A Real Hacker
(from the jargon file)
DEFINITION OF A HACKER:
Hacker: [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'. See cracker.
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/lamer).
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If you think a 'hacker' is someone out to get you, steal all your computer files, and
put virui on your hard drive.. please leave until you change your mind. But given, don't
try to get on a hacker's bad side.
I AGREE... OR ...I'm On My Way Out!
The Jargon File can be found here and many other
places on the net. Though I don't care for the "hacker dialect" some feel all
hackers must use, I think its lame.