---
title: Introduction
description: Particle, light and mask effects for Compose Multiplatform, fired by value changes and conditions, plus enter and exit transitions.
sidebar:
  order: 1
---

Kapow adds small visual effects to Compose Multiplatform elements. A like count sprays particles when it goes up. A badge pulses while there are unread messages. A card opens with an iris when it appears and leaves in a puff of smoke. The effects run on Android, iOS, JVM desktop and wasmJs from one `commonMain` source set.

There are four kinds:

- **Change effects** play once each time a value changes: `shine`, `pulse`, `glow`, `spray`, `rise`, `spin`.
- **Conditional effects** stay on while a Boolean is true: `repeat`, `glow`, `pushDown`, `smoke`.
- **Progress effects** are drawn at a progress you control, such as a scroll position or a hinge angle: `shine`, `glow`, `iris`.
- **Transitions** enter and exit content inside `AnimatedVisibility` and `AnimatedContent`: `iris`, `clock`, `wipe`, `glare`, `blinds`, `pop`, `anvil` and `poof`.

The current version is 1.3.0. See the [changelog](/changelog) for what each release changed.

## Install

```kotlin
// shared/build.gradle.kts
kotlin {
    sourceSets {
        commonMain.dependencies {
            implementation("io.github.jantursky:kapow:1.3.0")
        }
    }
}
```

Two optional artifacts add integrations. Neither is needed for the effects themselves.

```kotlin
// shared/build.gradle.kts
kotlin {
    sourceSets {
        commonMain.dependencies {
            // Effects driven by the hinge angle of a foldable, through Crease.
            implementation("io.github.jantursky:kapow-crease:1.3.0")
            // Haptic feedback when an effect fires, through multihaptic.
            implementation("io.github.jantursky:kapow-multihaptic:1.3.0")
        }
    }
}
```

## A minimal example

```kotlin
import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
import androidx.compose.foundation.text.BasicText
import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableIntStateOf
import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
import com.jantursky.kapow.ChangeEffect
import com.jantursky.kapow.changeEffect

@Composable
fun LikeButton() {
    var likes by remember { mutableIntStateOf(0) }
    BasicText(
        text = "Likes: $likes",
        modifier = Modifier
            .clickable { likes++ }
            .changeEffect(likes, ChangeEffect.spray()),
    )
}
```

Each tap changes `likes`, and the spray plays. Nothing plays when the button first appears.

## What Kapow is not

It is not a particle engine, a confetti library or a set of transform animations such as shake and bounce. Other libraries cover those, and the [prior art](/prior-art) page links them. Kapow v1 uses no shaders: every effect is clipping, brushes and canvas drawing.

**[Getting started](/getting-started)**

Add the dependency and fire a first effect.

**[Guides](/guides/change-effects)**

Triggering, particles, transitions, reduced motion, accessibility and feedback.

**[Effects](/effects)**

Every effect in one table.

**[Live demo](https://kapow-demo.vercel.app)**

Try every effect in your browser.

Kapow is on [GitHub](https://github.com/jantursky/kapow). It is inspired by [Pow](https://github.com/EmergeTools/Pow) for SwiftUI and is not affiliated with it.