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Gregory Allen Perry's avatar

This relates to your previous article about sources of variety and importing vs. generating locally. I have to import (buy) a tools because I don't have the ability to generate them locally. Each one of those tools generally does one thing very well, but I can combine the output of the different tools in new combinations and even use them to create new tools for repetitive tasks. There might be a jig I could buy that already does what I need to do, but it will never be as good as the jig I create using my existing tools.

I've been using UNIX since the early 90s and that is the way the tools on UNIX work. I have to admit as well that I have never made the connection to other settings and processes outside of computing.

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Applied Complexity Science's avatar

And I have to admit I didn't make the connections you just made to that previous post!

That's right, it makes me think of the little "trimming" kit I often carry around with me on property: bow saw, loppers, pruners. With just these three I can do a lot of the cleanup work around the property with just manual power. If I carry any one of those tools, theres almost nothing I can get done. In combination the effect is disproportionately greater.

Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Greg.

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