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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 4 | Last edited on Saturday, October 9, 2004 2:30:09 am | by AristotlePagaltzis | Revert |
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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].
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.
-[Hacker]s are __not__ people who just break into computers. Most of those who do fall into the
ScriptKiddie and Cracker categories
. Unlike
ScriptKiddie~s, Crackers usually do have some understanding of the subject matter they take advantage of to break
into computers, but they often
acquire it
as the
means to accomplish other
goals. A real [Hacker] may crack services or computers as well, but usually does
so in pursuit of better understanding or in an attempt to prove something.
+[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.
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.
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.
