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From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Use of the Word 'Hacker' - (nf)
Message-ID: <316@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 15-Sep-83 21:07:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.316
Posted: Thu Sep 15 21:07:34 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Sep-83 02:10:57 EDT
References: <322@inmet.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Columbus
Lines: 55

>From the MIT JARGON file (probably the most widely accepted dictionary
of terms used by we hackers [er, Computer Scientists]):

This glossary file is being maintained at two main locations.  It is
AIWORD.RF[UP,DOC] at SAIL, and GLS;JARGON > at MIT.  If you make any
changes, be sure to FTP the new  file to the other location.   Also,
please let us know (see list of names in later paragraph) about your
changes so that we can double-check them.


If you'd rather not munge the file yourself, send your definitions to
DON @ SAIL, GLS @ MIT-AI, and/or MRC @ SAIL.

====================================
==================================

        Compiled by Guy L. Steele Jr., Raphael Finkel, Donald
        Woods, and Mark Crispin, with assistance from the MIT
        and Stanford AI communities and Worcester Polytechnic
        Institute.  Some contributions were submitted via the
        ARPAnet from miscellaneous sites.

HACK n. 1. Originally a quick job that produces what is needed, but
   not well.  2. The result of that job.  3. NEAT HACK: a clever
   technique.  Also, a brilliant practical joke, where neatness is
   correlated with cleverness, harmlessness, and surprise value.
   Example: the Caltech Rose Bowl card display switch circa 1961.
   4. REAL HACK: a crock (occasionally affectionate).
   v. 5. With "together", to throw something together so it will work.
   6. To bear emotionally or physically.  "I can't hack this heat!" 7.
   To work on something (typically a program).  In specific sense:

   "What are you doing?"  "I'm hacking TECO."  In general sense: "What
   do you do around here?"  "I hack TECO."  (The former is
   time-immediate, the latter time-extended.)  More generally, "I hack
   x" is roughly equivalent to "x is my bag".  "I hack solid-state
   physics."  8. To pull a prank on.  See definition 3 and HACKER (def
   #3).  9. HACK UP (ON): to hack, but generally implies that the
   result is meanings 1-2.  10. HACK VALUE: term used as the reason or
   motivation for expending effort toward a seemingly useless goal,
   the point being that the accomplished goal is a hack.  For example,
   MacLISP has code to read and print roman numerals, which was
   installed purely for hack value.
   HAPPY HACKING: a farewell.  HOW'S HACKING?: a friendly greeting
   among hackers.  HACK HACK: a somewhat pointless but friendly
   comment, often used as a temporary farewell.

HACKER [originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe] n. 1. A
   person who is good at programming quickly.  Not everything a hacker
   produces is a hack.  2. An expert at a particular program, example:
   "A SAIL hacker".  3. A malicious or inquisitive meddler who tries
   to discover information by poking around.  Hence "keyword hacker",
   "network hacker".

HACKISH adj. Being or involving a hack.  HACKISHNESS n.