Differences between version 5 and revision by previous author of Hacker.
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| Newer page: | version 5 | Last edited on Saturday, October 9, 2004 5:47:51 am | by AristotlePagaltzis | Revert |
| Older page: | version 2 | Last edited on Sunday, August 10, 2003 1:17:53 pm | by CraigBox | Revert |
@@ -1,19 +1,15 @@
-This
is best defined
in the JargonFile
:
+By and large, [Hacker]
is roughly used as a reference to a creative, capable programmer. "Programmer" here is to be understood
in the wider sense; it would apply to a [DBA] with intricate understanding of his DataBase just the same, f.ex. In fact, the term applies to anyone with expertise in any kind of technical field
: someone who designs and builds a custom turbo charger for his car's engine is a highly respectable car [Hacker].
-<person, jargon> (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
.
+A "hack" is any kind
of minimalistic solution or lateral thinking approach to a problem. That might be a quick
and dirty patchwork that works anyhow
, or an elegant solution that is much simpler than the "ordinary" one. "Hack value" is a term used
to describe just how creative or ingenious a solution is; sometimes
, [Hacker]s will do things with little or no practical use simply because they have great hack value
.
-2
. One
who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys programming
rather than just theorizing about programming
.
+[Hacker]s are __not__ people who just break into computers
. Most of those
who do so are ScriptKiddie~s and Crackers, not [Hacker]s. Crackers, unlike ScriptKiddie~s, actually understand how breaking into computers works, but acquire this knowledge as a means to accomplish their goals
rather than a primary interest. A real [Hacker] on the other hand may crack services or computers as well, but will usually be doing so in pursuit of better understanding or in an attempt to prove something
.
-With reference to common computer culture
, being a hacker is more than just
about programming. A SystemAdministrator
is often a hacker (Not all are though
.) They
are interested
in getting
the most
out of their systems. (See 6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker
, for example
.)
+Still
, the whole story
about the noble and sublime [Hacker] ethic
is often exaggerated and overemphasized
. [Hacker]s
are no more inherently saintly than anyone else. The difference between [Hacker]s and Crackers/ScriptKiddie~s is mostly merely
in that
the [Hacker] is driven by curiosity. However, a transgression
out of curiosity is still a trangression
, no less so than one committed out of malice
.
-!NOTE: HACKERS ARE NOT BAD PEOPLE
+Hackers often start at [Geek] and tend toward [Nerd], but they need not necessarily be [Geek]s at all, even though such is a rare case.
-The media have abused the term; hackers tend not to be the sort that break into other peoples systems. Chances are, if there's a vulnerability on your system, it was a
hacker that discovered it and wrote the patch for it.
-
-You should call those bad people that choose to break into other peoples systems 'crackers'.
-
-See
[a
hacker glossary|http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/hackers/glossary/glossary.html], and read
[Care and Feeding Of Your Hacker|http://web.demigod.org/~zak/geek/hack.shtml].
-
-Hackers start at [Geek] and tend toward [Nerd].
-
-JargonFile:Hacker
+See also:
+* [JargonFile:
hacker]
+* [JargonFile:hack-value]
+*
[A
hacker glossary | http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/hackers/glossary/glossary.html]
+*
[Care and Feeding Of Your Hacker | http://web.demigod.org/~zak/geek/hack.shtml]
