{
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  "origin": "https://www.msweet.net/notes/",
  "page": "148-indigo-deer",
  "author": {
    "name": "Matthew McDowell-Sweet",
    "url": "https://www.msweet.net/"
  },
  "created": "2026-11-01T08:01:05Z",
  "updated": "2026-11-01T08:01:05Z",
  "version": 1,
  "content_md": "Thinking about the Tao Te Ching and technological scripture. [Christopher Alexander’s up there](https://www.msweet.net/notes/989-onyx-badgers). Some other candidates:\n\n- Alan Perlis, *Epigrams on Programming*\n- Tim Peters, *The Zen of Python*\n- The Unix philosophy\n- John Gall, *Systemantics*\n- Donella Meadows, *Thinking in Systems*\n- Fred Brooks, *The Mythical Man-Month*\n- Stewart Brand, *How Buildings Learn*\n- Richard Gabriel, *Patterns of Software*\n- Ivan Illich, *Tools for Conviviality*\n\nThese classify as scripture because:\n\n- They’re ambiguous enough to invite endless interpretation\n- They carry authority that ends arguments\n- They inspire awe at the author seeing the whole problem first\n- They’ve become near-sacred because they’re interpreted, not tested\n\nThe above is a generated starter pack. Not to be confused with the [Silicon Valley canon](https://scholars-stage.org/the-silicon-valley-canon-on-the-paideia-of-the-american-tech-elite/), which is a litmus test for belonging.",
  "content_html": "<p>Thinking about the Tao Te Ching and technological scripture. <a href=\"https://www.msweet.net/notes/989-onyx-badgers\">Christopher Alexander’s up there</a>. Some other candidates:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alan Perlis, <em>Epigrams on Programming</em></li>\n<li>Tim Peters, <em>The Zen of Python</em></li>\n<li>The Unix philosophy</li>\n<li>John Gall, <em>Systemantics</em></li>\n<li>Donella Meadows, <em>Thinking in Systems</em></li>\n<li>Fred Brooks, <em>The Mythical Man-Month</em></li>\n<li>Stewart Brand, <em>How Buildings Learn</em></li>\n<li>Richard Gabriel, <em>Patterns of Software</em></li>\n<li>Ivan Illich, <em>Tools for Conviviality</em></li>\n</ul>\n<p>These classify as scripture because:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>They’re ambiguous enough to invite endless interpretation</li>\n<li>They carry authority that ends arguments</li>\n<li>They inspire awe at the author seeing the whole problem first</li>\n<li>They’ve become near-sacred because they’re interpreted, not tested</li>\n</ul>\n<p>The above is a generated starter pack. Not to be confused with the <a href=\"https://scholars-stage.org/the-silicon-valley-canon-on-the-paideia-of-the-american-tech-elite/\">Silicon Valley canon</a>, which is a litmus test for belonging.</p>",
  "content_hash": "sha256:5c0a3d712e9f431f8dfa0d2c2c86c1a1de86ebe8e08820b3d9bf839e749384eb",
  "media": [],
  "changelog": [
    {
      "version": 1,
      "at": "2026-11-01T08:01:05Z",
      "note": null
    }
  ]
}