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.
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 The Network and Internet address). It also implies that
the person described is seen to subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic.
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. Thus while it is
gratifying to be called a hacker, false claimants to the title are quickly
labelled as "bogus" or a "wannabee".
9. (University of Maryland, rare) A programmer who does not understand proper
programming techniques and principles and doesn't have a Computer Science
degree. Someone who just bangs on the keyboard until something happens. For
example, "This program is nothing but spaghetti code. It must have been written
by a hacker".
[Jargon File]
(1996-08-26)
Nearby terms:
hack attack « hacked off « hacked up « hacker
» hacker ethic » hacker humour » hacking run
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