Hack (term) - Revision history

Jnc: /* Further reading */ +Fanatic Life and Symbolic Death Among the Computer Bum

2025-10-16T15:23:56Z

‎Further reading: +Fanatic Life and Symbolic Death Among the Computer Bum

Jnc: /* External links */ +Original Jargon File

2023-10-19T19:25:15Z

‎External links: +Original Jargon File

Jnc: rm dup text

2023-10-19T19:17:00Z

rm dup text

Jnc: Add a bit more early MIT history

2023-10-19T18:43:31Z

Add a bit more early MIT history

Larsbrinkhoff: Stub.

2023-10-19T12:25:27Z

Stub.

New page

In a wide sense, a '''hack''' is a somewhat unexpected act of cleverness. The term originated at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]], where it became especially associated with smart computer programmers—[[hacker]]s—whose epicenter was the [[MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|AI lab]]. Similar groups quickly appeared wherever enthusiastic people were allowed somewhat free rein with computers, and many adopted the hacking philosophy.

A '''display hack''' is a short program that produces surprisingly complex and interesting patterns on a display. In recent times, the term '''life hack''' has come to mean a smart way to make your life easier.

A hack can also be a ''quick and dirty'' solution which is somewhat unsatisfactory.

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==External links==

* [http://hacks.mit.edu/ Gallery of hacks at MIT]

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	* Steven Levy, ''Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution'', Doubleday, Garden City, 1984		* Steven Levy, ''Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution'', Doubleday, Garden City, 1984
		+	* Stewart Brand, [https://wheels.org/spacewar/stone/rolling_stone.html ''Fanatic Life and Symbolic Death Among the Computer Bums''], ''Rolling Stone'', December 1972 - the article which brought hackers to general recognition

	==External links==		==External links==

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 * [http://hacks.mit.edu/ Gallery of hacks at MIT]
 * [http://catb.org/jargon/html/ The Jargon File]
 [[Category: Terminology]]

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 In a wide sense, a '''hack''' is a somewhat unexpected act of cleverness, especially including practical jokes. The term originated at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]], where it much later became especially associated with smart computer programmers&mdash;[[hacker]]s.
-The epicenter of the latter started at the [[Research Laboratory of Electronics]] (which had the [[TX-0]], and later one of the original [[PDP-1]]'s), with which was associated the [[Tech Model Railroad Club]] (TMRC); it later moved to [[Project MAC]]. Similar groups quickly appeared wherever enthusiastic people were allowed somewhat free rein with computers, and many adopted the hacking philosophy.
+The epicenter of the latter started at the [[Research Laboratory of Electronics]] (which had the [[TX-0]], and later one of the original [[PDP-1]]'s); it later moved to [[Project MAC]]. Similar groups quickly appeared wherever enthusiastic people were allowed somewhat free rein with computers, and many adopted the hacking philosophy.
 A '''display hack''' is a short program that produces surprisingly complex and interesting patterns on a display.  In recent times, the term '''life hack''' has come to mean a smart way to make your life easier.
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 ==Further reading==
-* Steven Levy, ''Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution', Doubleday, Garden City, 1984.
+* Steven Levy, ''Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution'', Doubleday, Garden City, 1984
 ==External links==