Bareback

A certain monk said to master Suku: “I have studied your code to learn from your example, but on one question my eyes have not yet been opened.”

The monk unfolded a source listing. “Consider this tiny application, where you search log files for errors. I would have done all processing in the application class. Yet you define a host of additional classes: a LogFileReader interface which has only a readEntry method, a LogFileEntry to be returned by the method, and a SimpleLogFileReader which is the only implementation of the interface! Why all this formality for so small a project?”

Suku replied: “Go to the stables, untie my horse, and ride him up the Drunken Serpent’s Road to the peak of this mountain. Then ride down and tell me what you have learned.”

The monk reappeared that evening, bruised and dirty. “I have learned that your horse does not like being ridden bareback. Also, that one may fall a long way down the cliffside if thrown.”

Suku produced a saddle, breastplate, bridle, bit and reins, saying: “No matter how short the journey, the rider should be absolutely certain of where to sit and how to steer.”

The monk rubbed a huge bump on his head. “But what will the ill-tempered horse be certain of?”

“That he is the one being ridden,” said Suku.