I agree with your first point and didn't dispute it. Library reuse is overrated. But it isn't contradicting the point of what McIlroy does -- it actually supp

I agree with your first point and didn't dispute it. Library reuse is overrated. But it isn't contradicting the point of what McIlroy does -- it actually supports it. Unix tools are more reusable than libraries full of code. I can't tell what the second part of your post is saying. It doesn't matter if Knuth "would have" done something; McIlroy already did it. The problem is solved with 6 lines. End of story. No pontificating. That's what Unix lets you do -- get on with your day :)