in reply to JAPH

"Hacker" is a process, not a destination. Being a Perl Hacker means that you hack at Perl. It doesn't imply any great grace at the use of Perl. Usually once you've been a Perl Hacker for a while, you also aquire quite a bit of Perl skill.

So you can know almost nothing about Perl when you first become a Perl Hacker (though usually the decision to hack Perl comes from a liking of the language which usually requires some knowledge of it).

        - tye (Just Another Perl Savant)

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RE: RE: JAPH
by Petruchio (Vicar) on Sep 15, 2000 at 01:53 UTC
    I'm inclined to agree. "Hacker" is somewhat like "artist"; it is sometimes complimentary, sometimes not, depending on how you use it. I often will identify myself as a hacker, by which I mean that I do this stuff (primarily) for enjoyment, and that I identify with the "hacker community". Certainly not that I'm the baddest coder on my block.

    I similarly have no problem calling myself a Perl Hacker. "Just another Perl Hacker", though, has taken on a more distinct connotation. While I am literally "just another Perl hacker", I'm not sure I'm "Just another Perl Hacker", if you take my meaning. The phrase carries some irony, being the signatory title of one of the community's leaders.

    It's a judgement call. Personally, I like to append the title, "Boy Hacker" to my name sometimes... which has its own pleasant irony, as it suggests youth. ;-)

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Re: RE: JAPH
by thoglette (Scribe) on Feb 07, 2001 at 07:51 UTC
    It's an old thread, but I'll forever associate JAPH with the definition of Hacker as defined in the "The Seven Levels"

    As such, until I submit a working patch, JAPH will not be joining the other alphabetti which might be associated with my name.
    CD, reasonably Adept.

    Butlerian Jihad now!
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