Control Loops Outside the Lab

Control Loops Outside the Lab

A series on feedback and control: delay, thresholds, windup, and damping. Each idea comes with interactive simulations, drawn from software systems, physics, and everyday life.

  1. 01

    Delayed Feedback and Overcorrection

    Why autoscalers and retries can overreact while earlier work is still in progress. Follow the decision, startup, and measurement delays before tuning the response.

    Jun 10, 2026 路 6 min read control systemsbackend engineeringdata engineering
  2. 02

    Keeping a Threshold from Flapping

    A freshness alert keeps opening and closing while the pipeline barely changes. Separate recovery thresholds and timers can make each transition useful.

    Jun 15, 2026 路 5 min read observabilitycontrol systemsalerting
  3. 03

    Integrator Windup and Actuator Limits

    A loader overshoots after a throughput limit is lifted. Follow the correction that accumulated behind the cap, then compare two ways to control it.

    Jun 20, 2026 路 6 min read PIDcontrol systemsautoscaling
  4. 04

    Choosing the Damping of a Spring

    A following camera needs to catch up and stop cleanly. Spring speed and damping make those two requirements easier to tune.

    Jun 25, 2026 路 5 min read control systemsphysicsgame development