The New Hacker's Dictionary, third edition

by Eric S. Raymond (Editor)

Overview

This new edition of the hacker's own phenomenally successful lexicon includes more than 100 new entries and updates or revises 200 more.

This new edition of the hacker's own phenomenally successful lexicon includes more than 100 new entries and updates or revises 200 more. Historically and etymologically richer than its predecessor, it supplies additional background on existing entries and clarifies the murky origins of several important jargon terms (overturning a few long-standing folk etymologies) while still retaining its high giggle value.

Sample definition

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 is {cracker}.

The term 'hacker' also tends to connote membership in the global community defined by the net (see {network, the} and {Internet address}). It also implies that the person described is seen to subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic (see {hacker ethic, the}).

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 {wannabee}.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780262680929
Publisher:	MIT Press
Publication date:	10/11/1996
Series:	The MIT Press
Edition description:	third edition
Pages:	568
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.12(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

Confessions of a Happy Hacker
Hacker in a Strange Land
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the Third Edition
Introduction
Of Slang, Jargon, and Techspeak
Revision History
How Jargon Works
Jargon Construction
Verb Doubling
Soundalike slang
The '-P' convention
Overgeneralization
Spoken inarticulations
Anthropomorphization
Comparatives
Hacker Writing Style
Email Quotes and Inclusion Conventions
Hacker Speech Style
International Style
Crackers, Phreaks, and Lamers
How to Use the Lexicon
Pronunciation Guide
Other Lexicon Conventions
The Jargon Lexicon
[^A-Za-Z]
Appendix A Hacker Folklore
The Meaning of 'Hack'
TV Typewriters: A Tale of Hackish Ingenuity
A Story About 'Magic'
AI Koans
OS and JEDGAR
The Story of Mel, a Real Programmer
Appendix B A Portrait of J. Random Hacker
General Appearance
Dress
Reading Habits
Other Interests
Physical Activity and Sports
Education
Things Hackers Detest and Avoid
Food
Politics
Gender and Ethnicity
Religion
Ceremonial Chemicals
Communication Style
Geographical Distribution
Sexual Habits
Personality Characteristics
Weaknesses of the Hacker Personality
Miscellaneous
Appendix C Helping Hacker Culture Grow
Bibliography
Contributors

What People are Saying About This

William Safire

A sprightly lexicon.

From the Publisher

"A sprightly lexicon." William Safire, New York Times Magazine

"For anyone who likes to have slippery, elastic fun with language, this is a time for celebration.... The New Hacker's Dictionary... is not only a useful guidebook to very much un-official technical terms and street tech slang, but also a de facto ethnography of the early years of the hacker culture." Mondo 2000

"My current favorite is 'wave a dead chicken.' New to you? You've waved a dead chicken when you've gone through motions to satisfy onlookers (suits?),even when you're sure it's all futile. Raymond's book exhilarates.... The New Hacker's Dictionary, though, is not for skimming. Allot, each day, a half hour,severely timed if you hope to get any work done." Hugh Kenner, Byte

Editorial Reviews

A sprightly lexicon.—William Safire, New York Times Magazine—

For anyone who likes to have slippery, elastic fun with language, this is a time for celebration...The New Hacker's Dictionary...is not only a useful guidebook to very much un-official technical terms and street tech slang, but also a de facto ethnography of the early years of the hacker culture.

—Mondo 2000—

My current favorite is 'wave a dead chicken.' New to you? You've waved a dead chicken when you've gone through motions to satisfy onlookers (suits?), even when you're sure it's all futile. Raymond's book exhilarates...The New Hacker's Dictionary, though, is not for skimming. Allot, each day, a half hour, severely timed if you hope to get any work done.

—Hugh Kenner, Byte—

From the Publisher

A sprightly lexicon.

New York Times Magazine - William Safire

My current favorite is 'wave a dead chicken.' New to you? You've waved a dead chicken when you've gone through motions to satisfy onlookers (suits?), even when you're sure it's all futile. Raymond's book exhilarates... The New Hacker's Dictionary, though, is not for skimming. Allot, each day, a half hour, severely timed if you hope to get any work done.

Byte - Hugh Kenner

My current favorite is 'wave a dead chicken.' New to you? You've waved a dead chicken when you've gone through motions to satisfy onlookers (suits?), even when you're sure it's all futile. Raymond's book exhilarates...The New Hacker's Dictionary, though, is not for skimming. Allot, each day, a half hour, severely timed if you hope to get any work done.

—Hugh Kenner, Byte

Reviews

For anyone who likes to have slippery, elastic fun with language, this is a time for celebration... The New Hacker's Dictionary...is not only a useful guidebook to very much un-official technical terms and street tech slang, but also a de facto ethnography of the early years of the hacker culture.

Mondo 2000

A completely revised, updated, and expanded (with nearly five times as many entries) edition of the 1983 Hacker's dictionary. Collects, defines, and demystifies, with considerable color and wit, the remarkable slang used by the growing international community of computer programmers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

My current favorite is `wave a dead chicken.' New to you? You've waved a dead chicken when you've gone through motions to satisfy onlookers (suits?), even when you're sure it's all futile. Raymond's book exhilarates. . . . The New Hacker's Dictionary, though, is not for skimming. Allot, each day, a half hour, severely timed if you hope to get any work done.
--Hugh Kenner

Byte Magazine