Writing calculator games on a ti83 during freshman math courses. I still remember that my programs all used single letter variable names -- I think there was a technical reason, but maybe I was just incompetent -- and I had a piece of paper for each program that tracked which meant what :)
What sparked your inner hacker?
21–30 of 48 posts
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#22I was playing with my dads IBM 5150 PC back in 1988 when I was 6 yrs old, I remember that. I was too young to do much though, mainly just play a spelling game.
My introduction to hacking was in 1992 when my dad purchased a 486DX2 PC. I was writing batch file menus in DOS to load files, etc. It didn't take very long before I started trying to overclock it and stuff.
Looking back on it, I'm very surprised my dad trusted me to mess around with his computers like that, given how much they cost back then... Honestly, I dont think he had a clue as to what I was doing. But I'm grateful at the same time as I learned a lot. I think kids need that freedom to experiment when it comes to hacking.
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#23Being given a Sharp PC-1500 pocket computer at age 6, and messing with it enough to learn BASIC via "brute force". A few months later being given a manual that filled in some of the blanks.
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#24Having access to a computer (a DEC Rainbow). It's strange, but as a kid it's quite difficult _not_ to be drawn to hacking if you've got the environment and tools for experimenting. By the time I was 15 I've already done some Logo, Prolog, Basic and Pascal .. from there it was impossible to stop.
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#25When the physics department got their own computer, a DEC VAX/VMS. I was a post-graduate with more-or-less unlimited access. It was love at first sight.
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#26I have to thank my HP 48GX calculator.
I just love RPL! ;)
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#27I object to the overuse of the word "hacker". You're all like a bunch of freshman coeds in English class talking about the day they became poets.
How would you define it? My definition of a hacker is someone who creatively and safely overcomes or circumvents limitations and enjoys the challenge.
ESR has a pretty good answer to that: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html
See especially the first question in the FAQ.
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#28I object to the overuse of the word "hacker". You're all like a bunch of freshman coeds in English class talking about the day they became poets.
How would you define it? My definition of a hacker is someone who creatively and safely overcomes or circumvents limitations and enjoys the challenge.
Why qualify it with "safely"?
Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#29Re: What sparked your inner hacker?
#30Legos.