This is a charming little essay. But why? - The "exoskeleton" metaphor for an N-list having its skeletal structure on the outside made me smile. - I like the

This is a charming little essay. But why? - The "exoskeleton" metaphor for an N-list having its skeletal structure on the outside made me smile. - I like the explanation of N-lists having a flat structure. Clean modules, with no dependencies. If your code can naturally fit this structure, it will be simpler. Alan Kay says that by inventing new representations, we make their users more intelligent (e.g. multiplication with Roman v.s. Arabic numerals). If your new representation enables its user to think in flat terms about what previously required nested or recursive structures, then you have done something great. - These are playful and novel ways of looking at commonplace things. They evoke my conviction that gold is all around us; just a step or two off the path is something incredible. All you need do is look. But underlying all this is the lack of any discernible ulterior motive: it's just for fun. :-)