based on everyones input here im thinking more this points to the fact that its all part of the development cycle. the need for each piece to interact with the other, and influencing its continued longevity and fitness!

this cycle is indeed living, and the process we use to program and document should be a reflection of that

what i am talking about i guess could be summed up as an organic deign process, how to make such a system that could encompass this? im starting to get some well formed thoughts on this now, revision control and uml could make up a vast portion of this, along with ummf, i think something could be accomplished to help in this important area of development, that being the process , info gathering/deciphering , deduction/forensics and documentation.