Hacker definition

Hacker





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4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  hacker \hack"er\ (h[a^]k"[~e]r), n.
     One who, or that which, hacks. Specifically: A cutting
     instrument for making notches; esp., one used for notching
     pine trees in collecting turpentine; a hack.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  hacker
       n 1: someone who plays golf poorly
       2: a programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to
          steal or change or destroy information as a form of
          cyber-terrorism [syn: {cyber-terrorist}, {cyberpunk}]
       3: a programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy
          the challenge of breaking into other computers but does no
          harm; "true hackers subscribe to a code of ethics and look
          down upon crackers"
       4: one who works hard at boring tasks [syn: {hack}, {drudge}]

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  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 for this sense is {cracker}.
  
     The term `hacker' also tends to connote membership in the global
     community defined by the net (see {the network} and {Internet address}).
     For discussion of some of the basics of this culture, see the How To
     Become A Hacker (http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html) FAQ.
     It also implies that the person described is seen to subscribe to some
     version of the hacker ethic (see {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. 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}). See also {geek}, {wannabee}.
  
     This term seems to have been first adopted as a badge in the 1960s by
     the hacker culture surrounding TMRC and the MIT AI Lab. We have a report
     that it was used in a sense close to this entry's by teenage radio hams
     and electronics tinkerers in the mid-1950s.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  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".  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)
       
       

















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