Quick tip: How Prometheus can make visualizing noisy data easier

Prometheus can be an effective tool for visualizing and cleaning up noisy data by utilizing its built-in statistical functions, such as quantile_over_time, to filter out anomalies. The author describes their personal experience of using Prometheus to monitor a temperature sensor in their attic, which occasionally provides inaccurate readings. By applying the quantile_over_time function, the author is able to focus on the median temperature over a short rolling window, effectively smoothing out data spikes caused by sensor errors, allowing for a more accurate representation of temperature trends. This method highlights the usefulness of Prometheus not only for data collection and querying but also as a preliminary step in data analysis, particularly when integrated with Grafana for enhanced visualization. The ability to analyze the frequency distribution of data points and identify outliers within a defined time range enables a more precise understanding of the data, even when dealing with imperfect sensors.