"Unfortunately, switching regulators are also one of the most difficult linear circuits to design. Mysterious modes,
sudden, seemingly inexplicable failures, peculiar regulation characteristics and just plain explosions are common occurrences. Diodes conduct the wrong way. Things get hot that shouldn’t. Capacitors act like resistors, fuses
don’t blow and transistors do. The output is at ground, and the ground terminal shows volts of noise.
"

–Jim Williams, Switching Regulators for Poets, Linear Technologies Application Note 25, September 1987