rhyde@ucrmath.ucr.edu (randy hyde) (10/10/90)
>> ..And we owe it all to WarGames... Actually, hackers were breaking into systems long before War Games came along. Indeed, the movie was simply an overblown expose of the situation at the time. Before War Games, I can assure you, hackers were breaking into computer systems all over the country. The "tension" between "professional programmers" and "hackers" is something that "hackers" have invented, not professional programmers. I certainly don't resent hackers. Some of my best friends are hackers. "Hacking" is simply the creation of software (or anything else) using ad hoc rather than structured, scientific, methods. Although I do not consider myself a hacker, I would be lying if I claimed never to have hacked out any code. Hacking is fun, recreational. The problem with most hackers is that they stop working on a project when it ceases to be fun. That's why hackers produce marvelous demos (i.e., "hacks") but rarely turn out completed projects. As a software manager, I've had a few true "hackers" working for me. I'd never let myself get into that position again! Personally, I've never had any problems with someone finding bugs in my code. Sure saved me the effort of locating them myself. As for the comment about "Nothing pricks more than to have one of the 'unwashed' saunter in and fix bugs..." That's rarely a problem. Few people secure in their own abilities would have a problem with someone else helping them. Alas, most hackers are very insecure in their abilities and immediately after helping someone at they start making a big production of the fact that a "trained professional" couldn't solve the problem, yet a "low-life hacker" could. How is anyone going to react in this situation (including a fellow "hacker")? Steve Levy's book made interesting reading, but it is incredibly one sided. Hackers seem to revel in their lack of education and training. This has never been something to be proud of. >> The hackers saw the professionals as a threat to the fun of computing... You know, many people started out as hackers, got an education, and became professionals. That was certainly my case (although I never did go in for breaking into systems, I've written a lot of ad hoc FORTRAN code in my time). I still comsider computing to be fun. I still consider the flow in information vital (why would I still be here if I didn't). Being a professional pro- gramming does not mean you don't have to enjoy computers any more. *** Randy Hyde O-)
eej07047@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (10/15/90)
This is just a test.