> (a more advanced form would actually load (and loadbang) the meta-patch,
so it can run some real code)

There's also the possibility to load the meta-patch, but _always_ suppress loadbang.

Then you'd have a rough equivalent to a c header file-- the lib author could basically 

declare things-- [struct], [table], [declare]-- but the "action" would need to happen down 

in the abstractions proper.  Or at least it would have to _start_ there, as you could have 

a receiver in the meta patch, but it can't do anything until an abstraction (or external 

object) triggers it.

Of course that won't keep ninjas from doing indecipherable ninja business inside hidden 

patches.  But it will at least force the ninjas to ask on the list why they can't use loadbang 

in meta patches, and we'll have advance warning on how they plan to abuse the system.

-Jonathan