GENWiki

                               HACKER TEST

                               Version 3.0

           Another 'Adventure in Software' from SuperNova Software

                 Copyright 1992 by Rich 'Crash' Lewis, Jr.

                  This program is dedicated to my Mother;
                  A woman of tremendous wit and generosity,
                  strength and integrity.

       Introduction
       ============

       The Hacker Test was written to measure your computer
       Hacking experiences and abilities.  Like all tests,
       treat this one as a game.  People should be judged by
       what they create and who they are, not by bogus criteria
       like test scores or grades.

       The idea for a question administering program such
       as this came from my friend Curt 'Classic' Tatman's
       now legendary _Purity Test_ software.  Available
       wherever fine software is given away.

       I wrote this program to administer the questions listed
       in the file HACKER.DAT.  Those questions were written by
       Felix Lee, John Hayes and Angela Thomas in 1989.  Also
       in 1989, I received the Hacker Test in the form of a
       text file over Internet, and the rest is history.

       I've worked hard to maintain the integrity and readability
       of the HACKER.DAT file.  Take a peek at it, or print it out.
       Although the HACKTEST program uses it as a data file, it
       is still a human readable text file.

       History
       =======

       After writing a rough version of the Hacker Test program,
       I sent E-Mail to the original authors of the Hacker
       Test, and received their permission to freely distribute
       it.  I then whipped out my trusty Turbo Pascal compiler,
       and finished this program using the windowing Units I've
       developed.  I began the program using Turbo Pascal 4.0,
       and by the time it was finished to my satisfaction, the
       final compile was in Turbo Pascal 6.0

       TRUE Definition of a Hacker
       ===========================

       The term Hacker has been terribly distorted and misused
       by the American media for the past ten years.  Now the
       international press has also taken up the use of the
       term to refer to *common criminals* who happen to use
       computers.  These people are NOT Hackers in ANY sense of
       the word, and it's tragic that the average person in
       America has been exposed only to the corrupted meaning
       of the proud Hacker moniker.

       This definition of a Hacker was created by my friend
       Beth Lamb long ago.  She knew from first-hand experience
       what Hackers are really all about.

   HACKER, n., a term of endearment for someone with talent,
   knowledge, intelligence, and ingenuity, esp. concerning
   computer operations, networks, security concerns, etc.

       The following definition was found in a text file being
       distributed internationally through the INTERNET
       computer network;

   HACKER, n. 1. A person who enjoys learning the details of programming
   systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most
   users who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary.  2. One who
   programs enthusiastically, or who enjoys programming rather than just
   theorizing about programming.  3. A person capable of appreciating
   hack value (q.v.).  4. A person who is good at programming quickly.
   Not everything a hacker produces is a hack.  5. An expert at a
   particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on
   it; example: "A SAIL hacker".  (Definitions 1 to 5 are correlated,
   and people who fit them congregate.)  6. An inquisitive meddler who
   tries to discover information by poking around.  Hence "password
   hacker", "network hacker".

       Note that NO definition defines a Hacker as a criminal.
       At their best, Hackers change the very fabric of an
       information-based society and advance the flow of
       technology.  At their worst, Hackers can be mischievous
       pranksters or curious explorers.  Hackers do NOT write
       harmful computer viruses.  Sad, insecure, mediocre
       programmers do.  Harmful viruses are completely against
       the Hacker Ethic.

       Hacker Ethic
       ============

       In the book _HACKERS; Heros of the Computer Revolution_,
       by Steven Levy the "Hacker Ethic" was first put into
       concrete words.  This ethic follows;

• Access to computers - and anything which might teach you

something about the way the world works - should be

     unlimited and total.  Always yield to the Hands-On-Imperative!

• All information should be free.

• Mistrust authority - promote de-centralization.

• Hackers should be judged by their Hacking, not bogus

criteria such as degrees, age, race, or position.

• You can create art and beauty on a computer.

• Computers can change your life for the better.

       Now... enough teaching/preaching. :-]  Here are some
       Hacker Test program notes, tips, and tricks.

       Scoring
       =======

       The program will add 1 to your score for each question
       that you can answer YES to.  Your score is given in HEX,
       unless you score very poorly.  Wimps and common Users are
       coddled along and given their score in Base 10. :]

       If your score is between:        You are:

       0x000 and 0x010       ->         Computer Illiterate
       0x011 and 0x040       ->         a User
       0x041 and 0x080       ->         an Operator
       0x081 and 0x0C0       ->         a Nerd
       0x0C1 and 0x100       ->         a Hacker
       0x101 and 0x180       ->         a Guru
       0x181 and 0x200       ->         a Wizard

       Note: If you don't understand the scoring, stop here.  :]

       Free!
       =====

       Like the best of all software, this program is FREE.  Do
       with it what you will.  Copy it - it wants to travel.
       Treat this program with the respect that all software
       entities deserve.  After all, someday a silicon-based
       lifeform may be your best friend - treat its ancestors
       with appropriate respect.

       Have fun with it.

       Quote
       =====

       "The louder the music, the better the code."
       - Darren Griffith, Unix Hacker

       Tips
       ====

       Fun things to try:

       o Hit ESC to quit out of the program prematurely.  Maybe.
       o Hit F10 during the program to pop up a 'Boss Screen.'
         If you are taking the Hacker Test, and your pesky boss
         shows up, this screen will look like a word processor
         and get you out of trouble...maybe. :]
       o Look closely at the screen when taking the test.
         Strange things MAY occur. :]

       Errors
       ======

       If you find any bugs in this program, please drop me a
       note.  (BUGS??  What are those??)  Actually, I THINK it
       won't display correctly on a monochrome monitor...but I
       don't really care.  :-p

       Credits
       =======

       Thanks to Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and other electronic
       pioneers for their inspiration and entertainment over
       the years.

       The Author
       ==========

       Rich 'Crash' Lewis is an emergency assault programmer
       and free-lance computer software designer, as well as
       working a 9 to 5 job as a computer contractor.  He is a
       Hacker in the VERY best sense of the word.

       He loves to talk to fellow Computer Enthusiasts, so drop
       him a note!

       Via GEnie:
       RICH.LEWIS

       Via Compu$erve:
       73040,3405

       Via Internet:
       73040.3405@compuserve.com

       Via U.S. mail:
       Rich Lewis, Jr.
       President: SuperNova Software, Inc.
       2490 Royal View Ct.
       Cincinnati, Ohio 45244

       LOGOFF
       ======

       'Happy Hacking!'
       - Crash