I was using the analogy of the composability of Unix tools as a role model for how to think about the segregation of roles in an object-oriented system. I agree

I was using the analogy of the composability of Unix tools as a role model for how to think about the segregation of roles in an object-oriented system. I agree with you that the ways in which we can couple these objects together through their interfaces is the core of what we're designing. I think this philosophy as an analogy (especially as outlined by ESR) is applicable to a wide variety of things beyond even programming. Interesting to think about, anyway. Thanks for your thoughts.