Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#41

Post by jiggy2011 » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:13 PM UTC

Kinnard wrote: post #34

There are many definitions of hacker: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hacker_Manifesto Wark defines hacking 'as an “abstraction”, the construction of different and unrelated matters into previously unrealized relations. Hackers produce new conceptions, perceptions and sensations hacked out of raw data. Everything and anything is a code for the hacker to hack, be it “programming, language, poetic language, math, or mus…

I've literally never heard a musician , mathematician or engineer refer to themselves as a "hacker" or anyone outside of computing for that matter.

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#42

Post by tanderson92 » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:13 PM UTC

I'm an applied mathematician, working on my PhD at the moment. I do a good deal of programming(HPC) but I wouldn't consider myself quite at the level of a hacker.

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#43

Post by bellerocky » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:14 PM UTC

bkohlmann wrote: post #14

I'm a fighter pilot. Best place to get news about the trends shaping our world, and muse over natl security implications.

What do you think about replacing most fighter pilots with unmanned drones? Way of the future or will never happen?

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#44

Post by cm2012 » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:14 PM UTC

Online Marketing Manager. Marketing and advertising stuff here can be pretty useful. Mostly I stay for the decently intelligent discussion.

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#45

Post by gyc » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:14 PM UTC

I'm a big bad patent attorney (please be kind). I have a computing engineering degree and like to do a little iOS coding in my free time. I like keeping up on what's happening in the tech industry.

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#46

Post by wgoodwin » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:15 PM UTC

I'm a lawyer, with a split practice between IP lit and tech trans, and tried some modest entrepreneurial ventures pre-law school that ended up failing, and I read HN for largely the same reasons.

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#47

Post by marcosdumay » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:16 PM UTC

giarc wrote: post #12

I work in infection control in a large urban hospital (microbiology and epidemiology background/education). Computer skills required for my job are basically Word and Excel. I enjoy the tech startup world and have plans to start my own in the very near future. Currently using various sites to learn to program myself (Codeacademy, Bento, Dash). I think it is important to know what your site is doing and be able to res…

I'll second anmonteiro90.

Just a few points. Put your work in a version control system (optimally Mercurial or Git), study the request-response cycle for a few hours (no need to get very deep, but understand what programs are involved in your site, and how to configure them), and yeah, do it.

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#48

Post by graham1776 » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:16 PM UTC

HelloMcFly wrote: post #40

I'm an industrial-organizational psychologist. I design selection systems, HR programs designs at affecting outcomes (like attrition) and do the data analysis relevant to those ends. An HR guy* and a social scientist! I could make an easy punching bag. *More on the strategy and data-analysis end, less on administration. I barely know what HR Generalists do.

I am putting together a site that catalogs all the benefits a company can offer their employees, can I run it by you to see what you think?

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#49

Post by AnimalMuppet » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:17 PM UTC

daveloyall wrote: post #32

egypturnash wrote: post #21

I'm an artist. I'm engaged in writing and drawing a graphic novel about a robot lady with reality problems. Reading HN gives me things to mull over regarding my own hesitant steps into the world of promotion, sales, and making a business happen on the web. Also I used to dabble in programming back in the days of the C64 and Amiga. I will probably never do any major programming projects but I like to keep up with tech…

I recognized you at "robot lady with reality problems" and I absolutely LOVE your work. Thank you! See you in the future!

For those of us who don't recognize it, can you (or the GP) give us a clue? Titles? Name of series? Some hint?

Re: Ask HN: Who isn't in the software industry/not a hacker?

#50

Post by cwal37 » Fri, Aug 08, 2014, 10:19 PM UTC

I'm a researcher I guess. I'm doing my Post-Master's in renewable energy economics and market analysis at a DOE lab. I use Python pretty much every day, so there are plenty of things here that are relevant to my working life. I've just always loved tech, and have a few app and game ideas (like most people) whose many skeletons, design docs, and outlines litter my harddrives and commonplace book. Although I also do spend a fair amount of time reading and writing policy analysis.

I wouldn't consider myself 100% not a hacker though. My weekend list is to get some webscraping done to support a future project, and check out Home Depot for materials to build a cold-brewing setup.