The New Hacker's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

About this book

This new edition of the hackers own phenomenally successful lexicon includes more than 100 new entries and updates or revises 200 more. This new edition of the hackers own phenomenally successful lexicon includes more than 100 new entries and updates or revises 200 more. Historically and etymologically richer than its predecessor it supplies additional background on existing entries and clarifies the murky origins of several important jargon terms (overturning a few long-standing folk etymologies) while still retaining its high giggle value. Sample definition 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 is cracker. The term hacker also tends to connote membership in the global community defined by the net (see network the and Internet address). It also implies that the person described is seen to subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic (see hacker ethic the). 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 youll quickly be labeled bogus). See also wannabee.