[General] What does "as with" mean in this sentence

[Andy Lin]

Source: Clean Architecture authored by Robert C. Martin

Context:

"What do we talk about when we talk about architecture? As with any metaphor, describing software through the lens of architecture can hide as much as it can reveal. It can both promise more than it can deliver and deliver more than it promises."


According to Merriam-Webster, as with means "according to the experience or behavior of".

I put this meaning in the sentence, but it does not make sense. Can one tell me what does "as with" mean in the sentence?

Also, I don't understand last two sentence.

I cannot understand "hind as much as it can reveal." Is this referring to that it can hide/reveal, to the same degree of it can reveal/hide, as long as it want to? But... how does lens hide, and what can it hide?

With last sentence, I have totally no idea. Can one just explain it to me?

 

[kilroy65]

As is the case with any metaphor..., or Just like with any metaphor...

Does it make sense now?

 

[Andy Lin]

No, it doesn't. That's one of M-W's definitions of 'with'. The 'as' ( = 'in the same way as') comes before the 'with

If your opinion is held, there is no need for with. Solely as is enough.

In the same way as any metaphor, describing software through the lens of architecture can hide as much as it can reveal.

Why bother one more with after as?

 

[Andy Lin]

As is the case with any metaphor..., or Just like with any metaphor...

Does it make sense now?

Yes, it does, but IMO it should be "As it is the case with any metaphor", because as is a conjunction.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, it does, but IMO it should be "As it is the case with any metaphor", because as is a conjunction.

That would be wrong. You could say "As is the case with ...", but the "it" there is incorrect.

 

[Andy Lin]

That would be wrong. You could say "As is the case with ...", but the "it" there is incorrect.

Can you tell me why it's incorrect?

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, it does, but IMO it should be "As it is the case with any metaphor", because as is a conjunction.

I think the fact that you're thinking of as as a conjunction is the reason you're confused. Try thinking of it as substituting for what comes after the comma.

As is the case with any metaphor, it can hide as much as it can reveal.
=
The case with any metaphor is (that) it can hide as much as it can reveal.
=
That it can hide as much as it can reveal is the case with any metaphor.

 

[Andy Lin]

Thank you. I try to understand it!

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you. I [STRIKE]try[/STRIKE] will try/am trying to understand it!

Note my corrections above.