Figured I’d cobble together a quick-n-dirty greasemonkey/tapermonkey script to slighly modify the CSS to feel a little more like old.reddit with RES. Still not quite as compact as I’d like, but it’s getting there.

**edit/update: **

changelog

  • All future versions on github: https://github.com/soundjester/lemmy_monkey/
  • v0.4 - reformatted to remove greater-than signs; added observer to catch and reformat new comments;
  • v0.3 - added script to move the comment collapse button to be in front of user name (thanks @DarkwingDuck); tightened up the code, removed unneeded function call.
  • v0.2 - modified to work on any lemmy instance (thank you, God!)
// ==UserScript==
// @name         Lemmy to Old.Reddit Re-format (Observer)
// @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
// @version      0.4
// @description  Reformat widescreen desktop to look more like Reddit
// @author       mershed_perderders, DarkwingDuck
// @match        https://*/*
// ==/UserScript==

(function() {
	'use strict';

	var isLemmy = document.head.querySelector("[name~=Description][content]").content === "Lemmy";

	function GM_addStyle(css) {
		const style = document.getElementById("GM_addStyleBy8626") || (function() {
			const style = document.createElement('style');
			style.type = 'text/css';
			style.id = "GM_addStyleBy8626";
			document.head.appendChild(style);
			return style;
		})();
		const sheet = style.sheet;
		sheet.insertRule(css, (sheet.rules || sheet.cssRules || []).length);
	}

	function MoveCommentCollapseButton(container) {
		var firstTargDiv = container.querySelector(".btn.btn-sm.text-muted");
		var secondTargDiv = container.querySelector(".mr-2");
		//-- Swap last to first.
		container.insertBefore(firstTargDiv, secondTargDiv);
	}

	function ApplyMoveCommentCollapseButton(element) {
		const observer = new MutationObserver(function(mutationsList) {
			for (let mutation of mutationsList) {
				if (mutation.type === 'childList') {
					for (let addedNode of mutation.addedNodes) {
						if (addedNode.matches('.d-flex.flex-wrap.align-items-center.text-muted.small')) {
							MoveCommentCollapseButton(addedNode);
						}
					}
				}
			}
		});

		observer.observe(element, { childList: true, subtree: true });
	}

  //Lemmy to old.Reddit style reformats (to be used for custom stylesheet at a later date)
	if (isLemmy) {
		GM_addStyle(".container-fluid, .container-lg, .container-md, .container-sm, .container-xl {   margin-right: unset !important; margin-left: unset !important;}");
		GM_addStyle(".container, .container-lg, .container-md, .container-sm, .container-xl { max-width: 100% !important; }");
		GM_addStyle(".col-md-4 { flex: 0 0 20% !important; max-width: 20%; }");
		GM_addStyle(".col-md-8 { flex: 0 0 80% !important; max-width: 80%; }");
		GM_addStyle(".col-sm-2 { flex: 0 0 9% !important; max-width: 10%; }");
		GM_addStyle(".col-1 { flex: 0 0 4% !important; max-width: 5%; }");
		GM_addStyle(".mb-2, .my-2 { margin-bottom: 0.3rem !important; }");
		GM_addStyle(".mb-3, .my-3 { margin-bottom: .2rem !important; }");
		GM_addStyle(".mt-3, .my-3 { margin-top: .2rem !important; }");
		GM_addStyle(".thumbnail {   min-height: 100px; max-height: 125px; }");
		GM_addStyle(".vote-bar { margin-top: 15px !important; }");
		GM_addStyle(".comments {  margin-left: 20px; }");

		// Move comment collapse buttons for existing elements
		var divList = document.querySelectorAll(".d-flex.flex-wrap.align-items-center.text-muted.small");
		divList.forEach(MoveCommentCollapseButton);

		// Apply MoveCommentCollapseButton to dynamically loaded elements
		ApplyMoveCommentCollapseButton(document.documentElement);
	}
})();

Screenshot

>

      • SplatterGasp@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        I gotta be honest, UX / UI is not my area.

        I’m sorry, but I don’t believe you. It looks fantastic! Really great job!

      • KNova@links.dartboard.social
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        1 year ago

        Well, congrats because it looks great. You did way better than I would have done. Hoping someone else with more subject matter knowledge can weigh in. I would love to install this as default for my users.

    • zeldis@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      The CSS from the script could just be appended to any bootstrap css file and then admins could use that

    • DarkwingDuck@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      I think @mershed_perderders@sh.itjust.works went to bed, but apparently a formatting issue occurred while copy-pasting, and > was replaced with > which would break the script.

      Should be

      var div_list = document.querySelectorAll(".d-flex.flex-wrap.align-items-center.text-muted.small");
      var div_array = [...div_list];
      
      div_array.forEach(container => {
          var firstTargDiv = container.querySelector (".btn.btn-sm.text-muted");
          var secondTargDiv = container.querySelector (".mr-2");
          //-- Swap last to first.
          container.insertBefore (firstTargDiv, secondTargDiv);
      });
      

      Edit again: something is fucky with right pointing arrow. If you’re having trouble, replace > with right pointing arrow.

      • zeldis@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        It looks like the lemmy ui itself is changing that after the page loads which seems like a bug. If you refresh and watch the code you can see it change

        • DarkwingDuck@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          Alright then, let’s avoid right arrow for now. Here is a new and improved version with an Observer that will (or at least should) move the button for dynamically loaded comments as well. Note that the Observer piece was generated by ChatGPT.

          Edit: Jesus H Christ, can’t seem to post it correctly. Replace & below with ampersands please.

          // ==UserScript==
          // @name         Lemmy to Old.Reddit Re-format (Observer)
          // @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
          // @version      0.1
          // @description  Reformat widescreen desktop to look more like Reddit
          // @author       mershed_perderders
          // @match        https://*/*
          // @grant        none
          // ==/UserScript==
          
          (function() {
          	'use strict';
          
          	var isLemmy = document.head.querySelector("[name~=Description][content]").content === "Lemmy";
          
          	function GM_addStyle(css) {
          		const style = document.getElementById("GM_addStyleBy8626") || (function() {
          			const style = document.createElement('style');
          			style.type = 'text/css';
          			style.id = "GM_addStyleBy8626";
          			document.head.appendChild(style);
          			return style;
          		})();
          		const sheet = style.sheet;
          		sheet.insertRule(css, (sheet.rules || sheet.cssRules || []).length);
          	}
          
          	function MoveCommentCollapseButton(container) {
          		var firstTargDiv = container.querySelector(".btn.btn-sm.text-muted");
          		var secondTargDiv = container.querySelector(".mr-2");
          		//-- Swap last to first.
          		container.insertBefore(firstTargDiv, secondTargDiv);
          	}
          
          	function ApplyMoveCommentCollapseButton(element) {
          		const observer = new MutationObserver(function(mutationsList) {
          			for (let mutation of mutationsList) {
          				if (mutation.type === 'childList') {
          					for (let addedNode of mutation.addedNodes) {
          						if (addedNode.nodeType === Node.ELEMENT_NODE && addedNode.matches('.d-flex.flex-wrap.align-items-center.text-muted.small')) {
          							MoveCommentCollapseButton(addedNode);
          						}
          					}
          				}
          			}
          		});
          
          		observer.observe(element, { childList: true, subtree: true });
          	}
          
          	if (isLemmy) {
          		GM_addStyle(".container-fluid, .container-lg, .container-md, .container-sm, .container-xl {   margin-right: unset !important; margin-left: unset !important;}");
          		GM_addStyle(".container, .container-lg, .container-md, .container-sm, .container-xl { max-width: 100% !important; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".col-md-4 { flex: 0 0 20% !important; max-width: 20%; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".col-md-8 { flex: 0 0 80% !important; max-width: 80%; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".col-sm-2 { flex: 0 0 9% !important; max-width: 10%; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".col-1 { flex: 0 0 4% !important; max-width: 5%; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".mb-2, .my-2 { margin-bottom: 0.3rem !important; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".thumbnail {   min-height: 100px; max-height: 125px; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".mb-3, .my-3 { margin-bottom: .2rem !important; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".mt-3, .my-3 { margin-top: .2rem !important; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".vote-bar { margin-top: 15px !important; }");
          		GM_addStyle(".comments {  margin-left: 20px; }");
          
          		// Move comment collapse buttons for existing elements
          		var divList = document.querySelectorAll(".d-flex.flex-wrap.align-items-center.text-muted.small");
          		divList.forEach(MoveCommentCollapseButton);
          
          		// Apply MoveCommentCollapseButton to dynamically loaded elements
          		ApplyMoveCommentCollapseButton(document.documentElement);
          	}
          })();
          
  • The Real Geno Smith@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    for special children like me, how do we use such a thing? I’m guessing a browser plugin of some sort?

    Thanks for taking the effort to make this place feel like our old, abusive, but still comfortable, home. :)

    • mershed_perderders@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, so this relies on a browser extension called Tampermonkey (or greasemonkey depending on your browser).

      You install the extension, then create a “new script” and paste in the code above. Then save, refresh the page, and Bob’s your uncle (or Betty’s your aunt)!

      • sping@lemmy.sdf.org
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        1 year ago

        Also Violentmonkey. Tampermonkey is the least desirable AFAIK because it’s closed source.

        • mershed_perderders@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          1 year ago

          Yeah, I personally use violentmonkey, but its usershare is a lot less than grease or tamper. Fortunately, this script “should” work with any of them…

    • eric5949@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      I don’t know how to use it but greasemonkey is a browser extension, I assume it lets you run scripts and this is a script for it.

  • Bardak@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Now we just need to get rid of the image preview for really old farts like me. I also wouldn’t mind a theme that gets rid of the inline images in comments and just replaces them with a link.

    • sping@lemmy.sdf.org
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, this would be really nice at a high level that prevents them from being loaded. Always the first thing I did on creating a new Reddit user.

    • mershed_perderders@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      1 year ago

      The script is written to work on “sh.itjust.works” but you can easily change it to whatever instance you use by editing the @match https://sh.itjust.works/* to use that instance’s URL.

      Just drop in the top-level name, similar to what you see used here. Easy-peasy.

      I guess it IS a good argument to create a style like that other comment suggested. I’ll look at doing that.

      • God@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        just so you know, you can make it universal by adding something very simple to your script:

        just wrap the script with this:

        var isLemmy =
          document.head.querySelector("[name~=Description][content]").content ===
          "Lemmy";
        
        if (isLemmy) {
          // your code here
        }
        

        that way ppl don’t have to modify their script and it just works by default :)

        • kopper [they/them]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          1 year ago

          Instead of querying the description (which I’m not sure is hardcoded or not), a better way to do this would probably be just if (window.lemmyConfig). To me it seems pretty unused and might be gone in later versions, but it exists now and we can take advantage of it.

          There is also window.isoData which is probably bit more reliable, but no idea if that naming is Lemmy’s or from a framework Lemmy happens to use. Unlike lemmyConfig though it has plenty of data inside which might make it a lot more reliable if you dig deep enough.

          • God@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            What I use I’ve tested all throughout many instances and it hasn’t failed once yet. I didn’t understand the first thing but yeah I might go with your suggestion Anyway at least to try it because it seems a tiny bit better practice.

  • Ugh@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    This looks awesome. I look forward to trying it next time I’m on desktop. Thank you!

  • Thomas@lemmy.douwes.co.uk
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    1 year ago

    Good shit, That fixes most of the UI complaints from me. One other think I can think of is making the post a bit smaller to fit more on the screen. Much better than default though.

  • God@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Pull Request: I made the max width of comments and reply boxes to 840px

    lines changed: 64-65. Inserted:

    		GM_addStyle(".comment p {  max-width: 840px }");
    		GM_addStyle(".comment textarea {  max-width: 840px }");
    
    full code:
    // ==UserScript==
    // @name         Lemmy to Old.Reddit Re-format (Observer)
    // @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
    // @version      0.4
    // @description  Reformat widescreen desktop to look more like Reddit
    // @author       mershed_perderders, DarkwingDuck
    // @match        https://*/*
    // ==/UserScript==
    
    (function() {
    	'use strict';
    
    	var isLemmy = document.head.querySelector("[name~=Description][content]").content === "Lemmy";
    
    	function GM_addStyle(css) {
    		const style = document.getElementById("GM_addStyleBy8626") || (function() {
    			const style = document.createElement('style');
    			style.type = 'text/css';
    			style.id = "GM_addStyleBy8626";
    			document.head.appendChild(style);
    			return style;
    		})();
    		const sheet = style.sheet;
    		sheet.insertRule(css, (sheet.rules || sheet.cssRules || []).length);
    	}
    
    	function MoveCommentCollapseButton(container) {
    		var firstTargDiv = container.querySelector(".btn.btn-sm.text-muted");
    		var secondTargDiv = container.querySelector(".mr-2");
    		//-- Swap last to first.
    		container.insertBefore(firstTargDiv, secondTargDiv);
    	}
    
    	function ApplyMoveCommentCollapseButton(element) {
    		const observer = new MutationObserver(function(mutationsList) {
    			for (let mutation of mutationsList) {
    				if (mutation.type === 'childList') {
    					for (let addedNode of mutation.addedNodes) {
    						if (addedNode.matches('.d-flex.flex-wrap.align-items-center.text-muted.small')) {
    							MoveCommentCollapseButton(addedNode);
    						}
    					}
    				}
    			}
    		});
    
    		observer.observe(element, { childList: true, subtree: true });
    	}
    
      //Lemmy to old.Reddit style reformats (to be used for custom stylesheet at a later date)
    	if (isLemmy) {
    		GM_addStyle(".container-fluid, .container-lg, .container-md, .container-sm, .container-xl {   margin-right: unset !important; margin-left: unset !important;}");
    		GM_addStyle(".container, .container-lg, .container-md, .container-sm, .container-xl { max-width: 100% !important; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".col-md-4 { flex: 0 0 20% !important; max-width: 20%; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".col-md-8 { flex: 0 0 80% !important; max-width: 80%; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".col-sm-2 { flex: 0 0 9% !important; max-width: 10%; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".col-1 { flex: 0 0 4% !important; max-width: 5%; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".mb-2, .my-2 { margin-bottom: 0.3rem !important; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".mb-3, .my-3 { margin-bottom: .2rem !important; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".mt-3, .my-3 { margin-top: .2rem !important; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".thumbnail {   min-height: 100px; max-height: 125px; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".vote-bar { margin-top: 15px !important; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".comments {  margin-left: 20px; }");
    		GM_addStyle(".comment p {  max-width: 840px }");
    		GM_addStyle(".comment textarea {  max-width: 840px }");
    
    		// Move comment collapse buttons for existing elements
    		var divList = document.querySelectorAll(".d-flex.flex-wrap.align-items-center.text-muted.small");
    		divList.forEach(MoveCommentCollapseButton);
    
    		// Apply MoveCommentCollapseButton to dynamically loaded elements
    		ApplyMoveCommentCollapseButton(document.documentElement);
    	}
    })();
    
  • wia@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    :( It doesn’t work for me. I’m using firefox, so maybe some levated security or something is getting in the way of it working.

    • mershed_perderders@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      1 year ago

      Unfortunately, no - not at this time. Partly because I lack the skill to do it, and partly because it isn’t really a “theme” as such. It doesn’t change the colors or do some of the things a theme typically does. In truth, the script is actually (essentially) theme agnostic - I use it with darkly, but it works with all of the other Lemmy themes without issue (hopefully).