Hear, O Nobly Born: The Way of the Hacker
<p>I get several requests in an average week from people who want me to teach them the way of hacking.  Yesterday I got an unusually witty one in the form of a mystical poem, imploring me to accept the author as a disciple.  I replied that I don&#8217;t know how to do what he seems to want, which is to pour the essence of hacking in through his ears or something.  He replied that he was pretty sure I&#8217;d say that, but had been hoping for a reply in the manner of <a href="http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/loginataka.html">The Loginataka</a>.</p>
<p>I told him &#8220;Sorry, I was distracted.&#8221;  Then I wrote this:</p>
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<p>Hear, O nobly born: Techniques can be taught, but the Way of the<br />
Hacker cannot be taught.  Skills can be acquired, but the Way of the<br />
Hacker is not a checklist of skills. Programming can be accomplished,<br />
but the Way of the Hacker is not a place at which you can stop and say<br />
&#8220;I have arrived!&#8221;</p>
<p>Hear, O nobly born: The Way of the Hacker is a posture of mind; he who<br />
seeks a teacher of the Way knows it not, but he is only looking for a<br />
mirror. All those competent to teach the Way know that it <em>cannot</em><br />
be taught, only pursued with joyous labor and by emulation of the<br />
great hackers of the past.</p>
<p>Hear, O nobly born: Great were the hackers of the past! Subtle and<br />
deep in their thinking, shaggy-bearded and with thunder on their<br />
brows! You may seek to become as them, but it will not suffice you to<br />
grow a beard.</p>
<p>Hear, O Nobly Born: The center of the mystery is the act of coding. You<br />
have a keyboard before you; pursue the Way through work.</p>
