feat: Frutiger Aero redesign — glass panels, Aero shimmer, interaction moments

thoughts-frontend/app/globals.css

@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@
   /* Frutiger Aero Gradients */
   --gradient-fa-blue: 135deg, hsl(217 91% 60%) 0%, hsl(200 90% 70%) 100%;
   --gradient-fa-green: 135deg, hsl(155 70% 55%) 0%, hsl(170 80% 65%) 100%;
-  --gradient-fa-card: 180deg, hsl(var(--card)) 0%, hsl(var(--card)) 90%,
+  --gradient-fa-card:
-    hsl(var(--card)) 100%;
+    180deg, hsl(var(--card)) 0%, hsl(var(--card)) 90%, hsl(var(--card)) 100%;
-  --gradient-fa-gloss: 135deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2) 0%,
+  --gradient-fa-gloss:
-    rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%;
+    135deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 100%;
 
   --shadow-fa-sm: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1), 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06);
   --shadow-fa-md: 0 4px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1), 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06);
@@ -183,11 +183,6 @@
 
   body {
     @apply bg-background text-foreground;
-    background-image: url("/background.avif");
-    background-size: cover;
-    background-position: center;
-    background-attachment: fixed;
-    background-repeat: no-repeat;
   }
 
   .glossy-effect::before {
@@ -312,3 +307,165 @@
     z-index: 1;
   }
 }
+
+/* ── Frutiger Aero interaction keyframes ── */
+@keyframes slideDown {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: translateY(-8px);
+    max-height: 0;
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: translateY(0);
+    max-height: 300px;
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes shake {
+  0%,
+  100% {
+    transform: translateX(0) rotate(0deg);
+  }
+  15% {
+    transform: translateX(-4px) rotate(-1.5deg);
+  }
+  30% {
+    transform: translateX(4px) rotate(1.5deg);
+  }
+  45% {
+    transform: translateX(-3px) rotate(-1deg);
+  }
+  60% {
+    transform: translateX(3px) rotate(1deg);
+  }
+  75% {
+    transform: translateX(-1px) rotate(-0.5deg);
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes fadeOut {
+  from {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: scale(1) translateY(0);
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: scale(0.9) translateY(8px);
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes floatBob {
+  0%,
+  100% {
+    transform: translateY(0);
+  }
+  50% {
+    transform: translateY(-6px);
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes shimmerAero {
+  0% {
+    background-position: -400px 0;
+  }
+  100% {
+    background-position: 400px 0;
+  }
+}
+
+@layer components {
+  .animate-slide-down {
+    overflow: hidden;
+    animation: slideDown 0.22s ease-out forwards;
+  }
+  .animate-shake {
+    animation: shake 0.45s ease-out;
+  }
+  .animate-fade-out {
+    animation: fadeOut 0.3s ease-out forwards;
+  }
+  .animate-float-bob {
+    animation: floatBob 2.8s ease-in-out infinite;
+  }
+
+  /* Aero-tinted shimmer for skeleton loaders */
+  .shimmer-aero {
+    background: linear-gradient(
+      90deg,
+      rgba(96, 165, 250, 0.12) 25%,
+      rgba(96, 165, 250, 0.3) 50%,
+      rgba(96, 165, 250, 0.12) 75%
+    );
+    background-size: 800px 100%;
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
+    animation: shimmerAero 1.5s infinite linear;
+  }
+
+  /* Widget title icon badges */
+  .widget-icon {
+    width: 22px;
+    height: 22px;
+    border-radius: 8px;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    font-size: 12px;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+  }
+  .widget-icon-blue {
+    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #60a5fa, #2563eb);
+    box-shadow:
+      0 2px 4px rgba(37, 99, 235, 0.3),
+      inset 0 1px 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
+  }
+  .widget-icon-green {
+    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6ee7b7, #10b981);
+    box-shadow:
+      0 2px 4px rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.3),
+      inset 0 1px 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
+  }
+  .widget-icon-purple {
+    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #c4b5fd, #7c3aed);
+    box-shadow:
+      0 2px 4px rgba(124, 58, 237, 0.3),
+      inset 0 1px 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
+  }
+
+  /* Landing page ambient orbs */
+  .orb {
+    position: absolute;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    filter: blur(40px);
+    opacity: 0.45;
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+
+  /* Gradient avatar fallback */
+  .avatar-gradient {
+    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #60a5fa, #34d399);
+    box-shadow:
+      0 0 0 2px white,
+      0 0 0 3.5px rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.45);
+  }
+}
+
+/* Respect reduced motion */
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .animate-slide-down {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+  .animate-shake {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+  .animate-fade-out {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+  .animate-float-bob {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+  .shimmer-aero {
+    animation: none;
+    background: rgba(96, 165, 250, 0.18);
+  }
+}

thoughts-frontend/app/layout.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { AuthProvider } from "@/hooks/use-auth";
 import { Toaster } from "@/components/ui/sonner";
 import { Header } from "@/components/header";
 import localFont from "next/font/local";
+import Image from "next/image";
 import InstallPrompt from "@/components/install-prompt";
 
 export const metadata: Metadata = {
@@ -52,6 +53,14 @@ export default function RootLayout({
   return (
     <html lang="en">
       <body className={`${frutiger.className} antialiased`}>
+        <Image
+          src="/bg1.avif"
+          alt=""
+          fill
+          priority
+          quality={85}
+          className="fixed inset-0 -z-10 object-cover object-center"
+        />
         <AuthProvider>
           <Header />
           <main className="flex-1">{children}</main>

thoughts-frontend/app/page.tsx

@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ import { UsersCount } from "@/components/users-count";
 import { PaginationNav } from "@/components/pagination-nav";
 import { redirect } from "next/navigation";
 import { Suspense } from "react";
-import { ProfileSkeleton, TagsSkeleton, CountSkeleton } from "@/components/loading-skeleton";
+import {
+  ProfileSkeleton,
+  TagsSkeleton,
+  CountSkeleton,
+} from "@/components/loading-skeleton";
 
 export const metadata: Metadata = {
   title: "Home",
@@ -86,9 +90,7 @@ async function FeedPage({
           </header>
           <ThoughtForm />
 
-          <div className="block lg:hidden space-y-6">
+          <div className="block lg:hidden space-y-6">{sidebar}</div>
-            {sidebar}
-          </div>
 
           <div className="space-y-6">
             {thoughtThreads.map((thought) => (
@@ -99,7 +101,13 @@ async function FeedPage({
               />
             ))}
             {thoughtThreads.length === 0 && (
-              <EmptyState message="Your feed is empty. Follow some users to see their thoughts!" />
+              <EmptyState
+                emoji="💭"
+                title="Your feed is quiet"
+                message="Your feed is empty. Follow some users to see their thoughts!"
+                ctaLabel="Discover people ✨"
+                ctaHref="/users/all"
+              />
             )}
           </div>
           <PaginationNav
@@ -110,9 +118,7 @@ async function FeedPage({
         </main>
 
         <aside className="hidden lg:block lg:col-span-1">
-          <div className="sticky top-20 space-y-6">
+          <div className="sticky top-20 space-y-6">{sidebar}</div>
-            {sidebar}
-          </div>
         </aside>
       </div>
     </div>
@@ -121,28 +127,112 @@ async function FeedPage({
 
 function LandingPage() {
   return (
-    <>
+    <div className="font-sans min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center relative overflow-hidden">
-      <div className="font-sans min-h-screen text-gray-800 flex items-center justify-center">
+      {/* Ambient orbs */}
-        <div className="container mx-auto max-w-2xl p-4 sm:p-6 text-center glass-effect glossy-effect bottom rounded-md shadow-fa-lg">
+      <div
-          <h1
+        className="orb"
-            className="text-5xl font-bold"
+        style={{
-            style={{ textShadow: "2px 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)" }}
+          width: 280,
+          height: 280,
+          background:
+            "radial-gradient(circle, #ffffff 0%, #87ceeb 60%, transparent 100%)",
+          top: "-80px",
+          left: "-60px",
+        }}
+      />
+      <div
+        className="orb"
+        style={{
+          width: 220,
+          height: 220,
+          background:
+            "radial-gradient(circle, #b2f5ea 0%, #48bb78 60%, transparent 100%)",
+          bottom: "-40px",
+          right: "5%",
+        }}
+      />
+      <div
+        className="orb"
+        style={{
+          width: 160,
+          height: 160,
+          background:
+            "radial-gradient(circle, #e0f2fe 0%, #38bdf8 60%, transparent 100%)",
+          top: "35%",
+          left: "65%",
+        }}
+      />
+
+      {/* Hero card */}
+      <div
+        className="container mx-auto max-w-lg p-4 sm:p-6 text-center relative z-10"
+        style={{
+          background: "rgba(255,255,255,0.28)",
+          backdropFilter: "blur(20px)",
+          WebkitBackdropFilter: "blur(20px)",
+          border: "1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.55)",
+          borderRadius: "20px",
+          boxShadow:
+            "0 8px 32px rgba(0,0,0,0.10), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,0.6)",
+        }}
+      >
+        {/* Gloss sweep */}
+        <div
+          aria-hidden
+          style={{
+            position: "absolute",
+            top: 0,
+            left: 0,
+            right: 0,
+            height: "55%",
+            background:
+              "linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255,255,255,0.38) 0%, transparent 100%)",
+            borderRadius: "20px 20px 0 0",
+            pointerEvents: "none",
+          }}
+        />
+
+        <h1
+          className="text-5xl font-bold relative"
+          style={{
+            textShadow:
+              "0 2px 4px rgba(255,255,255,0.6), 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)",
+          }}
+        >
+          Welcome to Thoughts
+        </h1>
+        <p className="text-muted-foreground mt-3 relative">
+          A federated social network for short-form thoughts.
+          <br />
+          Connect with the Fediverse.
+        </p>
+
+        <div className="mt-8 flex justify-center gap-4 relative">
+          <Button asChild className="px-7">
+            <Link href="/login">Login</Link>
+          </Button>
+          <Button asChild variant="secondary" className="px-7">
+            <Link href="/register">Register</Link>
+          </Button>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Fediverse badge */}
+        <div className="mt-5 relative flex justify-center">
+          <span
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-1.5 rounded-full text-xs text-muted-foreground"
+            style={{
+              background: "rgba(255,255,255,0.3)",
+              border: "1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.5)",
+            }}
           >
-            Welcome to Thoughts
+            <span
-          </h1>
+              className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-emerald-400 inline-block"
-          <p className="text-muted-foreground mt-2">
+              style={{ boxShadow: "0 0 4px #34d399" }}
-            Throwback to the golden age of microblogging.
+            />
-          </p>
+            Works with Mastodon, Pixelfed &amp; more
-          <div className="mt-8 flex justify-center gap-4">
+          </span>
-            <Button asChild>
-              <Link href="/login">Login</Link>
-            </Button>
-            <Button variant="secondary" asChild>
-              <Link href="/register">Register</Link>
-            </Button>
-          </div>
         </div>
       </div>
-    </>
+    </div>
   );
 }

thoughts-frontend/app/search/page.tsx

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ export default async function SearchPage({ searchParams }: SearchPageProps) {
               <RemoteUserCard actor={remoteActor} />
             </div>
           ) : (
-            <EmptyState message={`No user found at ${query}`} />
+            <EmptyState emoji="🔍" title="No results" message={`No user found at ${query}`} />
           )
         ) : results ? (
           <Tabs defaultValue="thoughts" className="w-full">
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ export default async function SearchPage({ searchParams }: SearchPageProps) {
             </TabsContent>
           </Tabs>
         ) : (
-          <EmptyState message="No results found or an error occurred." />
+          <EmptyState emoji="🔍" title="No results" message="No results found or an error occurred." />
         )}
       </main>
     </div>

thoughts-frontend/app/tags/[tagName]/page.tsx

@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export default async function TagPage({ params }: TagPageProps) {
           />
         ))}
         {thoughtThreads.length === 0 && (
-          <EmptyState message="No thoughts found for this tag." />
+          <EmptyState emoji="🏷" title="No thoughts here yet" message="No thoughts found for this tag." />
         )}
       </main>
     </div>

thoughts-frontend/app/users/[username]/page.tsx

@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ export default async function ProfilePage({ params }: ProfilePageProps) {
                 />
               ))}
               {thoughtThreads.length === 0 && (
-                <EmptyState message="This user hasn't posted any public thoughts yet." />
+                <EmptyState emoji="💭" title="Nothing here yet" message="This user hasn't posted any public thoughts yet." />
               )}
             </TabsContent>
             {isOwnProfile && (

thoughts-frontend/components/empty-state.tsx

@@ -1,12 +1,39 @@
+import Link from "next/link";
+
 interface EmptyStateProps {
-  message: string
+  emoji?: string;
-  className?: string
+  title?: string;
+  message: string;
+  ctaLabel?: string;
+  ctaHref?: string;
+  className?: string;
 }
 
-export function EmptyState({ message, className }: EmptyStateProps) {
+export function EmptyState({
+  emoji = "💭",
+  title,
+  message,
+  ctaLabel,
+  ctaHref,
+  className = "",
+}: EmptyStateProps) {
   return (
-    <p className={`text-center text-muted-foreground pt-8 ${className ?? ""}`}>
+    <div className={`flex flex-col items-center text-center py-10 gap-2 ${className}`}>
-      {message}
+      <span className="text-4xl animate-float-bob select-none" aria-hidden="true">
-    </p>
+        {emoji}
-  )
+      </span>
+      {title && (
+        <p className="font-bold text-base text-foreground text-shadow-sm">{title}</p>
+      )}
+      <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground max-w-xs leading-relaxed">{message}</p>
+      {ctaLabel && ctaHref && (
+        <Link
+          href={ctaHref}
+          className="mt-2 inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-5 py-2 rounded-full text-sm font-bold text-white fa-gradient-blue shadow-fa-md glossy-effect relative overflow-hidden"
+        >
+          {ctaLabel}
+        </Link>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
 }

thoughts-frontend/components/follow-button.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client"
 
-import { useOptimistic } from "react"
+import { useOptimistic, useRef } from "react"
 import { followUser, unfollowUser } from "@/app/actions/social"
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
 import { toast } from "sonner"
@@ -11,31 +11,101 @@ interface FollowButtonProps {
   isInitiallyFollowing: boolean
 }
 
+const BURST_COLORS = ["#2563eb", "#06b6d4", "#10b981", "#f59e0b", "#a855f7", "#ef4444"]
+
+function burstParticles(canvas: HTMLCanvasElement) {
+  const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d")
+  if (!ctx) return
+
+  const cx = canvas.width / 2
+  const cy = canvas.height / 2
+  const particles = Array.from({ length: 14 }, (_, i) => {
+    const angle = (i / 14) * Math.PI * 2
+    const speed = 2.5 + Math.random() * 2
+    return {
+      x: cx,
+      y: cy,
+      vx: Math.cos(angle) * speed,
+      vy: Math.sin(angle) * speed,
+      r: 3 + Math.random() * 3,
+      color: BURST_COLORS[i % BURST_COLORS.length],
+      life: 1,
+    }
+  })
+
+  let rafId: number
+
+  function frame() {
+    if (!canvas.isConnected) {
+      cancelAnimationFrame(rafId)
+      return
+    }
+    ctx!.clearRect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height)
+    let alive = false
+    for (const p of particles) {
+      p.x += p.vx
+      p.y += p.vy
+      p.vy += 0.08
+      p.life -= 0.03
+      if (p.life > 0) {
+        alive = true
+        ctx!.globalAlpha = p.life
+        ctx!.fillStyle = p.color
+        ctx!.beginPath()
+        ctx!.arc(p.x, p.y, p.r, 0, Math.PI * 2)
+        ctx!.fill()
+      }
+    }
+    ctx!.globalAlpha = 1
+    if (alive) {
+      rafId = requestAnimationFrame(frame)
+    }
+  }
+
+  rafId = requestAnimationFrame(frame)
+}
+
 export function FollowButton({ username, isInitiallyFollowing }: FollowButtonProps) {
   const [optimisticFollowing, setOptimisticFollowing] = useOptimistic(isInitiallyFollowing)
+  const canvasRef = useRef<HTMLCanvasElement>(null)
 
   async function handleClick() {
     const next = !optimisticFollowing
     setOptimisticFollowing(next)
+
+    if (next && canvasRef.current) {
+      burstParticles(canvasRef.current)
+    }
+
     try {
       await (next ? followUser(username) : unfollowUser(username))
     } catch {
-      setOptimisticFollowing(!next) // revert
+      setOptimisticFollowing(!next)
       toast.error(`Failed to ${next ? "follow" : "unfollow"} user.`)
     }
   }
 
   return (
-    <Button
+    <div className="relative inline-block">
-      onClick={handleClick}
+      <canvas
-      variant={optimisticFollowing ? "secondary" : "default"}
+        ref={canvasRef}
-      data-following={optimisticFollowing}
+        width={160}
-    >
+        height={80}
-      {optimisticFollowing ? (
+        className="absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 pointer-events-none"
-        <><UserMinus className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" /> Unfollow</>
+        aria-hidden
-      ) : (
+      />
-        <><UserPlus className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" /> Follow</>
+      <Button
-      )}
+        onClick={handleClick}
-    </Button>
+        variant={optimisticFollowing ? "secondary" : "default"}
+        className="relative rounded-full"
+        data-following={optimisticFollowing}
+      >
+        {optimisticFollowing ? (
+          <><UserMinus className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" /> Unfollow</>
+        ) : (
+          <><UserPlus className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" /> Follow</>
+        )}
+      </Button>
+    </div>
   )
 }

thoughts-frontend/components/header.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useAuth } from "@/hooks/use-auth";
+import Image from "next/image";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { Button } from "./ui/button";
 import { UserNav } from "./user-nav";
@@ -10,25 +11,33 @@ export function Header() {
   const { token } = useAuth();
 
   return (
-    <header className="sticky top-0 z-50 flex justify-center w-full border-b border-primary/20 bg-background/80 glass-effect glossy-effect bottom rounded-none">
+    <header className="sticky top-0 z-50 flex justify-center w-full border-b border-white/20 bg-background/80 glass-effect glossy-effect bottom rounded-none shadow-fa-md">
       <div className="container flex h-14 items-center px-2">
-        <div className="flex gap-2">
+        {/* Logo */}
-          <Link href="/" className="flex items-center gap-1">
+        <Link href="/" className="flex items-center gap-2 mr-4 shrink-0">
-            <span className="hidden font-bold text-primary sm:inline-block">
+          <Image
-              Thoughts
+            src="/icon.avif"
-            </span>
+            alt="Thoughts"
-          </Link>
+            width={32}
-          <MainNav />
+            height={32}
-        </div>
+            className="rounded-lg shadow-fa-sm"
+          />
+          <span className="hidden sm:inline-block font-bold text-primary text-shadow-sm">
+            Thoughts
+          </span>
+        </Link>
+
+        <MainNav />
+
         <div className="flex flex-1 items-center justify-end space-x-2">
           {token ? (
             <UserNav />
           ) : (
             <>
-              <Button asChild size="sm">
+              <Button asChild size="sm" variant="outline" className="rounded-full">
                 <Link href="/login">Login</Link>
               </Button>
-              <Button asChild size="sm">
+              <Button asChild size="sm" className="rounded-full">
                 <Link href="/register">Register</Link>
               </Button>
             </>

thoughts-frontend/components/popular-tags.tsx

@@ -2,21 +2,21 @@ import Link from "next/link";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { getPopularTags } from "@/lib/api";
-import { Hash } from "lucide-react";
 
 export async function PopularTags() {
   const tags = await getPopularTags().catch(() => []);
 
   if (tags.length === 0) {
     return (
-      <Card>
+      <Card className="p-4">
-        <CardHeader>
+        <CardHeader className="p-0 pb-2">
-          <CardTitle>Popular Tags</CardTitle>
+          <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
+            <span className="widget-icon widget-icon-blue">🏷</span>
+            Popular Tags
+          </CardTitle>
         </CardHeader>
-        <CardContent>
+        <CardContent className="p-0">
-          <p className="text-center text-muted-foreground">
+          <p className="text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground py-4">No tags yet.</p>
-            No popular tags to display.
-          </p>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
     );
@@ -24,24 +24,20 @@ export async function PopularTags() {
 
   return (
     <Card className="p-4">
-      <CardHeader className="p-0 pb-2">
+      <CardHeader className="p-0 pb-3">
-        <CardTitle className="text-lg">Popular Tags</CardTitle>
+        <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
+          <span className="widget-icon widget-icon-blue">🏷</span>
+          Popular Tags
+        </CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
       <CardContent className="flex flex-wrap gap-2 p-0">
-        {tags.map((tag) => (
+        {tags.map((tag, i) => (
           <Link href={`/tags/${tag}`} key={tag}>
-            <Badge
+            <Badge variant={i < 2 ? "trending" : "branded"}>
-              variant="secondary"
+              {i < 2 ? "🔥 " : "#"}{tag}
-              className="hover:shadow-lg transition-shadow text-shadow-sm cursor-pointer"
-            >
-              <Hash className="mr-1 h-3 w-3" />
-              {tag}
             </Badge>
           </Link>
         ))}
-        {tags.length === 0 && (
-          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No popular tags yet.</p>
-        )}
       </CardContent>
     </Card>
   );

thoughts-frontend/components/thought-card.tsx

@@ -46,6 +46,18 @@ interface ThoughtCardProps {
   isReply?: boolean;
 }
 
+function renderWithHashtags(content: string) {
+  return content.split(/(#\w+)/g).map((part, i) =>
+    /^#\w+$/.test(part) ? (
+      <span key={i} className="text-primary font-medium">
+        {part}
+      </span>
+    ) : (
+      part
+    )
+  );
+}
+
 export function ThoughtCard({
   thought,
   currentUser,
@@ -54,6 +66,7 @@ export function ThoughtCard({
   const { author } = thought;
   const [isAlertOpen, setIsAlertOpen] = useState(false);
   const [isReplyOpen, setIsReplyOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [deletingState, setDeletingState] = useState<"idle" | "shaking" | "fading">("idle");
   const { token } = useAuth();
   const timeAgo = formatDistanceToNow(new Date(thought.createdAt), {
     addSuffix: true,
@@ -62,14 +75,18 @@ export function ThoughtCard({
   const isAuthor = currentUser?.username === thought.author.username;
 
   const handleDelete = async () => {
+    setIsAlertOpen(false);
+    setDeletingState("shaking");
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 450));
+    setDeletingState("fading");
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 300));
     try {
       await deleteThought(thought.id);
-      toast.success("Thought deleted successfully.");
+      toast.success("Thought deleted.");
     } catch (error) {
       console.error("Failed to delete thought:", error);
+      setDeletingState("idle");
       toast.error("Failed to delete thought.");
-    } finally {
-      setIsAlertOpen(false);
     }
   };
 
@@ -115,7 +132,13 @@ export function ThoughtCard({
           </div>
         )}
       </div>
-      <Card className="mt-2">
+      <Card
+        className={cn(
+          "mt-2 transition-transform duration-200 hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-fa-lg",
+          deletingState === "shaking" && "animate-shake",
+          deletingState === "fading" && "animate-fade-out pointer-events-none"
+        )}
+      >
         <CardHeader className="flex flex-row items-center justify-between space-y-0">
           <Link
             href={`/users/${author.username}`}
@@ -166,7 +189,7 @@ export function ThoughtCard({
         <CardContent>
           {thought.author.local ? (
             <p className="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-shadow-sm">
-              {thought.content}
+              {renderWithHashtags(thought.content)}
             </p>
           ) : (
             <div
@@ -185,6 +208,7 @@ export function ThoughtCard({
             <Button
               variant="ghost"
               size="sm"
+              className="rounded-full bg-primary/8 border border-primary/15 text-primary hover:bg-primary/15"
               onClick={() => setIsReplyOpen(!isReplyOpen)}
             >
               <MessageSquare className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
@@ -194,7 +218,7 @@ export function ThoughtCard({
         )}
 
         {isReplyOpen && (
-          <div className="border-t m-4 rounded-2xl border-border/50 bg-secondary/20 ">
+          <div className="animate-slide-down border-t m-4 rounded-2xl border-border/50 bg-secondary/20">
             <ThoughtForm
               replyToId={thought.id}
               onSuccess={() => setIsReplyOpen(false)}

thoughts-frontend/components/top-friends.tsx

@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@ export async function TopFriends({ username }: TopFriendsProps) {
 
   return (
     <Card id="top-friends" className="p-4">
-      <CardHeader id="top-friends__header" className="p-0 pb-2">
+      <CardHeader id="top-friends__header" className="p-0 pb-3">
-        <CardTitle id="top-friends__title" className="text-lg text-shadow-md">
+        <CardTitle id="top-friends__title" className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
+          <span className="widget-icon widget-icon-green">👥</span>
           Top Friends
         </CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
-      <CardContent id="top-friends__content" className="p-0">
+      <CardContent id="top-friends__content" className="p-0 space-y-1">
         {friends.map((friend) => (
           <Link
             id={`top-friends__link-${friend.id}`}
@@ -30,12 +31,17 @@ export async function TopFriends({ username }: TopFriendsProps) {
             key={friend.id}
             className="flex items-center gap-3 py-2 px-2 -mx-2 rounded-lg hover:bg-accent/50 transition-colors"
           >
-            <UserAvatar src={friend.avatarUrl} alt={friend.username} />
+            <UserAvatar src={friend.avatarUrl} alt={friend.displayName || friend.username} />
-            <span
+            <div className="flex flex-col min-w-0">
-              id={`top-friends__name-${friend.id}`}
+              <span className="text-xs font-semibold truncate text-shadow-sm">
-              className="text-xs truncate w-full font-medium text-shadow-sm"
+                {friend.displayName || friend.username}
-            >
+              </span>
-              {friend.displayName || friend.username}
+              <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground truncate">
+                @{friend.username}
+              </span>
+            </div>
+            <span className="ml-auto shrink-0 text-[10px] font-semibold px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-emerald-500/10 border border-emerald-500/20 text-emerald-600">
+              following
             </span>
           </Link>
         ))}

thoughts-frontend/components/ui/badge.tsx

@@ -12,10 +12,14 @@ const badgeVariants = cva(
         default:
           "border-transparent bg-primary text-primary-foreground hover:bg-primary/80 glossy-effect bottom text-shadow-sm",
         secondary:
-          "border-transparent bg-secondary text-secondary-foreground hover:bg-secondary/80 glossy-effect bottom text-shadow-sm", // Use green for secondary
+          "border-transparent bg-secondary text-secondary-foreground hover:bg-secondary/80 glossy-effect bottom text-shadow-sm",
         destructive:
           "border-transparent bg-destructive text-destructive-foreground hover:bg-destructive/80 glossy-effect bottom text-shadow-sm",
         outline: "text-foreground glossy-effect bottom text-shadow-sm",
+        branded:
+          "border border-primary/20 bg-primary/8 text-primary font-semibold hover:bg-primary/15 hover:scale-105 transition-transform cursor-pointer",
+        trending:
+          "border border-red-300/30 bg-gradient-to-r from-orange-500/10 to-red-500/8 text-red-600 font-semibold hover:from-orange-500/18 hover:to-red-500/14 hover:scale-105 transition-transform cursor-pointer",
       },
     },
     defaultVariants: {

thoughts-frontend/components/ui/skeleton.tsx

@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+import * as React from "react"
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils"
 
 function Skeleton({ className, ...props }: React.ComponentProps<"div">) {
   return (
     <div
-      data-slot="skeleton"
+      className={cn("rounded-md shimmer-aero", className)}
-      className={cn("bg-muted/50 animate-pulse rounded-md", className)}
       {...props}
     />
-  );
+  )
 }
 
-export { Skeleton };
+export { Skeleton }

thoughts-frontend/components/user-avatar.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { Avatar, AvatarFallback, AvatarImage } from "@/components/ui/avatar";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
-import { User } from "lucide-react";
 
 interface UserAvatarProps {
   src?: string | null;
@@ -9,8 +8,10 @@ interface UserAvatarProps {
 }
 
 export function UserAvatar({ src, alt, className }: UserAvatarProps) {
+  const initial = alt?.trim()[0]?.toUpperCase() ?? "?";
+
   return (
-    <Avatar className={cn("border-2 border-primary/50 shadow-md", className)}>
+    <Avatar className={cn("avatar-gradient", className)}>
       {src && (
         <AvatarImage
           className="object-cover object-center"
@@ -18,8 +19,8 @@ export function UserAvatar({ src, alt, className }: UserAvatarProps) {
           alt={alt ?? "User avatar"}
         />
       )}
-      <AvatarFallback>
+      <AvatarFallback className="avatar-gradient text-white font-bold text-sm">
-        <User className="h-5 w-5" />
+        {initial}
       </AvatarFallback>
     </Avatar>
   );

thoughts-frontend/components/users-count.tsx

@@ -1,68 +1,57 @@
-import { Link } from "lucide-react";
 import {
   Card,
   CardHeader,
   CardTitle,
   CardContent,
-  CardDescription,
 } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { getAllUsersCount } from "@/lib/api";
 
 export async function UsersCount() {
   const usersCount = await getAllUsersCount().catch(() => null);
 
-  if (usersCount === null) {
+  const count = usersCount?.count ?? null;
-    return (
-      <Card className="p-4">
-        <CardHeader className="p-0 pb-2">
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg text-shadow-md">Users Count</CardTitle>
-          <CardDescription>
-            Total number of registered users on Thoughts.
-          </CardDescription>
-        </CardHeader>
-        <CardContent>
-          <div className="text-muted-foreground text-sm text-center py-4">
-            Could not load users count.
-          </div>
-        </CardContent>
-      </Card>
-    );
-  }
-
-  if (usersCount.count === 0) {
-    return (
-      <Card className="p-4">
-        <CardHeader className="p-0 pb-2">
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg text-shadow-md">Users Count</CardTitle>
-          <CardDescription>
-            Total number of registered users on Thoughts.
-          </CardDescription>
-        </CardHeader>
-        <CardContent>
-          <div className="text-muted-foreground text-sm text-center py-4">
-            No registered users yet. Be the first to{" "}
-            <Link href="/signup" className="text-primary hover:underline">
-              sign up
-            </Link>
-            !
-          </div>
-        </CardContent>
-      </Card>
-    );
-  }
 
   return (
     <Card className="p-4">
-      <CardHeader className="p-0 pb-2">
+      <CardHeader className="p-0 pb-3">
-        <CardTitle className="text-lg text-shadow-md">Users Count</CardTitle>
+        <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
-        <CardDescription>
+          <span className="widget-icon widget-icon-purple">✨</span>
-          Total number of registered users on Thoughts.
+          Community
-        </CardDescription>
+        </CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
-      <CardContent>
+      <CardContent className="p-0">
-        <div className="text-muted-foreground text-sm text-center py-4">
+        {count === null ? (
-          {usersCount.count} registered users.
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center py-2">
-        </div>
+            Could not load member count.
+          </p>
+        ) : count === 0 ? (
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center py-2">
+            Be the first to join!
+          </p>
+        ) : (
+          <div
+            className="rounded-xl p-3 text-center glossy-effect relative overflow-hidden"
+            style={{
+              background: "rgba(255,255,255,0.4)",
+              border: "1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.6)",
+            }}
+          >
+            <div
+              className="text-3xl font-extrabold leading-none"
+              style={{
+                background: "linear-gradient(135deg, #2563eb, #06b6d4)",
+                WebkitBackgroundClip: "text",
+                WebkitTextFillColor: "transparent",
+                backgroundClip: "text",
+              }}
+            >
+              {count}
+            </div>
+            <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground mt-1 font-semibold">
+              members
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
       </CardContent>
     </Card>
   );