Interactions

Gestures / Swipes

Every interaction in Current is designed to feel like water: fluid, responsive, and organic.

"Animations use carefully tuned springs with appropriate weight and momentum. The goal is for interactions to feel inevitable, like they couldn't work any other way."

Swipe Actions

Current gives you four swipe slots (short and long in each direction) and lets you assign any action to each one. The physics are tuned so short and long swipes feel distinct: tension builds as you pull further, with haptic feedback at each threshold.

Swipe Physics Demo

Watch the tension build, threshold trigger, and spring release

Configurable Swipe Slots

Short Left

Quick swipe left

Default: Mark Read

Long Left

Full swipe left

Default: Release

Short Right

Quick swipe right

Default: Save

Long Right

Full swipe right

Default: Share

Available Actions

Mark Read

Mark Unread

Release

Save

Mute Source

Edit Source

Configure your swipe actions in Settings → Swipe Actions. An interactive preview lets you test your configuration before leaving the settings screen.

Cancelable

Release before reaching the threshold and the card snaps back to its original position. Short and long swipes use separate thresholds, so you can trigger a short action without accidentally triggering the long one.

River Gestures

Article card

tap

Tap any article to open it in the reader. The transition animates smoothly.

Article card

swipe left

Swipe left to mark read (short) or release (long). Swipe right to save (short) or share (long). All configurable.

Haptic Feedback

Current uses haptics to make gestures feel tangible. Each feedback type has meaning.

Reader Gestures

Swipe Back

Swipe from the left edge (or tap the back button) to return to the river from the reader.

Swipe Actions

Your configured swipe actions work in the reader too. Swipe to release, save, share, or any other action you've assigned. Same physics, same feedback.

Tap Images

Tap any image in an article to view it in a lightbox at full size.

Tap Title

Tap the article title to open the original URL in Safari.

Platform availability

Touch gestures (swipes, hold, edge swipes) are available on iPhone and iPad. On iPad, all gestures work alongside full keyboard navigation. On macOS, swipe actions are limited; use keyboard shortcuts instead. See Keyboard Shortcuts for the full Mac and iPad keyboard reference.

Reduced Motion

Current respects the system Reduce Motion accessibility setting. When enabled, animations are minimized and haptics are simplified while maintaining full functionality.

Gesture Tips

Don't rush

Gestures are designed to feel good at a natural pace

Trust the feedback

Haptics and visual cues confirm when actions will trigger

Cancel anytime

Move your finger back or lift before the threshold

Learn by feel

The physics are consistent. Muscle memory develops quickly.