A multi-detent encoder spin previously chained one full transition per scale
crossed (e.g. +5 ≈ 5 placeholder morphs ≈ 12-15s), which feels sluggish for a
fast spin. Design §3 anticipates this: "transitions chain, or past a speed
threshold a faster blended pass is used."
`player.ring.advance_ring` gains an opt-in `fast_spin_threshold` (canonical
default `DEFAULT_FAST_SPIN_THRESHOLD = 3`). A spin batches its detents into one
advance() call, so `abs(delta)` is the input layer's proxy for spin speed; at or
above the threshold the move collapses to a single blended pass — one
`TransitionStep` (the arrival edge, marked `blended`, landing straight on the
destination, `RingMove.fast=True`) instead of the full chain. Landing index,
seam-crossing (`wrapped`), and arrival edge/direction are exactly the full
chain's; only the in-between transitions are dropped.
The policy is opt-in (default off) because the pure function cannot observe
wall-clock spin speed — the simulator/firmware, which can, enables it. This keeps
all existing complete-chain behavior and tests intact. The simulator passes the
default threshold and plays the blended step at 2.5× (FAST_BLEND_RATE); a
dedicated fast-blend clip can replace the accelerated arrival-edge placeholder
when real transition media exists.
- player/ring.py: TransitionStep.blended, RingMove.fast, threshold param + policy
- simulator/clips.py: serialize fast/blended in ring_move_to_dict
- simulator/app.py: apply DEFAULT_FAST_SPIN_THRESHOLD at /api/ring/advance
- simulator/static/app.js: play a blended step at FAST_BLEND_RATE
- docs: scales design §3, USER_GUIDE, ROADMAP slice-3 note
Tests: +9 (ring policy, serializer, API). Suite 224 passed / 2 skipped.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Add scale-ring navigation to the simulator per the scales-library design §3:
an endless rotary-encoder control (relative, vs the absolute 0-4 experience
knobs) walks a closed ring of neutral "scales of nature" clips, with placeholder
AI zoom/warp transitions between adjacent scales and a small->large wrap (the
infinite-zoom payoff).
- player/ring.py (new, canonical pure logic): ScaleRing + advance_ring; one
transition clip per edge, played forward zooming inward / reversed outward;
modulo wrap both ways; chained steps for a multi-detent spin. Mirrors
player/content.py conventions (frozen dataclasses, pure functions).
- simulator: load_ring + ring_to_dict/ring_move_to_dict; GET /api/ring and
POST /api/ring/advance (Python owns step/wrap/transition math; the browser
only plays the returned transition(s) then settles on the target scale).
- frontend: endless-encoder control (zoom in/out buttons + stage scroll),
current-scale readout, multi-clip active-scale selection, transition playback.
- media: two cheap true-PD scales so the ring is demonstrable -- cosmos
(NASA/Hubble) + abyss (NOAA Ocean Exploration), provenance recorded in the
manifest, bytes generated as labelled placeholders by setup_scales_media.py.
The expensive multi-strength flow-stabilized Right re-bake is DEFERRED (new
scales carry a raw base only) until the ring is liked; Pi renderer +
serial/firmware remain deferred (simulator-first).
- docs: ROADMAP slice-3 done; USER_GUIDE scale-ring gesture; plan doc.
Verified: pytest 215 passed / 2 skipped (+22 new); sim boots, /api/ring +
/api/ring/advance correct incl. wrap, media served, and a headless-Chrome CDP
drive walked cosmos -> forest -> abyss -> (wrap) -> cosmos with the active clip
reloading correctly.
Spec: docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-07-scales-library-and-right-axis-pipeline-design.md (§3)
Plan: docs/superpowers/plans/2026-06-07-scale-ring-navigation.md
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Ben Stull