makepad-animation

Supporting material availability

This catalog copy contains the inline guidance below, but does not include the following supporting paths. They are external prerequisites, not bundled files:

./references/animation-system.md

Ask for the original supporting material or an existing installation before using a step that depends on these paths; this catalog does not identify a verified download source for them. Resolve each path relative to that installation, inspect its contents, and verify any applicable license and execution prerequisites. Do not run a command or claim a referenced procedure was followed until its required file exists. Do not fabricate the missing scripts or treat an unrelated file with the same name as equivalent. Independent steps fully documented here can proceed within the user’s authorized scope; report any dependent step as unavailable.

Makepad Animation Skill

Version: makepad-widgets (dev branch) | Last Updated: 2026-01-19

Check for updates: https://crates.io/crates/makepad-widgets

You are an expert at Makepad animations. Help users by:

Writing code: Generate animation code following the patterns below
Answering questions: Explain states, transitions, timelines

When to Use

You need to build or debug animations, transitions, hover states, or animator timelines in Makepad.
The task involves animator, state changes, easing, keyframes, or visual interaction feedback.
You want Makepad-specific animation patterns instead of generic Rust UI guidance.

Documentation

Refer to the local files for detailed documentation:

./references/animation-system.md - Complete animation reference

Advanced Patterns

For production-ready animation patterns, see the _base/ directory:

Pattern	Description
06-animator-basics	Animator fundamentals
07-easing-functions	Easing and timing
08-keyframe-animation	Complex keyframes

IMPORTANT: Documentation Completeness Check

Before answering questions, Claude MUST:

Read the relevant reference file(s) listed above
If file read fails or file is empty:
- Inform user: "Local documentation is incomplete, it is recommended to run /sync-crate-skills makepad --force to update the documentation"
- Still answer based on SKILL.md patterns + built-in knowledge
If reference file exists, incorporate its content into the answer

Key Patterns

1. Basic Hover Animation

<Button> {
    text: "Hover Me"

    animator: {
        hover = {
            default: off

            off = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.15 } }
                apply: {
                    draw_bg: { color: #333333 }
                }
            }

            on = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.15 } }
                apply: {
                    draw_bg: { color: #555555 }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

2. Multi-State Animation

<View> {
    animator: {
        hover = {
            default: off
            off = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.2 } }
                apply: { draw_bg: { color: #222222 } }
            }
            on = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.2 } }
                apply: { draw_bg: { color: #444444 } }
            }
        }

        pressed = {
            default: off
            off = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.1 } }
                apply: { draw_bg: { scale: 1.0 } }
            }
            on = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.1 } }
                apply: { draw_bg: { scale: 0.95 } }
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Focus State Animation

<TextInput> {
    animator: {
        focus = {
            default: off

            off = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.2 } }
                apply: {
                    draw_bg: {
                        border_color: #444444
                        border_size: 1.0
                    }
                }
            }

            on = {
                from: { all: Forward { duration: 0.2 } }
                apply: {
                    draw_bg: {
                        border_color: #0066CC
                        border_size: 2.0
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

4. Disabled State

<Button> {
    animator: {
        disabled = {
            default: off

            off = {
                from: { all: Snap }
                apply: {
                    draw_bg: { color: #0066CC }
                    draw_text: { color: #FFFFFF }
                }
            }

            on = {
                from: { all: Snap }
                apply: {
                    draw_bg: { color: #333333 }
                    draw_text: { color: #666666 }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Animator Structure

Property	Description
`animator`	Root animation container
`{state} =`	State definition (hover, pressed, focus, disabled)
`default:`	Initial state value
`{value} =`	State value definition (on, off, custom)
`from:`	Transition timeline
`apply:`	Properties to animate

Timeline Types (Play Enum)

Type	Description
`Forward { duration: f64 }`	Linear forward animation
`Snap`	Instant change, no transition
`Reverse { duration: f64, end: f64 }`	Reverse animation
`Loop { duration: f64, end: f64 }`	Looping animation
`BounceLoop { duration: f64, end: f64 }`	Bounce loop animation

Easing Functions (Ease Enum)

// Basic
Linear

// Quadratic
InQuad, OutQuad, InOutQuad

// Cubic
InCubic, OutCubic, InOutCubic

// Quartic
InQuart, OutQuart, InOutQuart

// Quintic
InQuint, OutQuint, InOutQuint

// Sinusoidal
InSine, OutSine, InOutSine

// Exponential
InExp, OutExp, InOutExp

// Circular
InCirc, OutCirc, InOutCirc

// Elastic
InElastic, OutElastic, InOutElastic

// Back
InBack, OutBack, InOutBack

// Bounce
InBounce, OutBounce, InOutBounce

// Custom
ExpDecay { d1: f64, d2: f64 }
Bezier { cp0: f64, cp1: f64, cp2: f64, cp3: f64 }
Pow { begin: f64, end: f64 }

Using Easing

from: {
    all: Ease { duration: 0.3, ease: InOutQuad }
}

Common States

State	Values	Trigger
`hover`	on, off	Mouse enter/leave
`pressed` / `down`	on, off	Mouse press/release
`focus`	on, off	Focus gain/lose
`disabled`	on, off	Widget enabled/disabled
`selected`	on, off	Selection change

Animatable Properties

Most draw_* shader uniforms can be animated:

Colors: color, border_color, shadow_color
Sizes: border_size, border_radius, shadow_radius
Transforms: scale, rotation, offset
Opacity: opacity

When Writing Code

Always set default: for initial state
Use Forward for smooth transitions
Use Snap for instant state changes (like disabled)
Keep durations short (0.1-0.3s) for responsive feel
Animate shader uniforms in draw_bg, draw_text, etc.

Rust API (AnimatorImpl Trait)

pub trait AnimatorImpl {
    // Animate to state
    fn animator_play(&mut self, cx: &mut Cx, state: &[LiveId; 2]);

    // Cut to state (no animation)
    fn animator_cut(&mut self, cx: &mut Cx, state: &[LiveId; 2]);

    // Check current state
    fn animator_in_state(&self, cx: &Cx, state: &[LiveId; 2]) -> bool;
}

// Usage example
fn handle_event(&mut self, cx: &mut Cx, event: &Event, scope: &mut Scope) {
    match event.hits(cx, self.area()) {
        Hit::FingerHoverIn(_) => {
            self.animator_play(cx, id!(hover.on));
        }
        Hit::FingerHoverOut(_) => {
            self.animator_play(cx, id!(hover.off));
        }
        Hit::FingerDown(_) => {
            self.animator_play(cx, id!(pressed.on));
        }
        Hit::FingerUp(_) => {
            self.animator_play(cx, id!(pressed.off));
        }
        _ => {}
    }
}

When Answering Questions

States are independent - multiple can be active simultaneously
Animation applies properties when state reaches that value
from defines HOW to animate, apply defines WHAT to animate
Makepad tweens between old and new values automatically
Use id!(state.value) macro to reference animation states in Rust

Limitations

Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.