Jargon file: Definition of 'hacker'
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At 03:01 AM 03/08/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>From: RedWordSmith
>>I once had a discussion with someone who considered himself a hacker as
>>to what the definition of "hacker" actually was.
From "the Jargon File, a comprehensive compendium of hacker slang illuminating
many aspects of hackish tradition, folklore, and humor." Edited by Eric Raymond
(yes THAT Eric Raymond)
hacker n. [originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe]
1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to
stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only
the minimum necessary.
2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys
programming rather than just theorizing about programming.
3. A person capable of appreciating hack value.
4. A person who is good at programming quickly.
5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it
or on it; as in `a Unix hacker'. (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and
people who fit them congregate.)
6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for
example.
7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or
circumventing limitations.
8. [deprecated] A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information
by poking around. Hence `password hacker', `network hacker'. The correct term
for this sense is cracker.
The term `hacker' also tends to connote membership in the global community
defined by the net (see the network and Internet address). For discussion of
some of the basics of this culture, see the How To
Become A Hacker FAQ. It also implies that the person described is seen to
subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic (see hacker ethic).
It is better to be described as a hacker by others than to describe oneself
that way. Hackers consider
themselves something of an elite (a meritocracy based on ability), though one
to which new members are gladly welcome. There is thus a certain ego
satisfaction to be had in identifying yourself as a hacker (but if you claim to
be one and are not, you'll quickly be labeled bogus). See also wannabee.
This term seems to have been first adopted as a badge in the 1960s by the
hacker culture surrounding TMRC and the MIT AI Lab. We have a report that it
was used in a sense close to this entry's by teenage radio hams and electronics
tinkerers in the mid-1950s.
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***************************
Gentlebeings, I propose that most of you can be described by definitions 1
through 7. And as can be seen definition 8 is not a hacker but is truely a
cracker.
I will not pass judgement on another let him pass judgement upon himself... See
also wannabee.
for those interested please see: http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/
Joel H. Crook
"A Strong house is built upon a strong foundation. What are your beliefs built
upon?"
-- "The Book of Reminders"
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<html><div>At 03:01 AM 03/08/2000 -0500, you wrote:</div>
<div>>From: RedWordSmith</div>
<div>>>I once had a discussion with someone who considered himself
a hacker as</div>
<div>>>to what the definition of "hacker" actually was.
</div>
<br>
<div> From "the Jargon File, a comprehensive compendium of hacker
slang illuminating many aspects of hackish tradition, folklore, and
humor." Edited by Eric Raymond (yes THAT Eric Raymond)</div>
<br>
<div>hacker n. [originally, someone who makes furniture with an
axe] </div>
<br>
<div>1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems
and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who
prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. </div>
<div>2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who
enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming.
</div>
<div>3. A person capable of appreciating hack value. </div>
<div>4. A person who is good at programming quickly. </div>
<div>5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does
work using it or on it; as in `a Unix hacker'. (Definitions 1 through 5
are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.) </div>
<div>6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy
hacker, for example. </div>
<div>7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively
overcoming or circumventing limitations. </div>
<div>8. [deprecated] A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive
information by poking around. Hence `password hacker', `network hacker'.
The correct term for this sense is cracker. </div>
<br>
<div>The term `hacker' also tends to connote membership in the global
community defined by the net (see the network and Internet address). For
discussion of some of the basics of this culture, see the How To</div>
<div>Become A Hacker FAQ. It also implies that the person described is
seen to subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic (see hacker ethic).
</div>
<br>
<div>It is better to be described as a hacker by others than to describe
oneself that way. Hackers consider</div>
<div>themselves something of an elite (a meritocracy based on ability),
though one to which new members are gladly welcome. There is thus a
certain ego satisfaction to be had in identifying yourself as a hacker
(but if you claim to be one and are not, you'll quickly be labeled
bogus). See also wannabee. </div>
<br>
<div>This term seems to have been first adopted as a badge in the 1960s
by the hacker culture surrounding TMRC and the MIT AI Lab. We have a
report that it was used in a sense close to this entry's by teenage radio
hams and electronics tinkerers in the mid-1950s. </div>
<br>
<div>Gentlebeings, I propose that most of you can be described by
definitions 1 through 7. And as can be seen definition 8 is not a hacker
but is truely a cracker. </div>
<br>
<div>I will not pass judgement on another let him pass judgement upon
himself... See also wannabee.</div>
<br>
for those interested please see:
<a href="http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/"
EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/</a>
<br>
Joel H. Crook<br>
<br>
"<b><i>A Strong house is built upon a strong foundation. What are
your beliefs built upon</b></i>?"<br>
<div align="right">
-- "The Book of Reminders"</html>
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