syntax errors like missing commas, with line number.
• Non-existent/misspelled keys.
• Required keys that aren't implemented, specifying which key it is.

[0rphee]

For the time being I found this site useful for finding typos and errors in .tomlfiles for themes

[kirawi]

Partially addressed by cargo xtask themelint introduced in #3234

[noahfraiture]

Hey, I have a similar issue, I have the same error but my toml is correct. I also have

[ui.selection]
bg = "#45475a"

[ui.selection.primary]
bg = "#45475a"

Do you know what might be wrong ?

[attribute]
fg = "#f9e2af"

[comment]
fg = "#585b70"
modifiers = ["italic"]

[constant]
fg = "#94e2d5"
[constant.builtin]
fg = "#fab387"

[constant.character.escape]
fg = "#fab387"

[constant.numeric]
fg = "#fab387"

[constructor]
fg = "#89b4fa"

[diagnostic.deprecated]
modifiers = ["crossed_out"]

[diagnostic.error.underline]
color = "#f38ba8"
style = "curl"

[diagnostic.hint.underline]
color = "#a6e3a1"
style = "curl"

[diagnostic.info.underline]
color = "#89b4fa"
style = "curl"

[diagnostic.unnecessary]
modifiers = ["dim"]

[diagnostic.warning.underline]
color = "#f9e2af"
style = "curl"

[diff]
delta = "#fab387"
minus = "#f38ba8"
plus = "#a6e3a1"

[error]
fg = "#f38ba8"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[function]
fg = "#89b4fa"
[function.builtin]
fg = "#89b4fa"

[function.macro]
fg = "#cba6f7"

[hint]
fg = "#a6e3a1"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[info]
fg = "#89b4fa"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[keyword]
fg = "#cba6f7"
[keyword.control]
fg = "#cba6f7"

[keyword.control.import]
fg = "#f38ba8"

[keyword.directive]
fg = "#cba6f7"

[keyword.operator]
fg = "#cba6f7"

[label]
fg = "#cba6f7"

[markup.bold]
fg = "#fab387"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[markup.heading]
fg = "#f38ba8"

[markup.italic]
fg = "#cba6f7"
modifiers = ["italic"]

[markup.link.text]
fg = "#cba6f7"

[markup.link.url]
fg = "#94e2d5"
modifiers = ["underlined"]

[markup.list]
fg = "#f38ba8"

[markup.quote]
fg = "#f9e2af"

[markup.raw.inline]
fg = "#a6e3a1"

[markup.strikethrough]
modifiers = ["crossed_out"]

[namespace]
fg = "#89b4fa"

[operator]
fg = "#cba6f7"

[special]
fg = "#89b4fa"

[string]
fg = "#a6e3a1"

[tag]
fg = "#f38ba8"

[type]
fg = "#f9e2af"

[ui.background]
bg = "#1e1e2e"

[ui.bufferline]
bg = "#313244"
fg = "#cdd6f4"
[ui.bufferline.active]
bg = "#89b4fa"
fg = "#1e1e2e"

[ui.bufferline.background]
bg = "#313244"

[ui.cursor]
fg = "#f2cdcd"
modifiers = ["reversed"]

[ui.cursor.match]
fg = "#89b4fa"
modifiers = ["underlined"]

[ui.cursor.primary]
fg = "#cdd6f4"
modifiers = ["reversed"]

[ui.cursorline.primary]
bg = "#313244"

[ui.debug]
fg = "#f38ba8"

[ui.help]
bg = "#585b70"
fg = "#cdd6f4"

[ui.highlight]
bg = "#585b70"

[ui.highlight.frameline]
bg = "#f38ba8"

[ui.linenr]
fg = "#45475a"

[ui.linenr.selected]
fg = "#cdd6f4"

[ui.menu]
bg = "#585b70"
fg = "#cdd6f4"

[ui.menu.scroll]
bg = "#313244"
fg = "#cdd6f4"

[ui.menu.selected]
bg = "#89b4fa"
fg = "#1e1e2e"

[ui.popup]
bg = "#585b70"

[ui.selection]
bg = "#45475a"

[ui.selection.primary]
bg = "#45475a"

[ui.statusline]
bg = "#313244"
fg = "#cdd6f4"

[ui.statusline.inactive]
bg = "#313244"
fg = "#313244"

[ui.statusline.insert]
bg = "#a6e3a1"
fg = "#313244"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[ui.statusline.normal]
bg = "#89b4fa"
fg = "#313244"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[ui.statusline.select]
bg = "#cba6f7"
fg = "#313244"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[ui.text]
fg = "#cdd6f4"

[ui.text.focus]
bg = "#313244"
fg = "#cdd6f4"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[ui.virtual]
fg = "#585b70"

[ui.virtual.indent-guide]
fg = "#585b70"

[ui.virtual.inlay-hint]
fg = "#313244"

[ui.virtual.jump-label]
fg = "#fab387"

[ui.virtual.ruler]
bg = "#585b70"

[ui.virtual.whitespace]
fg = "#313244"

[ui.window]
fg = "#585b70"

[variable.builtin]
fg = "#89b4fa"

[variable.other.member]
fg = "#94e2d5"

[variable.parameter]
fg = "#f38ba8"

[warning]
fg = "#f9e2af"
modifiers = ["bold"]

[NicholasDewberryOfficial]

Having the same problem too. 0 idea what causes this, I have a valid ui.selection too.

[AQMpolyface]

hi, for me that error was when i put [palett] on top and not at the bottom. (#13488)

But maybe if this is not the issue try to refer to https://github.com/n0s4/helix-theme-template/blob/main/template.toml