# ADR-0008: CN3 Indicator — Phase-Aware Working Animation

**Status:** Superseded by [ADR-0021](adr-0021-cosmetics.md)
**Date:** 2026-05-13
**Extension:** `extensions/cn3-indicator/index.ts` (406 lines)

## Problem

Static screen during inference. User can't distinguish "working" from "hung." Leads to unnecessary interruptions.

## Decision

Five phases with distinct glyph patterns:

| Phase        | Trigger             | Display                  |
| ------------ | ------------------- | ------------------------ |
| `waiting`    | No tokens yet       | Pulsing dots             |
| `thinking`   | CoT/reasoning block | Spinning arcs            |
| `generating` | Token stream        | Typing cursor            |
| `tool`       | Tool execution      | Tool name (e.g., "bash") |
| `final`      | Wrapping up         | Checkmark                |

Elapsed timer during long operations. Debounced auto-clear prevents flicker on rapid phase changes.

## Alternatives

| Approach       | Why Rejected                   |
| -------------- | ------------------------------ |
| No indicator   | No feedback at all             |
| Simple spinner | No phase distinction           |
| Static text    | Takes more space, no animation |

## Trade-offs

Additional rendering on a separate timer. Phase detection requires lifecycle hooks. Minor overhead, high UX value.
