The New Hacker's Dictionary, Third Edition

By Guy L. Steele Jr. and Eric S. Raymond

Book 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}.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262680920
• ISBN13: 9780262680929
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Length: 568 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.9" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Worth having

I would normally not consider buying something named "The New Hacker's Dictionary", as the first thing that comes to mind is "drivel for the stupid masses". However, I must say that I was wrong. The "dictionary" is actually by an author who is obviously familiar with the computing days of old - the definitions aren't idiotic new-age garbage, but rather words that most "hackers"/"computer nerds" will recognize - while the regular folk will not. The book doesn't discuss words like "click", "webpage" and any other "popular" computing terms - instead it's words like "foobar", "warez d00dz", "flipflop", etc...If you're at all interested in classic computing culture, this book is something I feel every computer nerd should have (you fit the description if, among other things, you like monty python and your idea of the perfect evening is spending it at home programming, with occasional breaks to watch the X-Files). If you're a soccermom, or a script/warez kiddie, this book is not for you. You probably won't understand it, and will certainly not appreciate it.

Yeah you can get it free on the internet...

It is really nice to be able to peruse this book in the flesh rather than on the computer screen and if you frequently are looking at the HTML version then you will not be dissapointed by this book. If you have never read this book then do a quick web search and check out the HTML version first.

Imminent Death Of The Net Predicted

Blargh. Ignore the twinks and their burbling flamage - the yellow book is a moby frob and the source of all good bits. The 3rd Ed has the X nature. It is a region in an otherwise flat entity which is not actually present, fnord, a brain-dump suitable for neep-neeps. So screw the manglers, marketroids and pseudo-suits, kill that point-and-drool interface, and plug into the screaming tty.It is a Good Thing.

Definitely not a disappointment......

Thsi book is a very good reference tool for any aspiring hacker and for the veteran as well. It does an excellent job breaking down the words and dialect making it easy to understand. It also functions for a good laugh when leafing through coming across words such as "Automagically", "Infinite Monkey Theorem", and so on.

simply the best!

This book has become a first level reference for me! It is hilarious, insightful and clever. I have a copy of each edition, and I will keep buying them as long as they are forthcoming.