makepad-2-0-animation

When to Use

- Use when this upstream workflow matches the user's stated goal.

- Use when the task requires the procedures documented in this skill.

# Makepad 2.0 Animation Skill

> **Version:** makepad-widgets (dev branch) | **Last Updated:** 2026-03-03

Overview

The Animator system drives `instance()` shader variables over time, enabling hover effects, transitions, and looping animations. It uses independent animation tracks called "groups" that run simultaneously.

Documentation

Refer to the local files for detailed documentation:

- `./references/animator-reference.md` - Complete Animator API, play types, ease functions, examples

IMPORTANT: Documentation Completeness Check

**Before answering questions, Claude MUST:**

1. Read the relevant reference file(s) listed above

2. If file read fails or file is empty:

- Inform user: "Reference docs incomplete. Still answering based on SKILL.md patterns."

- Still answer based on SKILL.md patterns + built-in knowledge

3. If reference file exists, incorporate its content into the answer

---

Critical: Widget Animator Support

**NOT all widgets support `animator`!** Adding `animator: Animator{...}` to an unsupported widget is **silently ignored** - no error, no animation, nothing happens.

Widgets that SUPPORT Animator

`View`, `SolidView`, `RoundedView`, `ScrollXView`, `ScrollYView`, `ScrollXYView`, `Button`, `ButtonFlat`, `ButtonFlatter`, `CheckBox`, `Toggle`, `RadioButton`, `LinkLabel`, `TextInput`

Widgets that DO NOT Support Animator

`Label`, `H1`-`H4`, `P`, `TextBox`, `Image`, `Icon`, `Markdown`, `Html`, `Slider`, `DropDown`, `Splitter`, `Hr`, `Filler`

**To animate a Label:** Wrap it in a View with the animator:

View{
    width: Fit height: Fit
    animator: Animator{
        hover: {
            default: @off
            off: AnimatorState{ from: {all: Forward {duration: 0.15}} apply: {draw_bg: {hover: 0.0}} }
            on: AnimatorState{ from: {all: Forward {duration: 0.15}} apply: {draw_bg: {hover: 1.0}} }
        }
    }
    label := Label{text: "Animated via parent"}
}

---

Animator Structure

animator: Animator{
    <group_name>: {
        default: @<state_name>
        <state_name>: AnimatorState{
            from: { ... }
            ease: <EaseFunction>
            redraw: true
            apply: { ... }
        }
        <state_name>: AnimatorState{ ... }
    }
    <group_name>: { ... }
}

---

Groups

Each group is an independent animation track. Common groups:

| Group | Purpose | Typical States |

|-------|---------|----------------|

| `hover` | Mouse hover in/out | `off`, `on` |

| `focus` | Keyboard focus | `off`, `on` |

| `active` | Toggled/checked state | `off`, `on` |

| `disabled` | Disabled state | `off`, `on` |

| `time` | Continuous looping | `off`, `on` |

Multiple groups animate simultaneously without interfering.

---

The `from` Block

Controls transition timing. Keys are states being transitioned FROM, or `all` as catch-all.

// From any state, animate over 0.2 seconds
from: {all: Forward {duration: 0.2}}

// Instant from any state
from: {all: Snap}

// Different timing depending on origin
from: {
    all: Forward {duration: 0.1}
    down: Forward {duration: 0.01}
}

---

Play Types

| Type | Description | Example |

|------|-------------|---------|

| `Forward {duration: 0.2}` | One-shot forward | Hover transitions |

| `Snap` | Instant jump, no animation | Default state initialization |

| `Loop {duration: 1.0}` | Looping animation | Loading spinners |

| `ReverseLoop {duration: 1.0}` | Ping-pong loop | Pulsing effects |

| `BounceLoop {duration: 1.0}` | Bounce back and forth | Bouncing animations |

---

Ease Functions

| Function | Description |

|----------|-------------|

| `Linear` | Constant speed |

| `InQuad` / `OutQuad` / `InOutQuad` | Quadratic easing |

| `InCubic` / `OutCubic` / `InOutCubic` | Cubic easing |

| `InQuart` / `OutQuart` / `InOutQuart` | Quartic easing |

| `InQuint` /