4 ms·

Hacker != Programmer Being a hacker to me just means someone with an "engineering" mindset. Someone who can make solutions out of whatever's available. It's

Hacker != Programmer Being a hacker to me just means someone with an "engineering" mindset. Someone who can make solutions out of whatever's available. It's the innovative and clever mindset that most programmers share, but there's no rule that you have to be a programmer or work in IT. You'll find people with these traits working in medicine, construction, agriculture, and any number of different professions. We wouldn't have advancement in lots of areas if everyone that was a "hacker" only became programmers.

alan_cx 14y ago
Programming is merely one skill of a hacker.
- mkr-hn 14y ago
  I'm assuming s_henry_paulson meant someone who programs as a hobby or profession. You don't have to be a programmer to come up with novel solutions as a mechanic, janitor, or writer. It's not an essential element of the job. Useful, but not essential.
drzaiusapelord 14y ago
This is such an excellent point. In my life I've met all sorts of hackers. Hacking predates computing. It probably predates most things. Whatever it is, its the kind of thinking that solves puzzles and can apply to anything. I've met woodworking hackers, cycling hackers, comedy hackers, food hackers, etc who don't give two shits about computers. In fact, I'd say IT/programming is something of a ghetto (long hours, hard work, seen as non-management, seen as almost blue collar, worry about uptimes/bugs/security, dealing with end users, etc) and the people who didn't get into computers are better off. If you're sharp go disrupt a field that isn't full of disruptors. You'lll have better chances.
mindcrime 14y ago
It's entirely reasonable to imagine a hypothetical "programmer hacker" who chooses something other than programming as a career anyway. One could spend their time hacking on open source projects or hobby projects or whatever, while making a living doing $WHATEVER. But they'd still be a hacker.
- GuiA 14y ago
  As soon as I hit the 30s and have a family, I intend to move to teaching as a career. I've been programming since i was 12 and have always had side projects, and I don't think that will ever stop- but I have a hard time imagining myself writing code for arbitrary projects and deadlines my whole life. Right now though, I'm young, it pays really well (and I save a lot of money for later) and I enjoy the lifestyle.

alan_cx 14y ago

Programming is merely one skill of a hacker.

mkr-hn 14y ago
I'm assuming s_henry_paulson meant someone who programs as a hobby or profession. You don't have to be a programmer to come up with novel solutions as a mechanic, janitor, or writer. It's not an essential element of the job. Useful, but not essential.

drzaiusapelord 14y ago

This is such an excellent point. In my life I've met all sorts of hackers. Hacking predates computing. It probably predates most things. Whatever it is, its the kind of thinking that solves puzzles and can apply to anything. I've met woodworking hackers, cycling hackers, comedy hackers, food hackers, etc who don't give two shits about computers. In fact, I'd say IT/programming is something of a ghetto (long hours, hard work, seen as non-management, seen as almost blue collar, worry about uptimes/bugs/security, dealing with end users, etc) and the people who didn't get into computers are better off. If you're sharp go disrupt a field that isn't full of disruptors. You'lll have better chances.

mindcrime 14y ago

It's entirely reasonable to imagine a hypothetical "programmer hacker" who chooses something other than programming as a career anyway. One could spend their time hacking on open source projects or hobby projects or whatever, while making a living doing $WHATEVER. But they'd still be a hacker.

GuiA 14y ago
As soon as I hit the 30s and have a family, I intend to move to teaching as a career. I've been programming since i was 12 and have always had side projects, and I don't think that will ever stop- but I have a hard time imagining myself writing code for arbitrary projects and deadlines my whole life. Right now though, I'm young, it pays really well (and I save a lot of money for later) and I enjoy the lifestyle.