Animated loader · mimo-v2.6-pro

Let me build the file and then verify with browser tools.

Let me write index.html with a GSAP timeline, shapes group (rounded rects/circles changing scale, position, borderRadius), five dots row with stagger, dark background, pause/resume/restart buttons.

Timeline duration 3-6s, repeat: -1, repeatDelay maybe 0, yoyo false but should loop without abrupt jump — use seamless loop by making end state equal start state (or use repeat with a timeline that returns to start).

Let me write it.

Design: SVG-based shapes? Easier with divs and gsap animating borderRadius, x, y, scale, rotation, background color. Let's do a group of 5 shapes (rounded squares) arranged, morphing.

Plan the timeline (duration ~4.8s):
- Shapes: each shape animates through keyframes with stagger; tween borderRadius from e.g. 12 to 50% (999px) and back, scale, x/y.
- Dots: 5 dots, staggered y bob and opacity, using stagger with repeat inside master timeline... but nested repeating tweens inside a timeline can cause "growing number of animation instances"? Not really — repeating nested tweens in a timeline is fine but can be awkward for pause. Better: build dot motion as part of the master timeline with stagger and yoyo-ish so the whole thing loops seamlessly.

Simplest robust approach: build master timeline with repeat:-1, and all tweens placed so that at t=0 and t=duration all properties are equal → seamless loop. Use a helper to tween each element from A to B and back to A within the timeline (e.g., tl.to(el, {...B, duration:d, ease}, i).to(el, {...A, duration:d, ease}, i+d)). Actually to guarantee smooth, use eases like "power2.inOut" for both halves.

Dots: staggered — each dot tweens up and fades, stagger 0.12, then back.

Also add progress-based shapes: maybe 4 shapes rotating around center subtly.

Let me write clean code.

Shapes: container 260x260 centered; 4 shapes positioned absolutely.

I'll animate each shape: x, y, scale, borderRadius, rotation, backgroundColor (color interpolation - gsap handles colors).

Timeline structure (total 4.8s):
Phase 1 (0 → 2.4): shapes morph to target state (stagger 0.12), dots rise with stagger.
Phase 2 (2.4 → 4.8): shapes morph back to initial state, dots settle. End state == start state → seamless.

For dots staggered motion: use tl.to(".dot", {y: -14, opacity: 1, duration: 0.6, stagger: {each: 0.12, yoyo: true, repeat: 1}}, 0.6) — that gives up and back within the timeline, seamless. Good, avoids repeat inside.

Also maybe a pulse ring.

Controls: buttons Pause, Resume, Restart. Also could show status text and timeline progress. Keep it simple.

Important: verify no growing instances — use single timeline created once; restart uses tl.restart() (which for a repeating timeline restarts at 0). Pause: tl.pause(); Resume: tl.resume().

Let me write the file.

Palette: deep navy #0b0e1a background, shapes in violet #7c5cff, cyan #22d3ee, pink #f472b6, amber #fbbf24, gradient-ish.

Write code now.

HTML:
<div class="stage">
  <div class="shapes">
    <div class="shape s1"></div> ... 4 shapes
  </div>
  <div class="dots">5 dots</div>
</div>
<div class="controls">buttons</div>

CSS: center with flex, min-height 100vh, dark background radial gradient.

JS:

const tl = gsap.timeline({repeat: -1, defaults: {ease: "power2.inOut"}});

Set initial states with gsap.set.

Shape initial: each has width/height 120px, borderRadius 24, positions.

Let me define shapes array with from/to configs.

const shapeConfigs = [
  { sel: '.s1', from: {x: -70, y: -70, scale: 0.85, rotate: 0, borderRadius: '22px', backgroundColor: '#7c5cff'}, to: {x: -20, y: -110, scale: 1.15, rotate: 45, borderRadius: '50%', backgroundColor: '#22d3ee'} },
  ...
];

Then for each, tl.to(sel, {...to, duration: 2.2}, 0.1*i) and tl.to(sel, {...from, duration: 2.2}, 2.4 + 0.1*i). Total must equal ~5s. Let's set: morph duration 2.2, offsets stagger 0.15 → max end 0.45+2.2 = 2.65. Return phase start at 2.65... Hmm total duration computed automatically as end of last tween. To make seamless just ensure each property returns to its initial value at the end; timeline duration = end of last tween. The overall repeat then loops fine regardless of exact total (3-6s requirement). Let's ensure total between 3 and 6: return tweens end at 2.6 + 2.2 = 4.8. Good.

Dots: 
tl.to('.dot', { y: -18, scale: 1.35, opacity: 1, duration: 0.55, stagger: {each: 0.11, from: 'start'} }, 0.5)
  .to('.dot', { y: 0, scale: 1, opacity: 0.45, duration: 0.55, stagger: {each: 0.11} }, 2.2);

But staggered second tween also should complete before end. 2.2+0.44+0.55 = 3.19 fine. Hmm, but the dots' second tween returns to initial state (y 0, scale 1, opacity 0.45) — set initial opacity 0.45. Good.

Maybe add a wave to dots more distinctly: opacity 0.35→1.

Also maybe add slow rotation of the whole shape group: rotate 0 → 360? That's seamless if full 360 over the timeline... but timeline duration is determined by tweens; rotating group 0→180 then 180→360 is seamless. Let's add subtle: tl.to('.shapes', {rotate: 90, duration: 2.4}, 0).to('.shapes', {rotate: 0... no, that returns. Rotate 0→45→0 is fine and seamless.

Let's also add a ring/pulse? Keep moderate.

Buttons: pause/resume/restart, plus maybe keyboard. Status text "Playing / Paused".

Also progress bar showing timeline progress? Nice but optional — might add a subtle progress line that uses the same timeline? Simpler: skip or use gsap.ticker... skip.

Write it.

Also need `gsap.min.js` in cwd — check.

Write index.html.

Note: `Object.assign({duration: MORPH}, shapeEnd[k])` — shapeEnd includes backgroundColor etc. Fine.

One issue: tweening from shapeStart to shapeEnd: the second tween starts at 2.6 + i*0.14 and lasts 2.2 → ends 4.8+0.42 = 5.22s. Timeline duration = 5.22s? Dots end at 2.35+0.48+0.62 = 3.45. Group rotation ends 4.8. Max = 2.6+3*0.14+2.2 = 5.22s. That's within 3-6s. Good. But the "meta" text is computed after — fine.

Wait: potential issue with repeat seamless: each shape's return tween ends at 5.22 for s4 and earlier for others — no issue.

Another issue: tweening borderRadius "26px" → "50%" — GSAP can't interpolate px to %. That will likely snap. GSAP's CSSPlugin handles borderRadius interpolation between same units; mixing px and % may produce a jump. Better use consistent units: use "48px" vs "54px" (50% of 108px = 54px). Actually scale changes... borderRadius is in px on element of 108px. Use 54px for full round. Let's change "50%" → "54px" and "48px" fine.

Also `gsap.set(".dot", {...})` with y — fine.

Let me fix the borderRadius values and then test in browser.

Now run in browser.

The composition renders, centered. But status shows "PAUSED" even though refreshStatus is called and timeline.play() is after. Wait — I call refreshStatus() before timeline.play(). So it computed paused state as true initially (paused: true start). Then play() runs but status not refreshed. Fix: call timeline.play() before refreshStatus(), or call refreshStatus after play.

Also cycle shows 4.8s but actual duration is 5.22? meta says 4.8 — hmm, it displays "CYCLE 4.8S" which is hardcoded HTML default replaced by timeline.duration()... it shows 4.8? The DOM text is uppercase "CYCLE 4.8S". Hmm that suggests duration is 4.8, not 5.22. Let me think: shape return tweens at 2.6 + i*0.14 for i=0..3 → 2.6, 2.74, 2.88, 3.02, plus 2.2 = 5.22. But the DOM shows 4.8... maybe the meta update didn't run? No, it runs. Unless the displayed is the original HTML "4.8s" and duration is 5.22 -> would show 5.2. So maybe the JS errored before? But animation seems to be working (shapes are in initial state though — paused at 0). Actually the screenshot shows shapes at start state and status paused — consistent with timeline paused at 0 and refreshStatus run. If an error occurred after refreshStatus... no, meta update is before refreshStatus.

Wait, order in code: meta update, then refreshStatus(), then timeline.play(). Meta shows duration... 4.8? Let me recompute: the timeline's duration. Hmm, actually timeline.to(".", {...}) with duration MORPH... yes 2.2. Start positions: 2.6+i*0.14. Max end = 3.02+2.2 = 5.22.

Unless... the ".shapes" rotation tweens end at 4.8. Dots at 3.45. So 5.22.

The DOM text is uppercase transformed; "4.8" would be "5.2" if duration 5.22 (toFixed(1) = "5.2"). It shows "4.8S". So the meta innerHTML assignment maybe... hold on, the inspect DOM shows "LOOP ∞ · CYCLE 4.8S". That's the initial HTML content "loop ∞ · cycle 4.8s". So innerHTML didn't update → JS error before it? But shapes are set with initial colors/positions via gsap.set... and screenshot shows shapes in a 2x2 arrangement = shapeStart values (x ±62, y ±34). That could also just be default CSS layout? No — defaults would be all stacked at center. They're arranged 2x2, so gsap.set ran fine.

Hmm, maybe the error: `document.getElementById("meta")` exists. What about Object.assign — fine.

Wait, maybe `timeline.duration()` is fine and the meta text updated to 5.2 but... the screenshot shows 4.8. Let me just check console more carefully — console shows only that iframe warning. Odd.

Actually! Maybe the whole script ran and meta says "5.2s" but the DOM dump uppercases... it shows "CYCLE 4.8S" — that's 4.8. Hmm.

Let me re-read my written file to verify what's actually there — maybe the sed or something. Let me check lines around meta. Also possible: the file's meta line I wrote "cycle 4.8s" as default and JS replaced with duration; if duration() returns 4.8... could stagger on the second group tween... no.

Hmm wait — maybe timeline.to(".", {...}) with duration... Actually check: in the shape tweens I used `Object.assign({ duration: MORPH }, shapeEnd[k])`. Object.assign({duration:2.2}, {...}) — shapeEnd[k] has no duration so it stays 2.2. Fine.

Let me actually evaluate in the browser via console to check duration and any error. The browser tool has no direct evaluate... "inspect" gives console. I could add a console.log temporarily. But simpler: check the file content first.

Code looks right. So why is meta showing 4.8 and status Paused? Maybe the inspect DOM snapshot was captured before/at the time... Actually inspect shows the DOM as-is. Hmm — unless the script ran before `gsap.min.js` loaded? No, script src blocks.

Wait — maybe gsap.min.js failed to load and there's an error "gsap is not defined" logged... console showed only the sandbox warning. But the shapes appear positioned in 2x2, which would require gsap. Unless... hmm, actually with CSS left:50%/top:50% and margin -54px, all four would be centered stacked. The screenshot shows 2x2 spread — that's gsap.set running.

Alternatively maybe the DOM snapshot is from an earlier cached state? The "CYCLE 4.8S" is literal text in HTML default; JS replaces it with duration.toFixed(1). If duration is 5.22 → "5.2s". Display shows 4.8 → JS line didn't execute? But then statusText would remain "Playing" — the initial HTML says "Playing". It shows "PAUSED". So refreshStatus DID run (later than meta). So meta line ran too... unless meta innerHTML = "...4.8s"? Oh wait! timeline.duration() might actually be 4.8!

Hmm, how? GSAP timeline duration = end of last child. Unless... `timeline.to(".shapes", {rotation: 0, ...}, 2.4)` ends at 4.8 and the shape return tweens... 2.6 + i*0.14 + 2.2. For i=3: 3.02+2.2=5.22.

Unless Object.assign order: `Object.assign({duration: MORPH}, shapeEnd[k])` — yes 2.2.

Hmm, but wait: maybe GSAP's timeline.duration() with repeat: -1 returns... no, duration() returns single iteration duration.

Hmm, but maybe display: the DOM output uppercases via CSS? The tool reports rendered text — text-transform: uppercase applies. "cycle 4.8s" → "CYCLE 4.8S". If JS set "cycle 5.2s" → "CYCLE 5.2S". So it's showing the un-updated default. Contradiction with status "Paused".

Unless... refreshStatus ran and meta line — hmm, order in file: meta innerHTML assignment comes BEFORE refreshStatus. So if meta didn't run, refreshStatus wouldn't either. Unless getElementById("meta") returned null → error thrown → refreshStatus never called → status would stay "Playing". But status shows "Paused". So everything ran.

OH WAIT. Maybe the DOM snapshot was captured at page load before script finished? No.

Alternatively maybe there's caching: the browser may have loaded an older version of index.html? I wrote the file once. Hmm.

Actually, maybe timeline.duration() really is 4.8! Consider: GSAP timeline `to()` with position parameter 2.6 + i*STAGGER. Fine... unless `.to("." + k, Object.assign(...))` — Object.assign({duration: MORPH}, shapeStart[k]) for return tween... shapeStart[k] has no duration.

Hmm let me just test with node? gsap.min.js in node requires DOM. Instead, let me use the browser and add a temporary console.log of duration. Actually simpler: use browser "inspect" again after reload — maybe the earlier frame was from an old render.

Actually! I bet the issue is: the inspect DOM snapshot happens right at load (Frame 1, +0ms) — the animation is paused at time 0 in the screenshot, which is weird since timeline.play() should have started it. Screenshot shows shapes at start state and dots dim → looks like paused at t=0. That matches "paused: true" + play() not effective... but refreshStatus() called BEFORE play() would report paused → "PAUSED". YES! That explains status PAUSED: refreshStatus ran before play(). And meta... should still update. Unless duration() = 4.8.

Hmm, meta at 4.8 — maybe duration is genuinely 4.8 because... let me compute again what the timeline max end is. The ".shapes" rotation return tween: position 2.4, duration 2.4 → 4.8. Shape tweens: are they really added with position 2.6+i*STAGGER? Yes.

Hmm, so max 5.22. Unless GSAP's `duration()` on a timeline with `repeat: -1` returns... `duration()` returns the duration of one iteration? For a timeline, `duration()` = totalDuration for one cycle (repeat doesn't multiply when infinite). Yes, one cycle = 5.22.

Let me just reload and inspect again; also fix the order (play before refreshStatus). Maybe the DOM dump was captured from a stale frame.

Actually there could be a real explanation: The `meta` element's text is inside... `document.getElementById("meta").innerHTML = "loop ∞ · cycle " + ...` — if that assignment throws? innerHTML with entities is fine.

Let me just add a console.log to verify and reload. I'll fix ordering first.

Also, I want a way to sample the timeline at several moments for verification. I can expose the timeline globally: `window.__loaderTimeline = timeline;` — useful for verification via browser? The browser tool can't run arbitrary JS though (only inspect/screenshot/click/type). Hmm. I can verify visually by screenshotting at different times (motion frames) and by clicking pause at various times.

To verify "sample the timeline at several moments", I can take screenshots at intervals using `motion` or repeated screenshots. Let me reload and inspect console first.

Interesting: duration 4.8, children 12. 12 children = 8 shape tweens + 2 rotation + 2 dot tweens = 12. Good. But duration 4.8 means the shape return tweens end at 4.8 max?? Hmm, children 12 confirms all added. So duration computed as 4.8... meaning the shape return tweens must end ≤4.8. Wait — maybe GSAP ignores position beyond... no.

Hmm, maybe duration() with repeat:-1... Actually GSAP docs: for infinite repeat, `duration()` returns duration of one iteration? `totalDuration()` for repeat:-1 returns Infinity? Let me think: gsap.timeline({repeat:-1}).duration() — duration() returns the duration of the animation excluding repeats, i.e., one cycle. totalDuration() includes repeats (Infinity here). So 4.8 should be one cycle... 

Hmm. Wait maybe the last tweens: shape return at 2.6 + i*0.14 with duration 2.2. But maybe Object.assign... hold on: `Object.assign({ duration: MORPH }, shapeStart[k])` where shapeStart has "scale","rotate" etc. GSAP's `rotate` alias works. Duration stays 2.2.

Unless... GSAP's timeline `to(target, vars, position)` where position is a number → absolute time. Yes.

Let me test math: could `timeline.duration()` be affected by smoothChildTiming? No.

Alternatively maybe the `to()` calls with position numbers > duration just work. The measured duration 4.8 = 2.6+... nope: 2.6+2.2 = 4.8 for i=0! So maybe the later tweens (i=1..3) weren't added at their positions... but children=12 total (8 shape tweens). Hmm, if positions for i=1..3 were also 2.6 (i.e., i*STAGGER undefined?)... then all end at 4.8. That would mean STAGGER multiplication gave 0? No — `i * STAGGER` with i=1 gives 0.14.

Hmm, but then duration would be 5.22 anyway.

Unless duration() returns the max of ... hmm. Let me reconsider: maybe the second `to()` for each shape... "2.6 + i * STAGGER" = 2.6, 2.74, 2.88, 3.02. End times 4.8, 4.94, 5.08, 5.22. duration = 5.22.

But it reports 4.8. Weird. Could GSAP be clamping? There is a thing: when a child tween is added at a position beyond... no.

Hmm — actually! Maybe `timeline.duration()` on a repeating timeline returns the duration *excluding* the last... no.

Let me test directly in node with jsdom? Not available probably. Alternative: check in the browser via more logging — I can log each child's start time and end time. Let me add a debug log then remove it later.

Actually wait — maybe the issue is different: maybe the animation is functioning and duration is truly 4.8 because... let me recompute STAGGER effect in the first loop: `timeline.to("." + k, ..., i * STAGGER)`. Fine.

Hmm, maybe GSAP's `duration()` returns `totalDuration()` divided... For repeat:-1, `_duration` is 4.8? Let me just log child timing.

Actually — I wonder if gsap treats `2.6 + i * STAGGER` positions fine but the *last* tween's end isn't the duration because of `smoothChildTiming`... no.

Whatever — let me empirically log. Add temporary debug listing children start/end.

No python3. Use node? Or just edit tool. Let me use the edit tool.

Also, `t.endTime()` — is that a method in GSAP 3? Yes, endTime() exists on tweens/timelines. If not, error. Let's reload and see.

GSAP 3.12.5 — endTime exists. Reload browser.

Actually wait, I realize the answer to duration 4.8: in GSAP, `timeline.duration()` returns `_duration`... but there's a subtlety: `endTime()` for a timeline with infinite repeat returns... whatever. Let me just observe the logs.

Actually here's a thought: maybe the dot stagger tweens and shape tweens... The `duration()` of a timeline is `totalDuration()` when repeat is 0... For repeat: -1, `totalDuration()` returns... hmm, in GSAP, `totalDuration()` for infinite repeat returns... Actually GSAP's totalDuration caches `_totalDuration` = duration * (repeat+1) capped at bigNumber. For repeat:-1... In GSAP code: `if (this._repeat < 0)... ` Hmm.

Honestly, empirical check is best. Reload.

Now I see the problem clearly: the four "return" tweens are `2.60-2.60 | 2.74-2.74 | 2.88-2.88 | 3.02-3.02` — zero duration! Because `Object.assign({ duration: MORPH }, shapeStart[k])` ... hmm duration 0? Interesting: the FIRST set of tweens are `0.00-2.20 | 0.14-2.34 | 0.28-2.48 | 0.42-2.62` — those are fine (duration 2.2). So the return tweens have zero duration.

Why? Because shapeStart[k] contains `scale: 0.92`... no. OH! I see — `Object.assign({ duration: MORPH }, shapeEnd[k])` first loop worked. Second loop `shapeStart[k]` — same structure. Hmm why duration 0?

Wait, maybe it's the `duration` being overwritten... shapeStart[k] doesn't have `duration`. Unless... hmm!

Actually wait: maybe the difference: `2.60-2.60` means the tween's duration is 0 at start 2.60. Hmm.

OH! I know. The tween has only properties that equal current values? No, GSAP doesn't zero-duration optimize... Actually it does! GSAP removes "zero-duration" tweens? No.

Hmm, but consider: the first tween for s1 goes from shapeStart.s1 to shapeEnd.s1 at 0-2.2. The second tween is `.to(".s1", shapeStart.s1)` at 2.6. Not zero.

Unless... `duration` key collision: `Object.assign({duration: MORPH}, shapeStart[k])` → shapeStart[k] keys: x,y,scale,rotate,borderRadius,backgroundColor. No duration.

Hmm so why zero? Unless the tweens at 2.6+ are being treated as... Let me look at the order of kids: they're sorted by start time. First four entries: 0.00-2.20 (s1 morph), 0.00-2.40 (shapes rotation), 0.14-2.34 (s2), 0.28-2.48 (s3), 0.42-2.62 (s4), 0.55-1.65 (dots lift, duration 1.1 = 0.62 + 4*0.12 stagger ✓), 2.35-3.45 (dots settle ✓), 2.40-4.80 (rotation back ✓), then 2.60-2.60 etc.

So the return tweens have 0 duration. Bizarre. Unless the `duration` in vars is a function... 

AH WAIT. I bet I know! `Object.assign({ duration: MORPH }, shapeStart[k])` — the same object literal `{ duration: MORPH }` is a new object each time, fine.

Hmm, but here's another thought: GSAP might shorten a tween whose end values are identical to... no, they're not identical (morph changes them).

Hold on — is it possible that `MORPH` is... `var MORPH = 2.2;` Yes.

Hmm, what about GSAP treating vars.duration... Let me look at actual behavior: maybe `endTime()` of a tween that's `to` with duration returns start + duration... 2.60-2.60 means duration 0.

Let me test this in node quickly with a minimal DOM-free case: gsap.timeline works without DOM for non-DOM targets (plain objects). Let me run node with gsap.min.js loaded as CommonJS? gsap.min.js is UMD probably. Let's try:

node -e "global.window=undefined; const gsap=require('./gsap.min.js'); ..." Actually gsap.min.js exports as module if module.exports exists. Let's test the exact tween structure with object targets to see if duration becomes 0.

Actually, hmm, maybe the real cause: duplicate target tween overriding. GSAP by default has `overwrite: false`, so no.

Wait... maybe the issue is that these tweens ARE the second `to()` call in the loop and the vars object... Let me re-read my code as written in the file:

```
keys.forEach(function (k, i) {
    timeline.to("." + k, Object.assign({ duration: MORPH }, shapeEnd[k]), i * STAGGER);
    timeline.to("." + k, Object.assign({ duration: MORPH }, shapeStart[k]), 2.6 + i * STAGGER);
});
```

Hmm, `Object.assign({duration: MORPH}, shapeStart[k])`. shapeStart[k] values include numbers and strings. Fine...

Unless — OH!! `Object.assign` with `shapeStart[k]` where shapeStart entries have key `rotate`... no.

Hmm, what if GSAP's `duration` var... 

Actually!!! I think I've got it: GSAP interprets `duration` in vars as a number; but if vars contains a property whose value is a string like "26px" for borderRadius... irrelevant.

Let me just test empirically in node.

gsap.min.js UMD exports {gsap, ...}? Let's inspect exports.

In node, `require` returns the namespace; `m.gsap` is an object (maybe the gsap instance). Actually `typeof m.gsap` is 'object' — that's the gsap object. Use `const {gsap} = require(...)`.

Fine — but the durations printed? Let's remove JSON.stringify.

Also important insight: in node with plain object target, GSAP tweening `borderRadius`, `backgroundColor` on a plain object creates properties... fine.

But the real difference in browser: DOM targets and CSSPlugin. Hmm, but the zero-duration issue... Let me run without stringify first.