Thinker
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How to become a HACKER
Why have this document?
As an editor of Jargon File, there is often some network newcomer Mail asked me "how to become a powerful Hacker?" But, it is very strange, there seems to be no FAQS or Web Documents indicate such an important issue, so I wrote it. A view of my own opinion.
If you are a version of this document in a way, you can
http://www.ccil.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html
Find the current latest version of this file.
How is it a HACKER ??
In Jargon File, there is a bunch of definitions about `Hacker ', most of them must be technically hipster or keen to solve the problem, overcome the restrictions. However, if you want to be a Hacker, there are two things It is very relevant.
This can be traced back to the first instance of the first MiniComputer, ARPANET experiment, has just launched. At that time, there was a cultural ethnic group composed of programming experts and network celebrities. This culture is a member of this culture. Created `Hacker 'noun. These HACKERs have established Internet to create the UNIX operating system we use, and they also have to work, and let WorldWide Web move. If you are part of this culture, if you are right All kinds of offerings, and other members of this culture also know you, and call you Hacker, then you are a Hacker.
In spirit, Hacker does not only refer to the culture of this software HACKER. Some people also play the characteristics of Hacker in other areas, such as electronic or music. In fact, you will find that in any science or art The highest realm, you can find Hacker's qualities. Software HACKER believes that those similar spirit can also be called "Hacker". Some people also advocate that Hacker's generality is independent of any media, not particularly Any HACKER is located. However, in this document, we will focus on the tradition of the skills, attitudes, and the inventions of the invention needed by the software Hacker.
In another group, their members also call themselves Hacker, but they are not true Hacker. These people (most of the male youth) specialize in the computer and invasive telephone system, and the real Hacker calls them for ` Cracker 'and unwilling to do anything in some things. Hacker believes that these people are lazy, not responsible, and not bright enough, and think that it can crack the safety system does not make you a Hacker. but very unfortunate , Many reporters and writers are unknown to use `Hacker 'this word to describe
Cracker; this makes the real Hacker are very angry.
Basically, the most important difference between Hacker and Cracker is: Hacker creates new things, Crackers destroy.
If you want to be a HACKER, continue to read. If you want to be a Cracker, then read alt.2600 newsgroup and prepare to give yourself a little time when you find yourself, you don't think about it. All things about CRACKER are only these.
Hacker attitude
Hacker solves the problem and creates new things, they believe in freedom and voluntarily help each other. I want to be accepted by others to become a Hacker, you must have this attitude from the heart. In order to have a very spontaneous showing this Attitude, you must fully agree with these attitudes.
If you just treat this hacker attitude as a way to win the agreement in this culture, then you have a truly focus. Since the heart accepts these attitudes, this can help you learn And maintain your motivation. Like those creative art, be a master's most effective way is to learn the spirit of the masters; not just learning knowledge and emotions. So, if you want to be a HACKER Please repeatedly do the following things until you are fully understood:
1. This world is full of charming problems in solving.
As a HACKER is full of happiness, this is a kind of happiness brought about by efforts. The results of the efforts will bring motivation. The motivation of successful sportsists come from, so that their body is evolving, and I have pushed the happiness brought about by physical limits. Similar situations, to become Hacker, you have to feel an incidence from the process of solving problems, refining technology, and use knowledge.
If you are not born, you can feel this kind of incinders, then in order to become Hacker, you must make yourself into such a person. Otherwise, you will find your Hacking Energy to be like sex, money, and social intersection Like the activity, it is thus grinded because of distinction.
(You must also create a belief for your learning ability until you have completed your work - even if you only deal with a small part, and you don't know what you have to learn, you have something to solve your Question, but you will work hard to prepare enough to meet the next question.)
2. No one must resolve the same problem repeatedly.
Creative mind is a valuable and limited resource. There are so many new problems waiting to be resolved. Therefore, the created mind should not be wasted to repeat the inventive wheel.
As a HACKER, you must understand that other Hacker's time is also very valuable - So, share information, solve problems, and provide solutions to other Hacker to solve new problems, these are almost moral responsibilities.
(Even if Hacker has from other Hacker's body, this is not to say that you must pay all your work, you can sell enough products, for the warmth, pay the rent And buy computer equipment, this and Hacker's values are not contrary. Use your Hacking skills to supply a family life, even get rich, as long as you still don't forget you is a Hacker, then these behaviors do not produce shield. )
3. It is harmful to bored and monotonous work.
Hacker (with creative people) will never do some boring and monotonous and stupid work. Because, if such things happen, this means they are doing something that they should do - solve New problems. Such waste is a kind of harm to anyone. The work of boring monotonous work is not just borus, and it is a harmful substance.
To be a HACKER, you must automatically avoid boring, you must have a considerable cognition for this. This is not just for yourself, but also for all people (especially other harke).
(This has some exceptions. Sometimes Hacker will do some work that is considered bored or repeated, as a training, or to learn some skill or a special experience you have no. But this is One choice, anyone should not be forced to face boring things.)
4. Freedom is good.
Hacker is naturally opposed to dictatorship. Anyone who gives you ordered can give you a single-cut job, and you can give you some stupid reasons, stop you solving any questions attracting you. So any dictator The behavior of the formula will be challenged to avoid you and other Hacker.
(This is against opposition, it is different, and children need to be guided and stopped from making mistakes. Hacker will agree to accept some authority, take the instructions to get what he wants to do with a short time. But that is one Limited and rational agreement ;..)
The authoritarian is a very effective way to monitor and confidential. These exercise people do not believe in voluntary cooperation and information sharing - they only believe in the cooperation relationship under their control. So, as a HACKER You will have an enemy nature to fight against monitoring, secrets and use of external forces or confused people that can trust. You must use mutual trust as your basis for your behavior.
5. Attitudes are not inequalience
To become a HACKER, you have to start cultivating these attitudes. But if you only imitate a certain attitude, this doesn't make you a real HACKER, nor will you become a sports champion or rock Celebrity.
Therefore, you must learn to suspect attitude and respect the ability. Hacker won't waste time on a virtual person, they respect the ability - especially the ability as HACKER, but the ability to other aspects is also Full of respect. If you have the ability to pursue some technologies that you can understand, pursue spiritual skills, and you can concentrate, then it is good.
If you respect the ability, then you will be happy to develop these capabilities - this will work hard and dedicate to become a stunning pastime rather than a bitter thing. This is a person who wants to become HACKER. It is important to say.
Basic skills required for Hacker
Hacker's mental attitude is very important, but technology is more important. Although the attitude of Hacker is unsubstituted, but in front of the dream, some basic tools and technologies are essential.
With the invention of new technology, these tools are slowly changed over time. For example: I always learn to write the machine code, until we have started using HTML. However, at the end of 1996, below Tools are very obvious:
1. Learning program design.
Of course, this is the foundation of Hacking skills. In 1997, it was justified, you must learn C. But if you just learn a language, then you can't be a Hacker, you can't afford to be a programer. In addition, you It is also necessary to learn to think about the problem of a program design with a general concept independent of any program language. To become a real HACKER, you must be able to make the manual content and you now in a few days. Knowing the association learns a new language. That is to say, you will learn to learn a few different languages.
Also in C, you have at least LISP or Perl (Java is working hard); the translator's note: I doubt this list
In addition to several important hacking common languages, these languages provide some different programming channels and let you learn in a good method.
Programming is a complex technology. I have no discreat to provide a complete learning step. But I can tell you something in the book and the class (there are many, almost all of the Hacker is Self-study coming). (A) read the program code and (b) write the program, which is a good method.
Learning writing is like learning a good natural language. The best way is to see something written by experts, then write some of your own things, then read more, write more ... Then continue, until you develop a style and feature of your own.
It is a very difficult thing to find a good program code, because, the number of Source Source suitable for the rookie Hacker is very small. But this matter has dramatic Change; now free supply software, program design tools and operating systems (mostly public offerings, and all are written by Hacker) everywhere. Go to the next topic ...
2. Get a free Unix and learn to use and maintain.
I first assume that you have a personal computer or you can use any one (now the child is happy, you can have this easy :-)). The first step of getting Hacker skills is to get a Linux or one Free BSD-UNIX and install it in your own machine and make it smooth.
Yes, in this world, in addition to UNIX, there are other operating systems. But they only offer Bianry, you can't see their program code, you can't modify them. Want to start Hacking in DOS or Windows or MacOS Undoubtedly, you have to be tied to the shackles.
In addition, UNIX is an operating system on the Internet. When you don't understand Unix, you have no discrimination to become the Hacker in the Internet without understanding UNIX. Because this original, now HACKER Culture is still very secure in Unix. (This is not entirely correct, and some of the Hacker living in the old age does not even like this situation, but the generals between UNIX and Internet have become The unbreakable point, even Microsoft's bulk muscles can not leave obvious scars above.)
Because of it, put UNIX! (I like Linux, but there are other stuff available.) Learn it, let it work, let it feel with you. Use him to call the whole Internet. Code, change the program. One day you become a high huge HACKER, you will find it when you look back, you get the programming tool (including C, Lisp and Perl) than the Microsoft operating system. And get happiness, and learn more than you think. About learning UNIX, there are more information in loginataka.
(http://www.ccil.org/~esr/faqs/loginataka.html)
Look at the directory or Linux CD of Linux Distribution, and deliver yourself to it.
3. Learn to use World Wide Web and learn to write HTML.
Most of the Hacker culture created, mostly outside their activities, such as the use of indifferences in the factory and discruiting public or university. But the web is a big exception, this Hacker's big toys It is even also accepted by politicians and quietly changing this world. So therefore (there is a lot of good reasons), you must learn the web.
Not just learning to use Browser (this is too easy), you must learn to write HTML this web label language. If you don't know how to design the program, write HTML can also give some habits. Well !! Establish Home Page!
However, there is a Home page not to make you a Hacker. Web is all HOME PAGE, and most of them have a focus, there is no content of the mud - very good-looking mud, but look It's the same, it's almost.
(http://www.ccil.org/~esr/html-hell.html)
In order to make your Page have its value, it must be something with content - it must be fun and (or) for other Hacker.
Hacker Culture
Just like most cultures without economic activities, HackerDom's operation is based on the famous place. When you try to solve an interesting question, if you do something interesting, your solution is really good, these Only your technology is ready or predecessor is ready to evaluate you.
So when you start playing Hacker games, your main score is from other Hacker's views on your technology (this is why you only think that you are HACKER, you are only a true Hacker). This fact is considered to be a lonely work impression; it is also taboo by the Hacker culture (now gradually decay, but still existence) and the existence of people's inner motives The conflict between the conflict.
Specifically, HackerDom is the "genius culture" of anthropologists. The status and prestige you get from them do not come to dominate others, or because of long beautiful, or because you have some people want. Things, but because you send something. Especially, you give your time, your creativity and your technical results.
There are five things below, you will love Hacker because of doing these things:
1. Write free software.
The first is to write interesting or easy-to-use programs that other Hackers, and open Source open to people in HACKER culture.
HackerDom loves to respect the people who write big and strong programs, and this procedure is widely needed.
So everyone is doing these procedures.
2. Help Test and Debug Free Software
Hacker also respects people who help Debug free software. In this unfustful world, you must not avoid it. Most of the software development cycle must be on the Debug phase. This is why the brain of any free software developers will tell You one, a good Beta tester (can be very clear, the correct discovery of the problem, can tolerate the test version of the bug, and some simple diagnostic programs can be as expensive as the ruby.
If you are a rookie, try starting to find a developing procedure you are interested, becoming a good Beta tester. From the help test, you start to help Debug, and then start helping to modify Procedure. You will learn a lot in this process, and you can help you and will help you in the future. 3. Announced information.
Another good thing is to collect and filter useful and interesting information, organize documents such as web page or faq, so that everyone can easily gain.
Several major technology FAQ maintaines can have almost the same respect for free software authors.
4. Help us maintain some simple work.
HACKER culture is maintained by a group of volunteers. Some work is none but must maintain normal operation, such as: Manage Mailing List, maintaining NewsGroup, maintaining a large software supply station, driving RFC and other technical standards.
Doing this kind of thing will get a lot of respect, because everyone knows that these work is very spent, but it is not interesting like play with programs.
5. Work hard for Hacker culture.
In the last item, you can work for this culture, and promote this culture (for example, write a correct entry manual, teaching how people become a Hacker :-)). Because of the first four things Before you are famous, this is not what you should do.
Correctly said that Hacker culture does not have any leaders, but in this culture, there is a so-called cultural hero, a group historian. When you mix it for a long time, you may be a member of this. Note : Hacker does not believe in the ethnic group, the elder, so it is very dangerous. It is very dangerous to compete with others, you would rather position your own, give yourself a kindness.
Hacker and Nerd (freak) relationship
Become a HACKER, you don't need to be a hateful person (Nerd), which is very helpful in social norm. However, this is very helpful for you, and there are many Hacker is also a people who are annoying. When one The conference of society is beneficial to let you concentrate on true important things, such as thinking and hacking.
Therefore, there are many Hackers who have received this styled `Nerd ', even using` Geek' (juggling actor) this word, and it is proud - this is a way to explain them outside the secular habits. More related discussions can be found in The Geekpage.
(http://samsara.circus.com/~omni/geek.html)
If you can focus on Hacking this, but also keep your life, it is good. And now I have to do this, it is easy to get when I am still a rookie. Mainstream culture is now more Techno-Nerd (technology The freaks are accepted. Even more people think that Hacker can be a good boyfriend, girlfriend, husband and wife. In Girl's Guide to Geek Guys, you can find more related messages.
(http://www.bunnyhop.com/bh5/geekguys.html)
If you want to start hacking because there is no life, then there is no relationship, at least you can't concentrate on the problem. Maybe it's a HACKER.
Virtue point
Once again, it is necessary to understand the spirit of Hacker. If you don't play a computer, then there are still something to help you. These can't be a replacement of Hacker, but there are many Hacker often do these things. It is believed that these things and HACKING have a basic connection.
* Read the scientific novels and participate in the novel (this is a good way to encounter Hacker and the original Hacker).
* Learn Zen, and / or (or) the art of contacting the war (steel-like discipline seems to be important.)
* Train your ear to the analytical capabilities of music, try to enjoy some kind of special music, and play some musical instruments or sing.
* Added awareness of a playful words and text games.
* Strengthen your native writing skills. (There is a very amazing number of Hacker, is a good writer. This includes the best Hacker I know.)
The more you do it, then you will be born with a natural Hacker.
Finally, there are some things to do.
* Do not use stupid and exaggerated codes (User ID) or pseudonym.
* Do not join the USEN's war (or anywhere). * Don't claim to be `cyberpunk '(computer quail egg players), do not waste any time to do this.
* Do not post or email some articles that are full of wrong words or text-oriented errors.
The result of doing these things is just the blame and criticism of everyone. Hacker's memory is very good, they will always remember what you do is, you may have to spend a few days to have a discovery to let them Receive you.
Other resources
Loginataka has some training and attitudes about UNIX HACKER.
(http://www.ccil.org/~esr/faqs/loginataka.html)
I also wrote an introduction to Hackerdom history.
(http://www.ccil.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-hist.html)
Peter Seebach also maintains a very good HACKER FAQ, which is dedicated to people who don't know how to get along with Hacker.
(http://www.solon.com/~seebs/faqs/hacker.html)
I also wrote a paper "CATHEDRAL and THE Bazaar" explained the way Linux culture works. You can find it on the Page I wrote.
(http://www.ccil.org/~esr/writings/index.html)
I often have problems (FAQ)
Q: Can you teach me how HACK?
Since the publication of this Page, I have received many people a week. "Please tell me all about Hacking". But very unfortunate, I don't have this time or I don't have this thing; my Hacking Project has already Use me 110% of time.
Even if I am willing, but basically, Hacking is a life attitude and technology that must be self-sufficient. You will find that when you really want to help you, you will not have their respect, if you ask them The things are directly given you.
Let's learn a little one! Explain that you are trying to try, you have the ability to learn independently. Then take the problem you encounter to meet with Hacker.
Q: I want to go to a real HACKER that I can talk to and talk to them?
Very good, but it is determined, it will not be in IRC. I can see it, that is nothing out in addition to the liar and Cracker. The best way is to find a group of Unix or Linux near you. And join them, participate in their party (there is a directory in Linux Users' Group Page on Sun).
(http://unc.sunsite.edu/linux/ldp/lugs.html)
Q: Should I start learning from that kind of language?
If you really don't understand HTML, then start from it. There are many beautiful HTML bad books on the market. My favorite one is HTML: The Definitive Guide.
(http://www.ora.com/catalog/html2/)
If you are ready to start learning Programming, I will suggest that you start from Perl (http://www.python.org/). And C is really very Important, but it is really difficult.
Q: How do I start? How can I get a free UNIX?
I have a place to get Linux everywhere in this page. To become a Hacker, you have to have a motive and take the initiative to learn. I will start now ....
Original eric s. raymond esr@snark.thyrsus.com
Translator thiner.bbs@bbs.yzu.edu.tw
