Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!rutgers!ucla-cs!zen!ucbvax!UDCVAX.BITNET!UDCSTAFF From: UDCSTAFF@UDCVAX.BITNET Newsgroups: comp.os.vms Subject: Re: HACKERS Message-ID: <8707222304.AA09835@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: Tue, 21-Jul-87 10:08:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8707222304.AA09835 Posted: Tue Jul 21 10:08:00 1987 Date-Received: Fri, 24-Jul-87 06:57:16 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Distribution: world Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 38 >From: arpa%"ivanovic%vaxr.decnet@lll-icdc.arpa" 20-JUL-1987 21:55 >Keith F. Lynch and Bruce G. Kahler both make approving noises about "hackers". >I have always associated the term "hackers" with persons who > . commit crimes ( break into machines that are forbidden to them ) That person is called a 'Cracker'. > . write code that is incomprehensible to others ( spaghetti code, > deliberately obscure code, or otherwise unmaintainable code ) That person is called a 'Bad Programmer'. > . have a greater facility dealing with computers than with people. That is a stereotype. >I hope never to be accused of being a "hacker". I would be proud to be accused of being a 'hacker'. > The people who design and implement the truely state-of-the-art systems that I > admire greatly ( "I wish I had done that!" ) are called "programmers", > "designers" or "software engineers", but never, never "hackers". So, how do you distinguish a good 'programmer' from a bad 'programmer'? Some use the terms 'guru', 'wizard', and yes: 'hacker'. Where would DEC be if it was not for the 'hackers' in the early days. Even now! How many non-DEC programs on your system are designed by those individuals who would call themselves hackers. > Keith and Bruce are naturally free to use the term "hackers" in any sense > they wish, but at the risk of being misunderstood by a large part of the > population, computer literate as well as computer illiterate. 'Hacker' was a compliment before someone decided to use it as a way of describing those who break into systems and design bad code.