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Hackers
After reading a reference to Steven Levy for the nth time on Slashdot, or hearing him discussed at a LUG meeting, I decided it was time to find a copy of his book and see what it was all about. Slashdot has made a few statements over the past months in effect trying to educate those new to hacking. One way to do this is to spread the rich history of the hacker ethic. There are certain books that have made their mark among hackers over the years, and I think Steven Levy's, Hackers, is near the top of that list. For that reason, I thought it would be useful to reexamine a book that was first published 16 years ago and hopefully convince some people to go find a copy and read it.
Getting the Book
The first challenge to reviewing this book was finding a copy. It was first printed in 1984, and as far as I know it ran its final printing in 1994. Not having a used bookstore nearby, I decided the Net was the best choice. So I set out looking it up on the usual Amazon and Barnes and Noble sites. Amazon suggested checking back soon, but seeing as the last printing was six years ago I wasn't holding my breath, plus the fact that Amazon's "defensive" patents make me leery of giving them my business. Similarly, B&N did not have the book either, but they did have several copies listed in their network of rare and used book affiliates. But the cheapest version of the Hackers I could find was over $60. So, the next step was to search Yahoo, but after trying a dozen or so sites, I had no luck. All of them seemed to carry an unrelated subset of the subject I wanted: Hacking. That's when I stumbled on Abebooks.com. This site is one of my favorite discoveries of the year. This site brings together over 6,000 local bookstores and puts their catalogs online. Best yet, the site does not mark the books up any higher than they are in the local shop. And, they give you the option of buying through Abebooks, or going directly to the local site by Internet or phone to purchase. Here I happened to find several different copies of this book, many of them the same entries as I found on the B&N site. The great part though, is that the version from B&N for $60 was selling directly from the shop (through Abebooks) for $35! So, I bought it. Of course, there is always the public library.
SynopsisLevy's narrative talks about three different generations of hackers: the Orthodox Hackers, the Hardware Hackers, and the Game Hackers. The story starts in the very late 1950's at MIT -- not at the console of a computer, but in the cave-like home of the miniature models of the Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC). The MIT professor who shepherded the TMRC, and hence the first hackers, had connections to the phone industry (which of course had the best electronics of the day). These Hackers used them to build an incredible railroad model. Work was affected however, when the hackers discovered a punch card machine in the basement of building 9. Levy describes in intricate detail the first hackers' interaction with first the punch card machine and then, their TX-0 and to the Hacker's paradise, the PDP-6.
Along with those first hackers, Levy describes the bureaucracy that they hate, and its incarnation at MIT, the IBM "Hulking Giants."
From MIT, Levy branches out in his exploration of the early hackers to the West Coast and the Stanford AI lab. He discusses in depth how the movements in the 60's affected the hackers, and how some of them shared their populist views by taking hacking to the streets to support the ideas of free speech and access to information. Levy discusses the debate that raged over whether or not hacking for MIT was The Right Thing, considering almost all of their funding came from ARPA (which was a part of the DoD).
This eventually leads into the second generation of hackers, the Hardware Hacker s. These individuals were, unlike the MIT and Stanford Hackers, decentralized, with no academic structure to support their activities. The second generation of hackers cared less about software but instead, fought for the idea that computers should be liberated from the massive industry bureaucracies, led by IBM, the maker of the Hulking Gi ants. They formed computing clubs which eventually fostered the introduction of kit computers. Levy talks in depth about the Homebrew Computer Club and its rivals. He entitled an entire chapter, "WOZ." Levy diagrams the introduction of the Altair, to the building of the Sol, the TRS-80 and finally the Apple II.
The Apple II sets the stage for the third generation, the Game Hackers. These were anyone who could write software for the meager processors in the Apple II and the Atari 800, the vast majority of which were games. Levy tells the story of the game company Sierra On-Line and its humble beginnings. And, he tells the story of the game hackers, who were the first in large numbers to become wealthy beyond their beliefs (spurred by 30% game royalties.)
The narrative is not all happy either. Levy discusses the controversy Bill Gates caused when he found out that hackers were "stealing" his BASIC interpreter for the Altair. He also talks about the chaotic split that occurred between the original Game hackers and the game publishers as the industry matured and its new bureaucracy cut out hackers, no longer giving them authorship credit for games and slashing their royalty shares. Finally, Levy discusses the tragic split of the MIT Orthodox Hackers as the first LISP machines went into production.
The final chapter is entitled "The Last of the True Hackers" and tells the story of a young MIT hacker named Richard Stallman who liked to be referred to by his initials (RMS) because it symbolized his login name.
Though the discussion of the last 40 years worth of computers is in depth, Levy's is a story of people, and how their interaction with machines created a new kind of ethic. Levy defines and explains what exactly The Right Thing is, and why it was so important to the hackers. He discusses all of the computers in terms of the people who us ed them. From the MIT Hackers Greenblatt and Gosper to the Berkeley street Hacker Felsenstein to master of Atari 800 assembly language John Harris to Apple Computer's Steve Wozniac, Levy's narrative runs deep into the Hacker ethic within these individuals and what they did for the fledgling computer industry.
Levy's book chooses to follow the course that the Hackers made. In fact, the word "UNIX" is mentioned exactly one time in the entire book, on page 434. The invention of UNIX is not covered, and the only languages Levy mentions are: assembly, LISP and BASIC. There is also no mention of the development of ARPAnet, it just sort of appears when the hackers start to utilize it. This is truly a story of people and not simply a history of the Computer "Industry."
ConclusionThe most important reason to find a copy of this book, though, is to read with the now 15 years of hindsight. It is truly amazing to see the concepts Levy helped define take form and continue to prove themselves true. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested "where it all came from," especially to those who have only stumbled upon hacking in the past few years. I wonder now if Levy is still around, and if so, whether he has updated his copy of Hackers to include the forth generation of hackers, the GNU/Linux Hackers.
Check one of the guetenburg FTP server's and save yourself the 30+ Bucks....
Cheers.
Indeed, and it gives a great insight into the corporate culture at DG (where I'm currently working).
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
Sort of, but not for much longer. They were bought out by EMC last year, and the DG name is slowly being retired (much like you don't see any new products from DEC these days). AViiON is the name of the server products. The storage products are called CLARiiON, and are what EMC were primarily after when they bought DG. They haven't become a complete service company -- more yet another Microsoft lackey, although it's amusing that they still have to resort to Unix for their higher end servers, because although NT can run on them, it can't scale to use all the processors, unlike DG/UX. Although it's a bit spartan in places, DG/UX is one of my favourite Unices, particularly from a programming point of view. Although originally a SystemV variant, the DG/UX kernel was completely rewritten in house, and contains some nice goodies, like dg_xtrace(2), and of course ccNUMA supoprt.
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
But the book is, indeed, quite a good read.
Ita erat quando hic adveni.
It appears that ESR basically cribbed everything he could from Hacks to write his Hacker's Dictionary.
*sigh*.
ESR is only the current maintainer of the Hacker's Dictionary. It is the merging of two works: JARGON.TXT, which had been floating around the 'net for aeons being incrementally revised by various people, and "The Hacker's Dictionary", written in 1983 by Guy Steel.
This predates the publication of "Hackers".
See http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/jargtxt.html for some of this.
Both are good, but Levy captured the scene better, I having been at 2/3rds of the sites and times in his book.
Levy is computer sociology columnist for Newsweek, so you can continue to read his stuff. Stephens (Cringely) still has a weekly column at pbs.org.
What hasn't been fully addressed yet is the history of hacking after it spread from the ivory towers of university computer labs and early PC companies and became a mass phenomenom in every high high school. Katz's "Geeks" is anecdotal account of latter-day hacking.
It also gives you historical perspective on a couple of issues that periodically turn up on Slashdot (for the flaming delight of all posters), such as: the hacker vs. cracker (invader, script kiddie, whatever) dichotomy; the attitude problems of the prophet RMS and how he came to be who he is; the personality problems of most hacker types; the gap between the many hacker generations and their slightly differing world views. And really so much more.
And a follow up is definitely due. All the experiences Levy have gone through during the period he wrote the book pale in comparison to the explosion of the hacker culture in the nineties, largely due to the popularization of the web and the free software movement. I wonder what book might come of that when Levy once again puts his pen to the proverbial paper.
--
Information wants to be beer, or something like that.
For all /. readers as clue impaired as our friend above here's the scoop: ESR's version of THD is based upon Guy Steele's version whch largely predates Levy's book, and is even mentioned in it (if my memory serves, Levy even mispells Steele's first name as Gus). Of course, since ESR's version came out after Hackers he does quote the book, and many of its anecdotes, and gives credit where credit is due.
Notice, sorcerer friend, that Levy's book is not a dictionary and is not meant to tell a story. So save your conspiratory theories of who stiffed who for when you write your own ficion. Not that you seem to be good at it, though.
--
Information wants to be beer, or something like that.
There's an interesting tale about this. ESR says that Steele's dictionary was original. This may be, but anyone who has taken a look at the historic Tech Model Railroad Club glossary cannot mistake it as anything but the true ancestor of Hacker's Dictionary. (I should scan it and put in online. Another thing for my four-year-overdue website revamp.)
Also, though I like Eric a lot, I am continually ticked that Hackers Dictionary still criticizes Hackers for mistakes made in the first edition. Newsflash: These were corrected in the first paperback, which came out in 1985. OK, mistakes were made, but Geez, doesn't it make a difference that the vast majority of my readers never saw those errors?
Thanks to all for your great comments. Hackers went out of print (for the first time since its publication in 1984) earlier this year when after years of requests I finally recovered the rights in hopes of getting a more diligent publisher. I immediately sold it to Penguin, which will put it in print once more in January, in conjunction with my new book called Crypto (which tells the story of the crypto revolution in the last 30 years and reads very much like Hackers,I think). If you want Hackers now,go to amazon.uk.co and buy the UK edition (paying heavy freight), or wait till the end of the year and get the US edition. But rest assured, HACKERS is not gone, it's just on a well-deserved vacation, like shrinks take in August. Steven
If you would really be interested in reading this book and cannot get a copy, I am willing to lend you my copy (it is a MUST read). I will send my copy free of charge to the first serious individual who responds to this post. My only requirement is that I get the book back when you are done.
Brought to you by Frobozz Magic Penguin Fodder.
I can understand your putting this book on your "never lend" collection. However, it is on my "Lend whenever possible" list. This book was just too good to keep to myself (I have read it about 5 times).
Brought to you by Frobozz Magic Penguin Fodder.
This would be a great subject for a slashdot poll. How many of us keep a library on the back of their toilet?
I have about 3 magazines and four books on the back of mine (and lets not get into how many more my wife has stacked on there).
Maybe houses should be designed with room for a book case in the bathroom.
Brought to you by Frobozz Magic Penguin Fodder.
Fantastic definition. I think it needs to be in the Jargon file. :)
But, upon reflection, this definition would make MacGyver the ultimate hacker, wouldn't it?
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
I agree that this is a fantastic book, but I would disagree that The most important reason to find a copy of this book, though, is to read with the now 15 years of hindsight.
:-) There's a lot of people coming into computing nowadays who could use the inspiration that reading this book brings. I think that Levy has probably done more to further the hacker (!= cracker) mentality than any other writer.
:-)
That's certainly important, but I think that for the majority of new readers, the most important reason for reading is to get some perspective on the "hacker ethos". Some "old git" history if you will
If you haven't read this - track it down and enjoy
"Give the anarchist a cigarette"
A little planning goes a long way...
Same as always, credit where credit is due :).
www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
I asked a similar ask slashdot question (fun literature for geeks for stocking a company library), but it never got posted.
www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
Anyway, this is one of those books that I keep lying around to regularly browse through. I read sections randomly. My two favorite parts are the kid who made the robot that found a wallet thrown on the floor ("The grad students went nuts...") and some random Levy comment made when he said "Dance, phone lines, Dance!"
I've often wondered if Levy's interested in writing an updated version of this book. It doesn't have anything (much) to say on the subject of Microsoft, nor on the return of the rise of Unix/Linux. Might be interesting to see if he could find just as good a story today as he did back when he wrote Hackers.
www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
Everybody's got their own definition. Levy spends lots of time in the book telling weird stories about hackers hacking a Chinese food restaurant, or a husband "debugging" his wife. Here's the way I explain it to people: "To hack is to see a problem, determine the resources available to you, and to creatively apply them to the solution." That allows me to say with equal validity "hack code", "hack management" :), or just plain "hack life."
www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
Hacking, or better yet 'examining the details of formalized systems without clear direction' is a natural part of intelligence. Should it be surprising that this has been going on for a long time. Radio only developed because of the large number of amateur radio explorers during the first decades of this century. A dozen other advances have required 'hacking' to move from a primitive but advantagous state to a developed state. It is natural that we should all want to explore the limits of every new technology. This natural desire to explore a new system and get ahead can be controlled only by severely restricting access to the technology (either via cost or withholding production) or banning the technology (see Japan and guns.) Since ENIAC first went online, I'm sure somebody was trying to hack the system.
So long and thanks for all the fish . . . !!!
hmmmm... does it mean I am a hacker since I wrote a game for the Atari 800? Or does it just mean I'm old? ;)
Geeky modern art T-shirts
I first read this book years ago - at least 12 years ago - I was probably in High School or something (gawd I feel OLD!). I have since reread it many times, and have a paperback copy sitting proudly on one of my shelves.
Since reading this review, I realize that the time has come for me to re-read it again (right after I finish the current one I am reading - something called "Net-Slaves", not a very "great" book, but OK, and funny in areas).
If you haven't read Hackers, I urge you to pick up a copy and do so - a truely great read.
I support the EFF - do you?
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
Hacking is neither good nor evil. It just is. Just like the force. Or guns. Or the written word.
To call all hackers innately good is just as wrong as calling all communists evil. The ability to hack does not conform to any arbitrary definition of good or evil. It's more basic than that. Like gravity or breathing or music.
Would you define a cheetah killing and eating an impala as an evil act? An avalanche killing some skiers?
You can put the labels 'good' and 'evil' on individual actions based on your socio-economic status, upbringing, moral and ethical code, religious beliefs, and whatnot but that doesn't mean that those labels can apply to hacking in general. Just to individual actions.
You need to rethink your basic assumptions. Hacking is a state of mind/being. Information wants to be free.
--
'...let the rabbits wear glasses...'
Y2038 consulting
A number of the people from the video game section of the book, including John Harris, were interviews for a book that came out a few years ago. John Harris, who was a primary player in the original book, talks about how Levy twisted details around and made him look in a much poorer light. Some of the other video game programmers from Hackers are included as well. Good stuff, if you like detailed interviews with programmers and game designers.
read "Halcyon Days", which features interviews with some of the wizards of those days, like John Harris, Warren Schwader, and Bill Budge (Harris and Schwader are feature players in "Hackers").
I first saw this work referenced on Slashdot the last time this book was reviewed. It's a good companion to "Hackers", especially the John Harris interview.
I use Macs for work, Linux for education, and Windows for cardplaying.
Well, maybe $28...Since it is a copyrighted work only the first two chapters are available--kinda like an O'Reilly book. But, these are good chapters!
I read this book in 1990 and loved it, too.
Now hiring experienced client- & server-side developers
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello
The whole episode was pathetic. Basically, BellSouth had problems with people hacking into their switches and changing routing info, because they were using an unsecured X.25 network with dialin ports for remote access to switch maintenance ports. Through a series of political errors within BellSouth, they got locked onto prosecuting Neidorf, who published Phrack, a newsletter about his cracker friends. Neidorf was never accused of breaking into anything; he just published submissions. Most of what he published was either wrong or useless; as a technical expert for the defense I had to read through years of Phrack, and was totally unimpressed.
Almost everybody involved was a bozo; the crackers were incompetent, the telco security guy was in over his head, the Secret Service guy basically was conned by the telco guy, and Neidorf himself didn't impress me. Niedorf's lawyer, though, was really good.
It was worth it; the case established that freedom of speech applied to online communication, which was a real issue at the time. Big win. We could have ended up with the Internet being regulated for content like TV. Job done, I got out of the activism business.
John Nagle
Waiting a century for Project Gutenberg to pick things up once the copyright expires just isn't the answer.
Tell me about it. Here's everything you always wanted to know about the Sonny Bono Copyright Theft Act.* It's all a ploy to keep Walt Disney's Company's copyright on one cartoon, "Steamboat Willie" (the first Mickey Mouse cartoon).
*but were afraid to ask<O
( \
XGNOME vs. KDE: the game!
Will I retire or break 10K?
The Hacker Crackdown is Bruce Sterlings view on the world of hackerdom. It looks at Phiber Optik and Acid Phreak and the like, and tries to give the reader some insight into what goes on in the computer underground. If you have not read it, I strongly suggest you do, He is an amazing author, and if you have been a geek for a long time, you'll find find it that much more enjoyable. It was written in '92 so it is a bit more upto date. Jason (The .net should be .com if you want to e-mail me.)
Levy is still around, of course. As someone else noted, he writes technology columns for Newsweek. He has also written several books besides Hackers, including one that is in progress now. This information and more is available on his website.
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who know binary, and those who do not.
Unfortunately, I think a lot of what Levy touted has been forgotten. At least ethics wise. See this post.
- I don't care if they globalize against free speech. All my best free thoughts are done in my head.
It still remains a good read, though. Wonder if that guy who camped out in MITS' parking lot still has his Altair?
I looked into the abyss, and the abyss looked into me--and we both winked.
Mainstream tech. coverage has been consistently lame, and I've felt that newsweek has an advantage over time with Levy on its side.
:)
One thing I've found quite different about Time vs. Newsweek is the technology coverage. Newsweek tends to have a pretty realistic grasp on things, even if I don't agree with some of the focus. Time, on the other hand, is remarkably lame on computer/software coverage for a magazine of its stature. For instance, in the early 90s, they had a cover story about the Internet being 85% full of porn, or something like that, which was repudiated by another study and caused major embarrassment. Time Digital lists the "Cyber Elite" (that title should tell you something); in recent years, it included John Romero TWICE in a row, AND Lara Croft thrown in among famous net names. I guess it was supposed to make it look hip and trendy, and this is the kind of stuff people sipping mochas at starbucks buy into.
This is somewhat understandable - editors are generally older generation people who are carried away by the gee whiz aura and have difficulty figuring out lame fads from real trends. Somewhat like managers who can't figure out the real tech-heads from the fast talkers. But this has a major impact on tech coverage in mainstream newspapers and magazines. In fact, I generally find most of them not worth even reading on this subject except for NY Times (which has markoff) and newsweek.
I wish media would hire more people who know this stuff, rather than devote pages to crap about hackers breaking into banks, viruses and futuristic nonsense. At least people who know the meaning of the word "hackers".
w/m
if i was l337., i would h4x0r all day and all night.
Hackers was a great book, it definately inspired me when I first read it years ago.
It is a real shame that "Copyright Law" allows great books like this to become rare historical artifacts after so few years. What would the downside be of having old, out of print books migrate in their entirety to the net much much sooner than is currently allowed?
Waiting a century for Project Gutenberg to pick things up once the copyright expires just isn't the answer. How many great (and even just 'interesting') works are lost to obscurity because of this?
Bah!
chris