Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, technical answers to the most queried topics in modern UI motion, physics simulations, cross-platform runtimes, and design systems.
What is a Motion Development Environment?
A Motion Development Environment (MDE) is our name for a tool where interactive UI motion is designed and also shipped: you build states, transitions, physics and logic visually, and the same file runs in your app through a runtime. It is a term we use to describe ExodeUI, not an industry standard, so you will mostly see it on our site.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownIs ExodeUI better than Rive?
It depends on the job. Rive is more established, with a mature editor, runtimes and a large community, and it is excellent for illustrative vector animation and game-like graphics. ExodeUI focuses on product UI: layout, states, spring physics and logic in one open JSON file, plus an MCP server for AI coding tools. We make ExodeUI, so test both with a real component.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the difference between Figma Smart Animate and spring physics?
Smart Animate is a Figma prototype transition: it matches layers with the same name in two frames and animates the differences. Spring physics is a way of timing motion, using stiffness, damping and mass instead of a fixed duration. They are not opposites: Figma prototypes can use spring easing with Smart Animate. The difference that matters is between a prototype and motion that runs in your product.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownCan ExodeUI be used in React Native?
Yes. ExodeUI has a React Native runtime package that plays .exode files inside your app. It does not generate Reanimated code: the animation stays in one open JSON file, and your app code drives it by setting inputs and listening for events. The same file can also run on web, SwiftUI and Flutter.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat are motion tokens and how do they work in design systems?
Motion tokens are named design-system values for animation: durations, easing curves, spring settings and sometimes distances. Instead of writing 300ms ease-out in every component, teams use names like motion.duration.medium or motion.spring.gentle, so motion stays consistent and can be changed in one place.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow do spring animations work in SwiftUI?
In SwiftUI you add a spring with .animation(.spring) or withAnimation(.spring). Since iOS 17 the main settings are duration and bounce, and there are presets: .smooth (no bounce), .snappy (a little) and .bouncy (more). Older code uses response and dampingFraction. SwiftUI springs keep their velocity when a new animation interrupts them, which makes gestures feel natural.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the best alternative to Rive in 2026?
It depends on what you use Rive for. For interactive app and web UI, ExodeUI is the closest match: a visual editor, state machines and runtimes, plus UI layout and spring physics. For animations that only play, Lottie is the most widely supported option. For interactive 3D, use Spline. We make ExodeUI, so weigh that when reading this answer.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the difference between Rive, Lottie, and ExodeUI?
Lottie is a JSON animation format, usually exported from After Effects, that plays a fixed animation. Rive is a design tool and runtime for interactive vector animation with state machines. ExodeUI is a design tool and runtimes for interactive product UI, with layout, states, spring physics and logic in one open JSON file. We make ExodeUI.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow do you convert Figma prototype animations into production React code?
There is no one-click export from a Figma prototype to production animation. The usual path is to read the transition values in Figma (trigger, duration or spring, easing), rebuild them in React with CSS transitions or a library such as Motion (formerly Framer Motion), and keep the values as shared tokens. Figma's MCP server can help an AI tool read the design context.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the best modern replacement for Adobe Animate and Flash?
It depends on what you used Animate for. For frame-by-frame and character animation, look at Toon Boom Harmony, Moho, OpenToonz, Krita or Blender's Grease Pencil. For interactive web and app animation, the kind Flash and ActionScript were used for, interactive tools such as Rive and ExodeUI are the modern replacement. Adobe Animate itself is in maintenance mode, not discontinued.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow do you connect AI agents to UI motion using Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
Add an MCP server for your animation or design tool to your AI coding tool's MCP settings, for example in Claude Code or Cursor. The agent can then read and edit animation files through the server's tools instead of guessing. ExodeUI has an MCP server for creating and editing interactive animations from plain-language prompts.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is Tencent PAG animation and how does it compare to Lottie?
PAG (Portable Animated Graphics) is an open source animation format and set of players from Tencent. Like Lottie, it plays animations exported from After Effects, but it uses a compact binary file and aims to support more After Effects features, plus replacing text and images at runtime. Lottie has a much larger global ecosystem; PAG is most common in apps built in China.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhy are spring animations better than cubic-bezier transitions?
Springs are better for interactive UI because they can start from the element's current speed and position, so interrupted animations and released gestures continue smoothly. They also feel natural with few settings. Cubic-bezier curves are still fine, and simpler, for fades, colour changes and motion that is never interrupted.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownIs Rive free for commercial use?
Partly. The Rive editor is free and you can export .riv files on the Free plan, but free exports play a Rive splash screen. For commercial apps without the splash screen you need Cadet ($9/seat/month, billed annually) or higher. Rive runtimes are open source.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow do you fix Lottie performance issues and battery drain on mobile?
Simplify the animation first: remove masks, mattes, effects and large images, merge shapes and reduce the number of layers. Then make sure animations stop when they are off screen or finished, avoid running many at once, and test on low-end devices. Using the compressed .lottie format and the right renderer for your platform also helps.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownCan AI agents write production-grade UI animations?
They can write a good first version, especially for common patterns in CSS or a library such as Motion. They are weaker at timing, interruptions, every state of a component and reduced-motion support, so a person still needs to review and tune the result. Results improve when the agent works through a tool built for motion, such as an MCP server, rather than guessing in code.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownIs Adobe Animate discontinued?
No. Adobe announced in early February 2026 that it planned to discontinue the sale of Animate on March 1, 2026, then reversed that decision two days later after customer backlash. As of October 2026 Animate is in maintenance mode: it stays available to new and existing users and keeps getting security and bug fixes, but no new features, and Adobe says there is no longer a date by which it will stop being available.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the best Lottie alternative for Flutter?
The best Lottie alternative for Flutter depends on whether the animation has to react to the user. For playback only, the Lottie package is still the simplest option. For taps, state or live data, Rive and ExodeUI both offer Flutter runtimes and visual state machines. We make ExodeUI, so weigh that when reading this.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownIs there a free online UI animation tool?
Yes. Jitter and Figma are useful for quick UI motion and prototypes, LottieFiles is built around playback assets, and ExodeUI is for interactive UI that ships in code. ExodeUI's Community plan is free, and the editor runs in a browser or as a desktop app; Professional is $29 per month. We make ExodeUI.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat software do UI designers use for animation?
A common stack is Figma for interface design and simple Smart Animate prototypes, After Effects for timeline-heavy motion and video, and Rive, Lottie or ExodeUI when the animation has to ship in an app. The right choice depends on whether the output is a prototype, a video or interactive production UI. We make ExodeUI.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the difference between UI and UX?
UI (user interface) is what people see and touch: screens, buttons, text, colours and motion. UX (user experience) is how the whole product works for them: whether they can reach their goal, how easy it is and how it feels. UI is one part of UX. A beautiful screen can still have bad UX if people cannot finish the task.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is UI design?
UI design (user interface design) is the work of designing the screens and controls people use to operate a digital product: layout, typography, colour, icons, components and how each element responds to input. The goal is an interface that is clear, consistent and easy to use. UI designers usually work in tools such as Figma, Penpot or Sketch.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhy is UX design important?
UX design is important because people leave products that are confusing or slow to use, and they rarely tell you why. Good UX helps people finish their task, which drives sign-ups, sales and retention, and it lowers support costs. It is also cheaper to fix a problem in a prototype than after the product has been built.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownCan AI replace UI designers?
Not in 2026. AI can now generate a reasonable first draft of a screen from a prompt, and it speeds up repetitive work. It does not understand your users, your business goals or the trade-offs behind a design, and its output still needs a designer to judge, refine and keep consistent. What is changing is the job: designers who use AI tools well get more done.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow do you design UI with AI?
Start with a clear brief: who the user is, what the screen must do and which design system to follow. Use an AI tool to generate a first draft or several variants, then refine it yourself in a design tool. To move into code, connect an AI coding tool such as Claude Code or Cursor to your design tool through MCP, so it builds from your real components instead of guessing.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is a design system?
A design system is a shared set of reusable components, design tokens and guidelines that a team uses to build a product consistently. It usually includes a component library in the design tool, the same components in code, and documentation that explains when and how to use them. It saves time and keeps the product consistent as more people work on it.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhich design tools have an MCP server?
As of October 2026, Figma, Penpot and ExodeUI all have MCP servers that let AI coding tools such as Claude Code and Cursor read and edit design work. Figma's is available on its Starter and paid plans, Penpot's is free and open, and ExodeUI's focuses on interactive animation. We make ExodeUI.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat are UI states?
UI states are the different ways an interface element looks and behaves depending on what is happening: default, hover, focus, pressed, disabled, loading, success, error and empty. Every interactive component needs a design for each state it can be in. Missing states are one of the most common reasons a product feels unfinished.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow should a loading state work?
A good loading state tells people that something is happening, roughly how long it will take and what will appear. For very short waits, show nothing or a subtle change. For a few seconds, use a skeleton or a spinner near where the content will appear. For long tasks, show progress and let people keep working or cancel.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is an empty state in UX?
An empty state is what a screen shows when there is nothing to display yet: a new inbox, an empty cart, a search with no results or a list cleared by filters. A good empty state explains why it is empty and gives one clear next step, such as creating the first item or changing the search.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is interaction design?
Interaction design (IxD) is the design of how a product responds when people use it: what they can do, what feedback they get and how the interface changes as a result. It sits between UX, which looks at the whole experience, and UI, which looks at the visual interface. Gestures, transitions, states and micro-interactions are all interaction design.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the difference between a wireframe, a mockup and a prototype?
A wireframe is a simple, low-detail layout that shows structure and content. A mockup is a static, high-detail picture of what the screen will look like. A prototype is interactive: you can click, tap or swipe through it to test how the product works. Teams usually move from wireframe to mockup to prototype, but often skip steps.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat is the UX design process?
The UX design process is a repeating cycle: understand users and the problem, define what to solve, explore ideas, prototype, test with real people, then build and measure. It is often drawn as the Double Diamond: discover, define, develop and deliver. Real teams loop back whenever testing shows a problem.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownWhat are the principles of UI design?
The core principles of UI design are clarity, consistency, visual hierarchy, feedback, accessibility, forgiveness and simplicity. Together they make an interface easy to understand, easy to use and hard to misuse. Most well-known guidelines, from Apple, Google and Nielsen Norman Group, repeat these ideas in different words.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow do you design UX for AI products?
Design AI products around trust and control. Show what the AI is doing while it works, explain what it can and cannot do, make its output easy to check, edit and undo, and give people a way to correct it. Good AI UX treats the model as a helpful but fallible assistant, not an oracle.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow do you design an AI chatbot UI?
A good AI chatbot UI has a clear input area with example prompts, a readable message thread, visible states for thinking and streaming, easy ways to copy, edit, retry and stop, and honest handling of errors and limits. On mobile, keep the input reachable and avoid covering it with the keyboard.
Read Full Answer & BreakdownHow is AI used in UX research?
AI is mainly used in UX research to speed up the slow parts: transcribing and summarising interviews, finding themes across notes and survey answers, drafting interview guides and surveys, and analysing usability recordings. It does not replace talking to real users, and its summaries need checking against the original data.
Read Full Answer & Breakdown