A hacker is someone who thinks outside the box. It's someone who discards conventional wisdom, and does something else instead. It's someone who looks at the edge and wonders what's beyond. It's someone who sees a set of rules and wonders what happens if you don't follow them. A hacker is someone who experiments with the limitations of systems for intellectual curiosity. - Bruce Schneier
In the rather well-known, at least among certain circles,
"How to become a Hacker", Eric S. Raymond lists the five attitudes that make up the hacker mindset (listed below). Eric expounds on the items at the link given, but I have also come across a commentary on this list over at
SunTzu blog.
ESR's 5 attitudes
- The world is full of fascinating problems waiting to be solved.
- No problem should ever have to be solved twice.
- Boredom and drudgery are evil.
- Freedom is good.
- Attitude is no substitute for competence.
Hacker vs. Cracker
One thing that Eric Raymond as well as many others have tried to do is distinguish the word "hacker" from the word "cracker." For quite some time I also tried to correct people regarding this particular distinction in the English language, but for the most part I've given up on it. It still tends to be a pet peeve of mine as I think it's simpler and more meaningful than the "black hat"/"white hat"/"grey hat" thing which doesn't seem to get used much other than in computer security circles. The general usage and understanding of the term "hacker" has become mostly that which the media has portrayed it as, at least among the general population. In the field of computer professionals it's a little more blurry, since it could mean anything from the traditional definition found in the
Jargon File to the most diabolical media portrayal or anything in between depending on who's talking. At this point I pretty much agree with Bruce Schneier's view on the whole thing.
For years I have refused to play the semantic "hacker" vs. "cracker" game. There are good hackers and bad hackers, just as there are good electricians and bad electricians. "Hacker" is a mindset and a skill set; what you do with it is a different issue. - Bruce Schneier
What is the typical personality type of a hacker?
In terms of Myers-Briggs and equivalent psychometric systems, hackerdom appears to concentrate the relatively rare INTJ and INTP types; that is, introverted, intuitive, and thinker types (as opposed to the extroverted-sensate personalities that predominate in the mainstream culture). ENT[JP] types are also concentrated among hackers but are in a minority. - excerpt from: A Portrait of J Random Hacker
Some info on INTP types
My own MBTI personality type is INTP, which is a type estimated to comprise only 1-3% of the population, depending on the source. It is considered to be one of the rarest personality types. The most in-depth profile of this personality type that I have seen can be found at
http://www.intp.org/intprofile.html
A short highlights version from another source:
- INTPs are open ended, logical, analytical; focused on exploring possibilities
- Systems thinkers; see and create complex models and frameworks
- Flexible, resourceful and independent; seek freedom of action
- Summarize, integrate, and identify key issues and zero in on root causes of problems
- INTPs conceptualize and initiate long-term strategic solutions and opportunities
excerpt from Introduction to Type® and Communication, p 40 by Donna Dunning
Published by CPP Inc, ©Copyright 2003
The INTP individual is commonly referred to as a Jack of all trades, master of none. However, as an INTP, based on my own personal experience and observation it should be more like '...master of some' or somewhat along the lines of what is considered the complete quote "Jack of all trades, master of none, though oft times better than master of one!” which I have so far been unable to find the origin of.
Anyway, the love of gaining new knowledge, applying logic, and constantly solving complex theoretical problems combined with the general dislike of the boring, mundane, and repetitive tends to result in the general lack of mastery among subjects. On the other hand, being rather perfectionist and self-critical an INTP type will usually have areas where there is not just competence but proficiency as long as there is enough personal interest or opportunity for continual learning to warrant being a specialist. Something else I've noticed is that many times what is considered competence to an INTP tends to be closer to mastery than just plain adequacy which is frequently the insinuation behind "Jack of all trades, master of none." This is where the important subtle difference between competence and proficiency comes in.
If an INTP decides to learn a skill, then it is very important for him that he reaches a sufficient level so that basic errors can be avoided. Errors made by others are to be expected and can be criticised. But errors made by oneself attack the very root of the person, which is ultimately about rationality, logic and truth. INTPs hate to think of themselves being in any way inadequate, at least in areas that are important to them. So, as soon as he puts himself behind some task, then he must achieve competency. But that is as far as it goes. Refined competency requires too much effort and has little attraction. It would require practice and that usually bores an INTP. Hence, it is common to see INTPs dabbling at many things, achieving competency, just enough to prove to themselves that they could become more proficient if they wished, but rarely actually bothering to refine their skills further. - intp.org
And here is where I had planned on going into some thoughts on expertise, but I think that starts diverting a bit from this particular topic so I'll continue in another post.
