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random-spinner

Replaces the default loader spinner (dots) with a randomly-picked preset from 56 curated cli-spinners on each session start. All presets are inlined — no external dependency at runtime.

Pin a specific spinner in ~/.tallow/settings.json:

{
"spinner": "arc"
}

Omit the key (or set "random") to get a different spinner each session. Disable the extension entirely to always use the default dots.

56 presets selected for reliable rendering in common monospace terminal fonts. Only frames using well-supported Unicode blocks (ASCII, Braille, Box Drawing, Block Elements, Geometric Shapes, etc.) are included.

Some examples: dots, arc, arrow, bouncingBar, clock, earth, moon, runner, star, toggle.

At session_start, the extension reads the spinner setting. If absent or "random", it picks a random preset from the built-in map. The chosen frames and interval are applied to the global Loader instance via Loader.setDefaultSpinner().

The _icons extension sets a baseline spinner via getSpinner(). This extension overrides that baseline — it loads after _icons in the extension order.

The icon registry provides getSpinner() which returns the user-configured spinner frames. random-spinner overrides the Loader’s spinner directly, taking precedence over the icon registry’s default.