demigod
<person> A hacker with years of experience, a national reputation, and a
major role in the development of at least one design, tool, or game used by or
known to more than half of the hacker community. To qualify as a genuine
demigod, the person must recognisably identify with the hacker community and
have helped shape it. Major demigods include Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie
(co-inventors of Unix and C) and Richard Stallman (inventor of Emacs). In their
hearts of hearts, most hackers dream of someday becoming demigods themselves,
and more than one major software project has been driven to completion by the
author's veiled hopes of apotheosis.
See also net.god, true-hacker.
[Jargon File]
(1994-10-27)
Nearby terms:
DeMarco/Yourdon « demented « Demeter « demigod
» De-Militarised Zone » demo » demodulate
|
