add pulsing dot loading state (#4736)

## Description 
Changes default CLI spinner to pulsing dot


https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b81225d6-6655-4ead-8cb1-d6568a603d5b

## Tests
Passes CI

---------

Co-authored-by: Fouad Matin <fouad@openai.com>

codex-rs/cloud-tasks/src/app.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use std::time::Duration;
+use std::time::Instant;
 
 // Environment filter data models for the TUI
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
@@ -42,15 +43,13 @@ use crate::scrollable_diff::ScrollableDiff;
 use codex_cloud_tasks_client::CloudBackend;
 use codex_cloud_tasks_client::TaskId;
 use codex_cloud_tasks_client::TaskSummary;
-use throbber_widgets_tui::ThrobberState;
-
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct App {
     pub tasks: Vec<TaskSummary>,
     pub selected: usize,
     pub status: String,
     pub diff_overlay: Option<DiffOverlay>,
-    pub throbber: ThrobberState,
+    pub spinner_start: Option<Instant>,
     pub refresh_inflight: bool,
     pub details_inflight: bool,
     // Environment filter state
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ impl App {
             selected: 0,
             status: "Press r to refresh".to_string(),
             diff_overlay: None,
-            throbber: ThrobberState::default(),
+            spinner_start: None,
             refresh_inflight: false,
             details_inflight: false,
             env_filter: None,

codex-rs/cloud-tasks/src/lib.rs

@@ -400,16 +400,20 @@ pub async fn run_main(_cli: Cli, _codex_linux_sandbox_exe: Option<PathBuf>) -> a
                         let _ = frame_tx.send(Instant::now() + codex_tui::ComposerInput::recommended_flush_delay());
                     }
                 }
-                // Advance throbber only while loading.
+                // Keep spinner pulsing only while loading.
                 if app.refresh_inflight
                     || app.details_inflight
                     || app.env_loading
                     || app.apply_preflight_inflight
                     || app.apply_inflight
                 {
-                    app.throbber.calc_next();
+                    if app.spinner_start.is_none() {
+                        app.spinner_start = Some(Instant::now());
+                    }
                     needs_redraw = true;
-                    let _ = frame_tx.send(Instant::now() + Duration::from_millis(100));
+                    let _ = frame_tx.send(Instant::now() + Duration::from_millis(600));
+                } else {
+                    app.spinner_start = None;
                 }
                 render_if_needed(&mut terminal, &mut app, &mut needs_redraw)?;
             }

codex-rs/cloud-tasks/src/ui.rs

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use ratatui::widgets::ListState;
 use ratatui::widgets::Padding;
 use ratatui::widgets::Paragraph;
 use std::sync::OnceLock;
+use std::time::Instant;
 
 use crate::app::App;
 use crate::app::AttemptView;
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ fn draw_list(frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &mut App) {
 
     // In-box spinner during initial/refresh loads
     if app.refresh_inflight {
-        draw_centered_spinner(frame, inner, &mut app.throbber, "Loading tasks…");
+        draw_centered_spinner(frame, inner, &mut app.spinner_start, "Loading tasks…");
     }
 }
 
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ fn draw_footer(frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &mut App) {
         || app.apply_preflight_inflight
         || app.apply_inflight
     {
-        draw_inline_spinner(frame, top[1], &mut app.throbber, "Loading…");
+        draw_inline_spinner(frame, top[1], &mut app.spinner_start, "Loading…");
     } else {
         frame.render_widget(Clear, top[1]);
     }
@@ -449,7 +450,12 @@ fn draw_diff_overlay(frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &mut App) {
         .map(|o| o.sd.wrapped_lines().is_empty())
         .unwrap_or(true);
     if app.details_inflight && raw_empty {
-        draw_centered_spinner(frame, content_area, &mut app.throbber, "Loading details…");
+        draw_centered_spinner(
+            frame,
+            content_area,
+            &mut app.spinner_start,
+            "Loading details…",
+        );
     } else {
         let scroll = app
             .diff_overlay
@@ -494,11 +500,11 @@ pub fn draw_apply_modal(frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &mut App) {
         frame.render_widget(header, rows[0]);
         // Body: spinner while preflight/apply runs; otherwise show result message and path lists
         if app.apply_preflight_inflight {
-            draw_centered_spinner(frame, rows[1], &mut app.throbber, "Checking…");
+            draw_centered_spinner(frame, rows[1], &mut app.spinner_start, "Checking…");
         } else if app.apply_inflight {
-            draw_centered_spinner(frame, rows[1], &mut app.throbber, "Applying…");
+            draw_centered_spinner(frame, rows[1], &mut app.spinner_start, "Applying…");
         } else if m.result_message.is_none() {
-            draw_centered_spinner(frame, rows[1], &mut app.throbber, "Loading…");
+            draw_centered_spinner(frame, rows[1], &mut app.spinner_start, "Loading…");
         } else if let Some(msg) = &m.result_message {
             let mut body_lines: Vec<Line> = Vec::new();
             let first = match m.result_level {
@@ -859,29 +865,29 @@ fn format_relative_time(ts: chrono::DateTime<Utc>) -> String {
 fn draw_inline_spinner(
     frame: &mut Frame,
     area: Rect,
-    state: &mut throbber_widgets_tui::ThrobberState,
+    spinner_start: &mut Option<Instant>,
     label: &str,
 ) {
-    use ratatui::style::Style;
-    use throbber_widgets_tui::BRAILLE_EIGHT;
-    use throbber_widgets_tui::Throbber;
-    use throbber_widgets_tui::WhichUse;
-    let w = Throbber::default()
-        .label(label)
-        .style(Style::default().cyan())
-        .throbber_style(Style::default().magenta().bold())
-        .throbber_set(BRAILLE_EIGHT)
-        .use_type(WhichUse::Spin);
-    frame.render_stateful_widget(w, area, state);
+    use ratatui::widgets::Paragraph;
+    let start = spinner_start.get_or_insert_with(Instant::now);
+    let blink_on = (start.elapsed().as_millis() / 600).is_multiple_of(2);
+    let dot = if blink_on {
+        "• ".into()
+    } else {
+        "◦ ".dim()
+    };
+    let label = label.cyan();
+    let line = Line::from(vec![dot, label]);
+    frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new(line), area);
 }
 
 fn draw_centered_spinner(
     frame: &mut Frame,
     area: Rect,
-    state: &mut throbber_widgets_tui::ThrobberState,
+    spinner_start: &mut Option<Instant>,
     label: &str,
 ) {
-    // Center a 1xN throbber within the given rect
+    // Center a 1xN spinner within the given rect
     let rows = Layout::default()
         .direction(Direction::Vertical)
         .constraints([
@@ -898,7 +904,7 @@ fn draw_centered_spinner(
             Constraint::Percentage(50),
         ])
         .split(rows[1]);
-    draw_inline_spinner(frame, cols[1], state, label);
+    draw_inline_spinner(frame, cols[1], spinner_start, label);
 }
 
 // Styling helpers for diff rendering live inline where used.
@@ -918,7 +924,12 @@ pub fn draw_env_modal(frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, app: &mut App) {
     let content = overlay_content(inner);
 
     if app.env_loading {
-        draw_centered_spinner(frame, content, &mut app.throbber, "Loading environments…");
+        draw_centered_spinner(
+            frame,
+            content,
+            &mut app.spinner_start,
+            "Loading environments…",
+        );
         return;
     }