Are the ai2 DNA loaders free?

Yes. The whole styled layer is free and MIT licensed, like the component core.

Can I change the size?

Yes. Every variation takes a size prop of sm, md, lg or xl, aligned to the base Button height scale.

DNA loaders

Five helix and strand loaders: a DNA helix, a ladder, a twist, a coil and a weave. Each is sized and token-driven.

LoadersDNA

Installation

The styled layer is free and installs like any other ai2 component.

Run the following command

npx shadcn@latest add @ai2/loaders-dna

Dependencies, the @ai2/tokens theme and the component file are installed together.

Install dependencies

npm install motion

Copy the source

components/ui/loaders-dna.tsx

"use client"

import type * as React from "react"
import { motion, useReducedMotion } from "motion/react"

import { cn } from "@/lib/utils"

/* DNA loader family: 5 decorative indicators on a helix, braid and wave theme. Colour comes ONLY from tokens (currentColor / bg-current). Size = the box scale (aligned with the base spinner). DELIBERATE: the loader keeps moving under reduced-motion too. The delays and phases are index-derived and deterministic, nothing random. */

export type StyledSize = "sm" | "md" | "lg" | "xl"

const box: Record<StyledSize, string> = {
  sm: "size-4",
  md: "size-5",
  lg: "size-6",
  xl: "size-8",
}

type Props = React.ComponentProps<"div"> & { size?: StyledSize; label?: string }

/* Helix: iki dikey nokta serisi sinus fazinda kaymis, DNA sarmali. */
export function HelixLoader({ className, size = "md", label = "Loading", ...props }: Props) {
  const dots = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
  return (
    <div
      data-slot="styled-loader"
      role="status"
      aria-label={label}
      className={cn("inline-flex items-center justify-between text-primary", box[size], className)}
      {...props}
    >
      {dots.map((i) => (
        <span key={i} className="relative flex h-full w-1/6 items-center">
          <motion.span
            className="absolute left-0 size-1 rounded-full bg-current"
            animate={{ y: ["-140%", "140%", "-140%"] }}
            transition={{ duration: 1.4, ease: "easeInOut", repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.14 }}
          />
          <motion.span
            className="absolute left-0 size-1 rounded-full bg-current/50"
            animate={{ y: ["140%", "-140%", "140%"] }}
            transition={{ duration: 1.4, ease: "easeInOut", repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.14 }}
          />
        </span>
      ))}
    </div>
  )
}

/* Ladder: yatay basamaklar sirayla yanar. */
export function LadderLoader({ className, size = "md", label = "Loading", ...props }: Props) {
  const rungs = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
  return (
    <div
      data-slot="styled-loader"
      role="status"
      aria-label={label}
      className={cn("inline-flex flex-col items-stretch justify-between text-info", box[size], className)}
      {...props}
    >
      {rungs.map((i) => (
        <motion.span
          key={i}
          className="block h-[12%] w-full rounded-full bg-current"
          animate={{ opacity: [0.25, 1, 0.25], scaleX: [0.7, 1, 0.7] }}
          transition={{ duration: 1.1, ease: "easeInOut", repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.12 }}
        />
      ))}
    </div>
  )
}

/* Twist: donen kesikli halka (conic token). */
export function TwistLoader({ className, size = "md", label = "Loading", ...props }: Props) {
  return (
    <div
      data-slot="styled-loader"
      role="status"
      aria-label={label}
      className={cn("relative inline-block text-brand", box[size], className)}
      {...props}
    >
      <motion.span
        className="block size-full rounded-full border-2 border-dashed border-current"
        animate={{ rotate: 360 }}
        transition={{ duration: 2.2, ease: "linear", repeat: Infinity }}
      />
    </div>
  )
}

/* Coil: bir sira nokta gezen sinus dalgasinda zipla-in. */
export function CoilLoader({ className, size = "md", label = "Loading", ...props }: Props) {
  const dots = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  return (
    <div
      data-slot="styled-loader"
      role="status"
      aria-label={label}
      className={cn("inline-flex items-center justify-between text-success", box[size], className)}
      {...props}
    >
      {dots.map((i) => (
        <motion.span
          key={i}
          className="size-1 rounded-full bg-current"
          animate={{ y: ["-120%", "120%", "-120%"] }}
          transition={{ duration: 1.2, ease: "easeInOut", repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.1 }}
        />
      ))}
    </div>
  )
}

/* Weave: two rows of dots cross over each other (a weave). */
export function WeaveLoader({ className, size = "md", label = "Loading", ...props }: Props) {
  const reduce = useReducedMotion()
  const dots = [0, 1, 2, 3]
  return (
    <div
      data-slot="styled-loader"
      role="status"
      aria-label={label}
      className={cn("relative inline-flex items-center justify-between text-warning", box[size], className)}
      {...props}
    >
      {dots.map((i) => (
        <span key={i} className="relative flex h-full w-1/5 items-center justify-center">
          <motion.span
            className="absolute size-1 rounded-full bg-current"
            animate={{ y: reduce ? ["-90%", "90%", "-90%"] : ["-90%", "90%", "-90%"] }}
            transition={{ duration: 1, ease: "easeInOut", repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.16 }}
          />
          <motion.span
            className="absolute size-1 rounded-full bg-current/50"
            animate={{ y: ["90%", "-90%", "90%"] }}
            transition={{ duration: 1, ease: "easeInOut", repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.16 }}
          />
        </span>
      ))}
    </div>
  )
}

Manual installs skip the @ai2/tokens theme, so add the token CSS from the theming guide or the tone colors will be missing.

Variations

5 takes on the same idea. Each is its own export, and every one accepts a size prop (sm, md, lg, xl) aligned to the base Button scale.

Helix

Two strands of dots offset in a sine, like a helix.

Ladder

Horizontal rungs light up in sequence.

Twist

A dashed token ring rotates.

Coil

A row of dots bobs in a traveling wave.

Weave

Two rows of dots cross and weave.

ai2 DNA loaders: 5 styled variations on the token system

The ai2 DNA loaders are a set of 5 decorative button variations from the styled layer of the @ai2 design system, built around helix and strand loading indicators. They are free and MIT licensed, and every color comes from a semantic token, so they theme with the rest of ai2 in light and dark.

Motion runs on framer-motion: framer-motion drives the sine strands, sequenced rungs and rotation. The styled layer is opt-in, so the dependency only lands if you use it; the base components stay lean. Under reduced motion, the strands keep moving on purpose, like the base Spinner, because a frozen loader reads as a hang.

What is in the ai2 DNA loaders?

5 exports in one file: Helix, Ladder, Twist, Coil and Weave. Each renders a native button and takes a size prop (sm, md, lg, xl) aligned to the base Button. They are separate from the base Button on purpose: the base keeps its clean variant, tone and size axes, while the styled layer carries the effects.

You own the file. Copy the one category file and you have all 5 variations, with no runtime dependency on ai2 itself.

Why use it

On-system by construction: Every color resolves to an ai2 semantic token, so the buttons follow your theme in light and dark with no extra work.
Effect without the sprawl: The decorations live in a dedicated styled file, so the base Button keeps its clean, predictable API.
Accessible and honest: Each renders a real button element, keeps a visible focus ring, and respects prefers-reduced-motion.

Features

Token-driven color: No hardcoded hex or oklch; the look recolors with your theme tokens.
framer-motion: framer-motion drives the sine strands, sequenced rungs and rotation.
Reduced-motion aware: Under prefers-reduced-motion, the strands keep moving on purpose, like the base Spinner, because a frozen loader reads as a hang.
Size aligned to the base: Every variation takes sm, md, lg and xl matching the base Button height scale, so styled and base buttons line up in a row.

Production tips

Use it for emphasis, not everywhere: Styled buttons draw the eye. Reserve them for the one action you want people to take on a screen, and use the base Button for the rest.
Keep labels as verbs: The decoration adds weight, so a clear action label keeps the button scannable.
Pick one variation per surface: The variations share a family; using two different ones in the same view competes for attention.

Works with the rest of ai2

The DNA loaders sit alongside the base Button and the rest of the @ai2 registry. They share the same token file, so a styled action next to a base button or a badge stays visually consistent in both modes.