Waterline

The Waterline is a subtle visual indicator in your river that shows where new content begins.

What Is the Waterline?

When you open Current after being away, new articles have arrived since your last visit. The Waterline is a subtle blue-tinted horizontal line that marks the boundary between:

Above the line: Fresh content that arrived since you last checked
Below the line: Content you've already scrolled past

How It Works

Current remembers your scroll position using a stable anchor system:

When you close the app, your position is saved
New content arrives while you're away
When you return, new content appears above your saved position
The Waterline marks where the new content ends

Visual Design

The Waterline is intentionally subtle: a soft gradient line with a slight blue tint that blends with your theme. It's noticeable enough to orient you, but not so prominent that it distracts from reading.

Articles above the Waterline may have a slightly fresher appearance, while articles below may be subtly dimmed, reinforcing the visual hierarchy.

Why Not Unread Counts?

Traditional readers show "127 unread articles" and create pressure to clear the queue. The Waterline takes a different approach:

No numbers create no anxiety
You see where "new" begins without quantifying it
Scroll past naturally without feeling obligated
The line fades as you scroll, merging old and new

Session Behavior

The Waterline's position is tied to your reading session:

New session: When you return after 30+ minutes, a new Waterline is set
Continuous use: Within a session, the Waterline doesn't move
Pulling to refresh: New content appears above your position, Waterline adjusts

Scroll Position Restoration

Current's scroll position restoration is remarkably precise:

Your exact scroll offset is saved
New items are inserted above without disrupting your position
The algorithm is O(1), working efficiently even with many items
Works across app restarts and device reboots

This means you never lose your place, even if hundreds of new articles arrive while you're away.

Relationship to Ambient Closure

The Waterline and Ambient Closure work together:

Waterline shows where new content begins
Ambient Closure appears when you've scrolled through most of what's new
Together, they create a natural sense of completion

Without counting anything, you can feel when you're caught up.