Design Atlas
Type
component library
Verdict
Useful
Licence
Ship licence, open source permissiveopen-source-permissiveMIT, as stated on the project site and repository.
Agent channels
llms-txt, prompts
Pricing
free
Reviewed

← Atlas · Topics: ai-interfaces, motion, components

Thinking Orbs ​

Type
component library
Verdict
Useful
Licence
Ship licence, open source permissiveopen-source-permissiveMIT, as stated on the project site and repository.
Agent channels
llms-txt, prompts
Pricing
free
Reviewed

What it is ​

Thinking Orbs is a small library of animated indicators for showing activity in AI interfaces. Its homepage pairs an interactive catalogue with installation and usage instructions, and the package is available for React or plain JavaScript without additional dependencies.

When to open it ​

  • When an AI chat or tool needs a distinct visual for working, reasoning, searching, waiting or retrying.
  • When comparing small animated status treatments and their variations before building one.
  • When looking for an example of a component page that puts the states and implementation steps together.

Most useful ​

The orb catalogue exposes each state as a selectable live example, including variants such as a lighthouse search treatment and a twin-orb reasoning treatment. The same page documents installation, usage, and optional shapes and render styles. Its playground is the next place to compare combinations. These are the library's own demos, rather than examples collected from other products.

Using it with agents ​

The site links to an llms.txt and includes a button to copy an agent prompt. The GitHub repository links the package's MIT license. Install from npm or use the documented shadcn-compatible copy flow.

Watch out for ​

  • The library is focused on decorative status visuals; choose and implement accessible text announcements for state changes separately.
  • The homepage's examples are demonstrations of this library, not a survey of production AI products.
  • Consider reduced-motion preferences when using continuously animated indicators.

Reusable ideas ​

  • Give each AI activity a named state, then let a visual variant refine rather than replace that meaning.
  • Keep optional shapes and renderers separately importable so teams can choose the visual complexity they need.
  • Put interactive examples next to copyable installation and usage guidance.

Orbkit, Agentation