ns-ui
Knife Edge Rack Focus
A card-scale loader substitute built on the Foucault knife-edge test: a knife edge racks through a mirror's focus, sweeping the aperture's shadow pattern from one side to a flat null and back, with four baked zonal errors crossing that null at their own moment.
Use when a card-scale loading/activity indicator whose motion has a real diagnostic-instrument mechanic (a sweep through a null, structured by baked local variation) instead of an arbitrary rotation, and the pause-at-the-interesting-moment beat reads better than a continuous unstructured loop; pick grinding-chatter-lobes instead when a growth/saturation/reset narrative fits better than a sweep-and-null one, loader-iris when a small fixed-footprint indeterminate glyph is enough with no diagnostic narrative, or profilometer-trace when the mechanic should read as a literal surface-height measurement rather than a shadow test.
Install
npx shadcn add https://design.helpmarq.com /r/knife-edge-rack-focus.jsonSource
registry/core/knife-edge-rack-focus/component.tsx"use client";
import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
// KnifeEdgeRackFocus — a card-scale loader substitute built on the Foucault
// knife-edge test: a knife edge is racked (moved axially) through a mirror's
// point of focus, and the shadow pattern cast back across the aperture
// sweeps from one side to a flat uniform grey exactly at the null, then to
// the other side. A local zone that departs from the ideal sphere crosses
// that null at a slightly different knife position than its neighbours, so
// it reads as a ring rising or sinking out of the otherwise-flat field —
// which is the real diagnostic signal a real optician is looking for.
//
// RENDERING: rather than raster a 2D field, the whole pattern collapses to
// ONE function of radius, L(r, t) = clamp(0.5 + K*(t - offset(r)), 0, 1),
// because each of the 4 baked zonal errors is a concentric shell and every
// point at the same radius shares the same optical path. offset(r) is a
// piecewise-linear interpolation between 4 anchor offsets at r = 0.25, 0.5,
// 0.7, 0.9 (of disc radius), spaced 0.12 apart, extrapolated flat beyond the
// anchors. That single 1D function is sampled at 48 points and painted as
// one radial CanvasGradient per frame — cheap, and the smoothness of a real
// shadow front comes for free from the gradient interpolation instead of a
// pixel raster.
//
// THE RACK is a triangle wave in knife position t, [-1, 1], 8s out + 8s
// back (16s full period) — never a reset, a real tester racks back and
// forth to bracket the null repeatedly. Exactly at a null (|t| < 0.05) the
// drive itself PAUSES for ~0.6s before continuing, mirroring how a real
// tester dwells there; that pause, not the sweep, is the clearest single
// followable event.
//
// Colours: the shadow ramp spans --foreground (dark) to --background
// (light) directly — this is a literal light/shadow phenomenon in both
// themes, so the mapping never inverts, only the read stays a shadow.
// --border is never used as a fill/stroke (it is a separator token only).
const RACK_PERIOD_S = 16; // 8s out + 8s back
const NULL_WINDOW = 0.05; // |t| under this counts as "at the null"
const NULL_DWELL_S = 0.6;
const SHADOW_K = 1.8;
const ZONE_ANCHORS = [0.25, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9];
const ZONE_OFFSETS = [-0.18, -0.06, 0.06, 0.18]; // spaced 0.12 apart
const RADIUS_RATIO = 0.42; // disc radius = 0.42 * min(w, h)
const GRADIENT_STEPS = 48;
const GRADIENT_REACH = 1.05; // sample slightly past the rim for a soft edge
// reduced-motion freeze frame: t = 0.3, named "half-sweep-zoned" — clear
// rise/fall banding across all 4 zones is visible here, unlike the null
// itself (t = 0) which is nearly featureless and would under-inform a
// static viewer. Deliberately not t0/the null.
const FREEZE_LABEL = "half-sweep-zoned";
const FREEZE_T = 0.3;
type RGB = [number, number, number];
function parseHex(raw: string): RGB | null {
const m = /^#([0-9a-f]{3}|[0-9a-f]{6})$/i.exec(raw.trim());
if (!m) return null;
let h = m[1];
if (h.length === 3) h = h.split("").map((c) => c + c).join("");
const n = parseInt(h, 16);
return [(n >> 16) & 255, (n >> 8) & 255, n & 255];
}
function mixRGB(a: RGB, b: RGB, t: number): RGB {
const c = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, t));
return [
Math.round(a[0] + (b[0] - a[0]) * c),
Math.round(a[1] + (b[1] - a[1]) * c),
Math.round(a[2] + (b[2] - a[2]) * c),
];
}
function rgbToCss([r, g, b]: RGB): string {
return `rgb(${r},${g},${b})`;
}
// offset(r): piecewise-linear through the 4 anchors, flat-clamped outside
function zoneOffsetAt(rFrac: number): number {
if (rFrac <= ZONE_ANCHORS[0]!) return ZONE_OFFSETS[0]!;
if (rFrac >= ZONE_ANCHORS[ZONE_ANCHORS.length - 1]!) {
return ZONE_OFFSETS[ZONE_OFFSETS.length - 1]!;
}
for (let i = 0; i < ZONE_ANCHORS.length - 1; i++) {
const a0 = ZONE_ANCHORS[i]!;
const a1 = ZONE_ANCHORS[i + 1]!;
if (rFrac >= a0 && rFrac <= a1) {
const f = (rFrac - a0) / (a1 - a0);
return ZONE_OFFSETS[i]! + (ZONE_OFFSETS[i + 1]! - ZONE_OFFSETS[i]!) * f;
}
}
return 0;
}
function shadowL(rFrac: number, t: number): number {
return Math.max(0, Math.min(1, 0.5 + SHADOW_K * (t - zoneOffsetAt(rFrac))));
}
// triangle wave over RACK_PERIOD_S, driveTime -> t in [-1, 1]
function triangleT(driveTime: number): number {
const ph = ((driveTime / RACK_PERIOD_S) % 1 + 1) % 1;
return ph < 0.5 ? -1 + 4 * ph : 1 - 4 * (ph - 0.5);
}
// nearest null (t = 0) as a driveTime value, mod RACK_PERIOD_S: nulls occur
// at ph = 0.25 and ph = 0.75
function nearestNullDriveTime(driveTime: number): number {
const period = RACK_PERIOD_S;
const ph = ((driveTime / period) % 1 + 1) % 1;
const candidates = [0.25, 0.75];
let best = candidates[0]!;
let bestDist = Infinity;
for (const c of candidates) {
const d = Math.min(Math.abs(ph - c), 1 - Math.abs(ph - c));
if (d < bestDist) {
bestDist = d;
best = c;
}
}
const base = Math.floor(driveTime / period) * period;
return base + best * period;
}
export interface KnifeEdgeRackFocusProps {
/** accessible status text announced to assistive tech */
label?: string;
/** extra classes merged onto the rendered root element */
className?: string;
}
export function KnifeEdgeRackFocus({
label = "Testing",
className = "",
}: KnifeEdgeRackFocusProps) {
const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
const canvasRef = useRef<HTMLCanvasElement>(null);
useEffect(() => {
const container = containerRef.current;
const canvas = canvasRef.current;
if (!container || !canvas) return;
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
if (!ctx) return;
const reduced = window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches;
let disposed = false;
let visible = true;
let raf = 0;
let w = 0;
let h = 0;
let dpr = 1;
let radius = 0;
let fg: RGB = [23, 23, 23];
let bg: RGB = [255, 255, 255];
// no paint before this first read
const deriveColors = () => {
const cs = getComputedStyle(document.documentElement);
fg = parseHex(cs.getPropertyValue("--foreground")) ?? fg;
bg = parseHex(cs.getPropertyValue("--background")) ?? bg;
};
const build = () => {
const rect = container.getBoundingClientRect();
w = Math.round(rect.width);
h = Math.round(rect.height);
if (w < 2 || h < 2) return;
dpr = Math.min(2, window.devicePixelRatio || 1);
canvas.width = w * dpr;
canvas.height = h * dpr;
radius = RADIUS_RATIO * Math.min(w, h);
};
// the shadow pattern is one function of radius, painted as a single
// radial gradient — the smoothness of a real shadow front comes free
// from gradient interpolation rather than a pixel raster
const drawDisc = (t: number, showPausedRing: boolean) => {
if (w < 2 || h < 2 || radius <= 0) return;
const cx = w / 2;
const cy = h / 2;
ctx.setTransform(dpr, 0, 0, dpr, 0, 0);
ctx.clearRect(0, 0, w, h);
const grad = ctx.createRadialGradient(cx, cy, 0, cx, cy, radius * GRADIENT_REACH);
for (let i = 0; i <= GRADIENT_STEPS; i++) {
const stop = i / GRADIENT_STEPS;
const rFrac = stop / GRADIENT_REACH;
const L = shadowL(Math.min(1, rFrac), t);
grad.addColorStop(stop, rgbToCss(mixRGB(fg, bg, L)));
}
ctx.save();
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.arc(cx, cy, radius, 0, Math.PI * 2);
ctx.closePath();
ctx.fillStyle = grad;
ctx.fill();
// a manual "hold" affordance while the user is pausing the rack at a
// null — foreground only, never --border as a stroke and never accent
if (showPausedRing) {
ctx.lineWidth = 1.5;
ctx.strokeStyle = `rgba(${fg[0]},${fg[1]},${fg[2]},0.4)`;
ctx.stroke();
}
ctx.restore();
};
const drawReduced = () => {
drawDisc(FREEZE_T, false);
};
let driveTime = 0;
let dwelling = false;
let dwellElapsed = 0;
let userPaused = false;
let pausedDriveTime = 0;
let last = 0;
const loop = (now: number) => {
if (disposed || !visible) {
raf = 0;
return;
}
const dt = last === 0 ? 1 / 60 : Math.min(0.05, (now - last) / 1000);
last = now;
let t: number;
if (userPaused) {
t = triangleT(pausedDriveTime);
} else if (dwelling) {
dwellElapsed += dt;
t = triangleT(driveTime);
if (dwellElapsed >= NULL_DWELL_S) {
dwelling = false;
dwellElapsed = 0;
}
} else {
driveTime += dt;
t = triangleT(driveTime);
if (Math.abs(t) < NULL_WINDOW) {
dwelling = true;
dwellElapsed = 0;
}
}
drawDisc(t, userPaused);
raf = requestAnimationFrame(loop);
};
const startLoop = () => {
if (!raf && !reduced) {
last = 0;
raf = requestAnimationFrame(loop);
}
};
// press pauses the rack at the nearest null and holds it there; release
// resumes the sweep from where it paused. Never alters the baked zone
// profile, never touches SHADOW_K or the offsets.
const onPointerDown = () => {
pausedDriveTime = nearestNullDriveTime(driveTime);
userPaused = true;
drawDisc(triangleT(pausedDriveTime), true);
};
const endPause = () => {
if (!userPaused) return;
userPaused = false;
driveTime = pausedDriveTime;
dwelling = false;
dwellElapsed = 0;
};
deriveColors();
build();
if (reduced) {
drawReduced();
} else {
startLoop();
}
const ro = new ResizeObserver(() => {
build();
if (reduced) drawReduced();
});
ro.observe(container);
const mo = new MutationObserver(() => {
deriveColors();
if (reduced) {
drawReduced();
} else if (userPaused) {
drawDisc(triangleT(pausedDriveTime), true);
}
});
mo.observe(document.documentElement, {
attributes: true,
attributeFilter: ["class"],
});
const io = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {
visible = entries[0]?.isIntersecting ?? true;
if (visible && !reduced) startLoop();
});
io.observe(container);
if (!reduced) {
container.addEventListener("pointerdown", onPointerDown);
container.addEventListener("pointerup", endPause);
container.addEventListener("pointercancel", endPause);
container.addEventListener("pointerleave", endPause);
}
return () => {
disposed = true;
cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
raf = 0;
ro.disconnect();
mo.disconnect();
io.disconnect();
container.removeEventListener("pointerdown", onPointerDown);
container.removeEventListener("pointerup", endPause);
container.removeEventListener("pointercancel", endPause);
container.removeEventListener("pointerleave", endPause);
};
}, []);
return (
<div
ref={containerRef}
role="status"
className={`relative aspect-square w-full max-w-[280px] touch-none overflow-hidden rounded-md border border-border bg-background ${className}`}
>
<span className="sr-only">{label}</span>
<canvas ref={canvasRef} aria-hidden="true" className="absolute inset-0 h-full w-full" />
</div>
);
}
export { FREEZE_LABEL };
Build spec
Build <KnifeEdgeRackFocus label? className?> as a self-contained Canvas 2D loader, DPR-clamped to 2, direct-DOM rAF as the sole writer, zero dependencies. Disc radius = 0.42 * min(container width, height). The shadow pattern collapses to ONE function of radius, L(r, t) = clamp(0.5 + 1.8 * (t - offset(r)), 0, 1), because every point at a given radius shares the same optical path in a real Foucault test — no 2D raster needed. offset(r) is a piecewise-linear interpolation between 4 anchor offsets [-0.18, -0.06, 0.06, 0.18] (spaced 0.12 apart) at radii [0.25, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9] of the disc radius, flat-clamped beyond the anchors. Painted every frame as ONE radial CanvasGradient sampled at 48 stops from r=0 to 1.05*radius (the extra 5% for a soft edge) — the smoothness of a real shadow front comes from gradient interpolation, not per-pixel work, so cost stays flat regardless of how far the disc grows. t is driven by a triangle wave over a 16s period (8s rising -1->1, 8s falling 1->-1) accumulated from an internal driveTime that only advances while not paused/dwelling (never derived from absolute elapsed time). Exactly at a null (|t| < 0.05) the drive PAUSES for 0.6s before continuing — that dwell, not the sweep itself, is the clearest single followable event, mirroring how a real tester holds position there. The 4 zone offsets crossing t=0 at different points in the sweep is what makes concentric rings visibly rise or sink relative to their neighbours rather than the whole disc changing uniformly — the real diagnostic signal. Pointer interaction: pointerdown snaps the drive to the nearest null (by driveTime modulo the 16s period, comparing against the two null phases at ph=0.25 and ph=0.75) and holds it there via a separate userPaused flag (driveTime itself frozen, never advanced) until pointerup/pointercancel/pointerleave, which resumes the sweep exactly where it paused; a paused-state affordance is a 1.5px stroke around the disc rim at foreground/40% alpha (never --ns-accent, never --border as a stroke). Colours: the fill is a direct two-point mix between --foreground (L=0) and --background (L=1) via a canvas fillStyle probe reading getComputedStyle(document.documentElement) before first paint and re-derived on a documentElement class MutationObserver — this ramp never inverts between themes because it is a literal light/shadow phenomenon, not a decorative palette. A ResizeObserver rebuilds geometry on layout change; an IntersectionObserver pauses/resumes the rAF loop off-screen. Under prefers-reduced-motion the component renders one static frame at t = 0.3, named FREEZE_LABEL = 'half-sweep-zoned' (clear rise/fall banding across all 4 zones, deliberately not the null itself, which is nearly featureless and would under-inform a static viewer) — the loop, pointer listeners and IntersectionObserver are never attached, though the ResizeObserver and MutationObserver stay live. Accessibility: the root carries role="status" with a visually-hidden label (default 'Testing'); the canvas is aria-hidden. Props: label (status text, default 'Testing'), className (merged onto the root).
Props
| Prop | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| label? | string | "Testing" | accessible status text announced to assistive tech |
| className? | string | — | extra classes merged onto the rendered root element |