The Rule Of Hand

First, the four fingers:

1. Seek specialization and avoid monoculture

• move complexity from within individual cells to the diversity of the collaborating group of cells
• an infection, like a cold, should be able to infect only a small proportion of the cells
• use autonomic computing (self configuring) techiques to manage that diversity

1. Base collaboration on polymorphic messaging, never code transfer

• specialization implies that different "cells" interpret the message each in their own way
• Be stingy with language interpreters and be careful what powers you allow them

1. Self is a property of attachment to the stigmergic structure -- the connected system including shared persistent data stores and the communication network -- not of the individual cells

• Keep your eye on the persistent, perhaps boring, data and networks, not the flashier algorithmic stuff inside each "cell"

1. One cell is never more important than the multicellular "self"

• Apoptosis is your friend. If the cell strays, kill it. If the hand offends, cut it off

• try to use a double or triple entendre messaging architecture
• make messages imply specialized behavior
• messages can also provide cues as to the ongoing relationship of the "cell" to the stigmergy structure
• have receipt of messages imply the kind of "I'm OK - You're OK" relationship that signals that the cell and its relationship to the stigmergy structure are healthy -- hence no need for apoptosis.