Architecture Stack Lift: Hairline Animation

Architecture Stack Lift

Three isometric slabs for app, API and database lift apart on a spring, a signal dot runs down the stack, and they settle back. Inline SVG layers moved by CSS translate.

Also known as: isometric architecture diagram, hairline isometric, exploded stack animation.

Color Base size 16px Dark background

HTML

<div class="hln-architecture-stack" role="img" aria-label="App, API and database layers lifting apart">
  <svg viewBox="-110 -60 220 120" aria-hidden="true"><g transform="translate(0 27) scale(1.22)"><g><g><polygon points="-36,0 0,18 0,13 -36,-5"/><polygon points="36,0 0,18 0,13 36,-5"/><polygon points="0,-23 36,-5 0,13 -36,-5"/></g><ellipse class="hln-architecture-stack-in" cx="-18" cy="-5" rx="4.81" ry="2.4"/><ellipse class="hln-architecture-stack-in" cx="0" cy="-5" rx="4.81" ry="2.4"/><ellipse class="hln-architecture-stack-in" cx="18" cy="-5" rx="4.81" ry="2.4"/></g><line class="hln-architecture-stack-wire" x1="-18" y1="4" x2="-18" y2="-10"/><g class="hln-architecture-stack-mid"><g><polygon points="-36,-7 0,11 0,6 -36,-12"/><polygon points="36,-7 0,11 0,6 36,-12"/><polygon points="0,-30 36,-12 0,6 -36,-12"/></g><line class="hln-architecture-stack-in" x1="1" y1="-21.5" x2="22" y2="-11"/><line class="hln-architecture-stack-in" x1="-5.5" y1="-18.25" x2="15.5" y2="-7.75"/><line class="hln-architecture-stack-in" x1="-12.5" y1="-14.75" x2="8.5" y2="-4.25"/><line class="hln-architecture-stack-in" x1="-19" y1="-11.5" x2="2" y2="-1"/><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="-2,-24 0,-23 -2,-22 -4,-23"/><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="-8.5,-20.75 -6.5,-19.75 -8.5,-18.75 -10.5,-19.75"/><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="-15.5,-17.25 -13.5,-16.25 -15.5,-15.25 -17.5,-16.25"/><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="-22,-14 -20,-13 -22,-12 -24,-13"/><line class="hln-architecture-stack-wire" x1="-18" y1="-3" x2="-18" y2="-17"/></g><g class="hln-architecture-stack-top"><g><polygon points="-36,-14 0,4 0,-1 -36,-19"/><polygon points="36,-14 0,4 0,-1 36,-19"/><polygon points="0,-37 36,-19 0,-1 -36,-19"/></g><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="0,-33 13,-26.5 0,-20 -13,-26.5"/><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="15,-25.5 28,-19 15,-12.5 2,-19"/><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="-15,-25.5 -2,-19 -15,-12.5 -28,-19"/><polygon class="hln-architecture-stack-in" points="0,-18 13,-11.5 0,-5 -13,-11.5"/></g><circle class="hln-architecture-stack-dot" cx="-18" cy="-12.5" r="2.1"/></g></svg>
</div>

CSS

.hln-architecture-stack {
  --c: var(--hln-color, #ff4f2e);
  font-size: var(--hln-size, 16px);
  position: relative;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  width: 22em;
  height: 12em;
  border-radius: 0.75em;
  background: #f6f5f1;
  overflow: hidden;
  --u: 1px;
}
.hln-architecture-stack svg {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  overflow: visible;
  fill: #ffffff;
  stroke: #1c1d21;
  stroke-width: 1.25;
  stroke-linejoin: round;
  stroke-linecap: round;
}
.hln-architecture-stack svg * {
  vector-effect: non-scaling-stroke;
}
.hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-in {
  stroke: #9a9ca3;
}
.hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-wire {
  stroke: #9a9ca3;
  transform-box: fill-box;
  transform-origin: 50% 100%;
  animation: hln-architecture-stack-grow 5.6s infinite;
}
.hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-mid {
  animation: hln-architecture-stack-mid 5.6s infinite;
}
.hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-top {
  animation: hln-architecture-stack-top 5.6s infinite;
}
.hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-dot {
  fill: var(--c);
  stroke: none;
  opacity: 0;
  animation: hln-architecture-stack-dot 5.6s infinite;
}
@keyframes hln-architecture-stack-mid {
  0%, 100% { translate: 0 0; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  4% { translate: 0 0; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.3, 0, 0.2, 1); }
  15% { translate: 0 calc(-13.08 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: ease-in-out; }
  21% { translate: 0 calc(-11.76 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: ease-in-out; }
  26%, 74% { translate: 0 calc(-12 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  88% { translate: 0 0; }
}
@keyframes hln-architecture-stack-top {
  0%, 100% { translate: 0 0; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  4% { translate: 0 0; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.3, 0, 0.2, 1); }
  15% { translate: 0 calc(-26.16 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: ease-in-out; }
  21% { translate: 0 calc(-23.52 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: ease-in-out; }
  26%, 74% { translate: 0 calc(-24 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  88% { translate: 0 0; }
}
@keyframes hln-architecture-stack-grow {
  0%, 100% { scale: 1 0.14; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  4% { scale: 1 0.14; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.3, 0, 0.2, 1); }
  15% { scale: 1 1.08; animation-timing-function: ease-in-out; }
  21% { scale: 1 0.98; animation-timing-function: ease-in-out; }
  26%, 74% { scale: 1 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  88% { scale: 1 0.14; }
}
@keyframes hln-architecture-stack-dot {
  0%, 24% { opacity: 0; translate: 0 calc(-19 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: ease-out; }
  28% { opacity: 1; translate: 0 calc(-19 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  40%, 46% { opacity: 1; translate: 0 0; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.65, 0, 0.35, 1); }
  58% { opacity: 1; translate: 0 calc(19 * var(--u)); animation-timing-function: ease-in; }
  64%, 100% { opacity: 0; translate: 0 calc(19 * var(--u)); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .hln-architecture-stack * {
    animation: none !important;
  }
  .hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-mid { translate: 0 calc(-12 * var(--u)); }
  .hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-top { translate: 0 calc(-24 * var(--u)); }
  .hln-architecture-stack .hln-architecture-stack-dot { opacity: 1; }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .hln-architecture-stack, .hln-architecture-stack *, .hln-architecture-stack::before, .hln-architecture-stack::after, .hln-architecture-stack *::before, .hln-architecture-stack *::after {
    animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
    transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
  }
}

Customizing this snippet

Color: set --hln-color on the element or a parent. Currently previewing #3b82f6.
Base size: set --hln-size. Every other dimension is in em, so the whole thing scales together. Currently previewing 16px.
Speed: change the duration on the transition or animation shorthand. Staggered delays are relative, so they keep their rhythm.
Reduced motion: the rule at the end of the CSS turns the motion off for people who asked their OS for less of it. Keep it.

Architecture Stack Lift

HTML

CSS

Customizing this snippet

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