I like coder too, although non-techies often require further clarification. I prefer the more accessible (computer) programmer among those folks. As for hacker, I have to admit that I generally don't like how it's used. To me, hacking is utilizing a system or product in a manner unintended by its author, or tweaking a bit of code in order to serve a particular purpose of my own. I prefer the narrower definition over many other variations used to cover everything from ordinary computer geek to professional software developer. It think it also fits better definitionally with cracker as "one who hacks with criminal intent".

I've been called a Perl hacker several times, however writing, say, an OO layer over an RDBMS is not hacking in my book. Quite the opposite really. Now, tinkering with the innards of the DB module is hacking, but since by and large I'm more interested in playing nicely and by the rules, I don't feel compelled to call myself a hacker. I am a programmer/coder who sometimes has no choice but to hack ; )

Update: minor formatting changes.

In reply to Re: Re: The new 'hacker' word? by djantzen
in thread The new 'hacker' word? by BUU

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