We owe our ability to understand abstractions in programming to philosophy; much as we owe a debt to mathematics for putting the theorems responsible for our code -- and computers -- to work into words. Consider the immortal words present in the Tao: A well-shut door will stay closed without a latch. Skillful fastening will stay tied without knots. One does not simply (walk into Mordor) build a door that works well. A factory for doors cannot provide you with the quality of worksmanship and p...