Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> >>>     OTOH, how do you define "hacking"?
> >
> >> I think the necessary criterion is that it's any activity requiring
> >> technical knowledge and skill.
> >
> >    It may be necessary, but not sufficient. I can write a program that
> > calculates the mandelbrot set, but that's not usually considered hacking.

> Well, I would consider that hacking. But I guess the fundamental point 
> is that the word lacks a coherent definition...

  One rather usual characteristic is figuring out how something works
(usually something related to computers, and usually more specifically
something related to software) and using it or modifying it in an unusual
and unintended way.

  "Hacking into" a system usually means figuring out how to get past
security measurements by studying how it works and what its weaknesses
are. However, that's only one of the many things that are considered
hacking.

  Writing a program that does something mundane isn't usually considered
"hacking".

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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