Table of Contents:

About the Hacker Key Guide

• It's VERY geeky.  Short text strings with + or - delimeters to show relative positions on an issue.
  
• It's unique.  It's very easy to identify the geek code and it has been picked up by other groups looking for ways to identify themselves, showing its versatility.
• It's very simple to determine which things a person is very passionate about.  In the above example, a quick glance shows the person seems to be a married, liberal, Unix loving geek who doesn't care for TV shows all that much.

• First and foremost, there is a lot of wasted space.  While it makes it very easy to determine a person is a master of something with 5 plus signs, it's plain wasteful.  The primary (and most logical) place to display one's geek code is in one's signature file.  Even today, netiquette still favors short signature files, and the average Geek Code is 6 lines all by itself.  Geeks tend to follow netiquette when possible, so this leads to the very people targeted by the Geek Code not promoting it in their sigs!
  
• The code is designed to resemble a PGP key block, but includes characters that are not valid in a PGP key, in particular, the minus (-) symbol and parentheses () are very commonly used.  Valid characters in a PGP key are [A-Za-z0-9], plus (+) and slash (/). There are no spaces in a normal key either.
  
• It's not cryptic enough ;-)  This is jest, but it's almost TOO easy for one to determine a person's Geek Code at a glance, which sort of takes the secret-decoder-ring-type fun out of things.
• The aforementioned problem with the Geek Code being out of date. 
  

1. A normal key with a few extra category choices should fit on one 80 column line of text.  Ideally, it should fit with enough room for the Hacker Key URL to fit on the same line, to give people some shot at figuring out what the heck it is.
2. Ensure that the most commonly used symbols are valid PGP key symbols also.  For compatibility with the Geek Code we will use more symbols which aren't valid, but will make sure the most commonly used ones are.
3. Kepe the Guide up to date.  I can only promise I will either keep the guide up to date or turn it over to someone who will.   Time will tell if I can keep that promise.

Format of a Hacker Key Entry

• The category in question will be listed in all lower case (e.g. u is for Unix).
• The number corresponding to your answer to the category (e.g. 7).  Rather than plus or minuses, a median score of 5 is assigned for each category.  Extremely positive answers are higher than 5 (the normal maximum is 9), negative answers are lower then 5 (the normal minimum being 0).
  
• Optional cagetory choices should be at the end, and should be in all upper case (e.g. SL for Solaris, Linux).
• When proceeding to the next section, do not skip a space!
  

Modifiers

• / - To indicate a "range" answer, use the slash (/) key in your answer.  For the (@) freely ranging option, use a / at the end of your numerical answer, e.g. u5/.  To indicate a specific range in your answer, use the slash between your two answers, e.g. u5/7.
• + - To indicate your "wannabe" rating, use the plus (+) symbol.  Yes it looks odd and (>) is a more intuitive character, but to not use a valid PGP key character when it is one of only two available non-alphanumeric characters would be a travesty.  For example, if you kind of like Unix but wished you were a guru, you would use u5+8.

• $ - To indicate you do a certain type of hacking of related activity for a living, add a $ at the end, e.g. u9$
• ? - State that you don't know anything about this category.   If this is the case however, why are you creating a Hacker Key?
• ! - Staunch refusal to participate in the category.  This should normally accomplished with a 0 for a category, so it really should not be used.  In order to be consistent with the Geek Code, if you DO decide to use this character, please put it ONLY at the begining of a category and obviously do not enter a number value.
  

The Guide Itself

v - Version - Please include the current version as the first entry in 
your Hacker Key.

This is version 1 of the Hacker Key.

Part I - What kind of hacker are you?

sw - Software Hacking

9 - I'm Bill Joy, Eric Raymond or JWZ.
8 - I am an uberhacker; I wrote my shell/debugger/editor/compiler in 
    30 lines of code.  Other people use and love my hacks.
7 - Live to Hack, Hack to Live!
6 - There is nothing better than an elegant hack.
5 - Average, I've made a few software hacks in my day.
4 - I've hacked code once or twice, software isn't my thing.
3 - I don't hack software at all.  I'm a structured programmer!
2 - I'm not even a programmer, much less a hacker!
1 - I'm a manager and/or work at IBM.

Indicate your preferred hacking language

C - C(++)		P - Perl	Y - Python	U - Unix Shell
B - (Visual) Basic	J - Java	A - Ada		S - Assembler	
L - Lisp		G - Prolog	M - Scheme	F - Fortran


hw - Hardware Hacking

9 - I am Steve Wozniak.
8 - I have my own eeprom burner in the basement.  I won't use what I 
    didn't make myself.
7 - I have had my hardware designs used in actual products.
6 - I've toyed with a few hardware drawings, but never made my own hardware.
    I know PC hardware like the back of my hand.
5 - I built every PC in my home from the ground up.  Newegg knows me by 
    my first name.
4 - I've built a PC or two in my day. It's just easier to get them pre-made.
3 - People ask me what USB stands for, I know a thing or two about hardware.
2 - I know how to put my computer together without a diagram.
1 - Dude!  You got a Dell!


ln - Language Hacking

9 - I am J.R.R. Tolkien.
8 - I've had my pet language used and studied by others.
7 - People who don't know me have used words I've coined.  I've written 
    my own artificial language.
6 - I am known for certain words or phrases, my friends use my linguistic 
    creations regularly.
5 - I've coined a phrase or made up a new word or two.
4 - I'm a grammar nazi; people hate to talk to me because I correct them 
    mid-sentence.
3 - I hate people who don't follow the basic rules of $LANG, which I 
    strive to speak properly.
2 - I'm illiterate and/or can only speak IM: l8r sk8r!
1 - I am a Slashdot editor.


pr - Programming - Hey, some hackers think they're programmers ;-)

9 - I only program in ADA, and LOVE IT!
8 - I'm currently programming my IDE-brain connectivity link.
7 - I do a lot of programming, and spend a lot of time in my IDE of 
choice.
6 - I'm definitely a programmer, not a hacker.  I like it basic, a text 
editor and a compiler/debugger.
5 - I'm your average programmer, I prefer to think I'm a hacker
4 - I will sacrifice elegant design for performance or size
3 - Comments are for sissies!  If it was hard to write, it should be 
hard to read.
2 - I can write hello world, but my programs don't do that much.
1 - I can't program at all.  

Indicate your programming methodology

O - Object Oriented	S - Structured		A - Aspect Oriented
U - Unified		R - Rational Unified


ck - Cracking - The malicious act of hacking into systems that gets all 
     the headlines; what non-technical people consider 'hacking'.

9 - I work for @Stake or write for 2600.
8 - I write the 'sploits that all the kiddies use.  I would be a 
    professional black hat except for this economy.
7 - Black Hat - Cracking is old hat to me.  I only compromise a system 
    if it looks like a challenge.  Script kiddies worship me.
6 - Grey Hat - Some of my cracking is for good, some is for evil.  It 
    really depends on who benefits from what I do.
5 - I try to break into systems occasionally.  It's for educational 
    purposes, that's it!
4 - White Hat - I study exploits because I'm the one who has to patch 
    the systems when they get released.  I subscribe to CERT.
3 - I've tried once or twice, but it felt wrong.  I stick to warez.
2 - I don't ever try to break into a computer, that's against the law!
1 - I barely know how to crack an egg!


ma - Mathematics - Mathematics plats a large part in computing, and 
hence hacking.  Indicate your highest completed Math course.

9 - Advanced Calc/Theory
8 - Differential Equations
7 - Calc II
6 - Probability/Statistics
5 - Linear Algebra
4 - Calc I
3 - Pre-calc
2 - I finished HS Math and realized that was enough for me
1 - I'm angry at numbers.  There's like, too many of 'em and stuff.

Please send me your math category proposals/revised levels as I stopped 
my math education at Calc II :-)


II.  OS Wars

u - Unix

9 - I am Ken Thompson.
8 - I am a guru.  Everyone asks me for help with their Unix 
    machines. Unix is more than an OS, it's my religion!
7 - I use exclusively Unix on all my computers.  If it's not Unix, it's CRAP!
6 - I really like Unix; I've installed Linux once or twice but primarily 
    use Windows or MacOS for my daily needs.
5 - Unix is okay, it's just a tool like any other.
4 - Mac OS X is as close to Unix as I like to get.
3 - I dislike Unix, it's too cryptic, and what's this shell crap!  The GUI
    is far superior!
2 - Unix is an abomination.  It's one of those dead OSes that doesn't realize
    it's dead yet.
1 - I am Bill Gates.

Insert your most (least) favorite *nix OSes:

L - Linux	S - Solaris	I - Irix	A - AIX
B - *BSD	H - HP-UX	M - MacOS X	T - Tru64


w - Windows

9 - I work for Microsoft, they call me code monkey....well just monkey.
8 - I install every beta build of the newest Windows release I can 
    get off the 'net.  I want to work at Microsoft.
7 - I've developed my own Windows programs, VB and .NET 0wn me.
6 - I really like Windows; I have my desktop theme and screensaver 
    just they way I want them.
5 - Windows is OK, I'm pretty indifferent about it.
4 - When are they going to stop stealing other people's ideas and come up 
    with something INNOVATIVE?  I still run it though, what else is there?
3 - I keep Windows on my hard drive only to test new hardware I buy. 
    Linux rulez!
2 - I have totally annihilated Windows off my hard and haven't looked back!
1 - I've never actually run Windows, I am completely untainted!

Insert your favorite Windows OS(es):

D - MS-DOS/Windows 3.x	N - Windows NT		T - Windows 2000
W - Win95/98/Me		C - Windows CE		X - Windows XP


m - MacOS (X).  Let's face it kiddies, OS 9 is dead.

9 - I am Steve Jobs.
8 - I've written books about programming with Cocoa and Carbon.  See you 
    at the WWDC!
7 - I love it!  The power of Unix and a slick aqua GUI are the 
    height of computing. I've written the occasional app or two.
6 - I like the new MacOS.  Finally stability AND ease of use!
5 - MacOS X is okay.  A nice GUI front-end for a Unix OS.
4 - I don't like it.  There's not enough emphasis on the CLI.
3 - I hate it.  The GUI takes up half my RAM and it still locks up on me 
    even though it's UNIX based!
2 - I despise MacOS X.  I miss "Classic" MacOS (<= 9).
1 - I despise MacOS X.  I miss the Apple ][.


l - Linux.  The free OS that changed computing.  For GNU/Free Software 
    folk, use g/l (GNU/Linux) instead.

9 - I am Linus Torvalds or Alan Cox.
8 - I am an active kernel hacker/package maintainer.  If Linux didn't 
    exist, I might have to leave my house once in a while!
7 - I'm a power user.  I've developed my own mini-distribution on a 
    whim.  I can't count how many kernels I've compiled.
6 - I really like Linux.  I've tried a few distributions and am almost 
    decided on one.  Windows sucks.
5 - Linux is okay.  
4 - I don't like Linux.  It still relies too much on the command line.
3 - I hate Linux.  It's not really UNIX, it's a cheap knock off.  This 
    whole open sores thing will never work!
2 - I despise Linux and its commie supporters.  Thank God there's a 
    great company like Microsoft around and a great OS like Windows!
1 - I work for SCO.

Include your favorite distribution.  As any good zealot knows, there can 
be only one!

R - Red Hat	S - Slackware	G - Gentoo	L - Lycoris	Y - Yoper
M - Mandrake	D - Debian	U - SuSE	K - Knoppix	O - Other
F - Linux from Scratch


III Life & Lifestyle

a - Age.

[0-9][0-9] - Actual Age		
[0-9]X - I only feel like updating my age once per decade!
F - 100+ (Old Fart)
I - Immortal
N - N/A, or None of your business


s - Sex - If we didn't have it, where would the babies come from?

9 - I'm Jenna Jameson.
8 - I'm a nympho.  If I don't have sex every 6 hours I get totally antsy.
7 - I've had more than my share of sex.  I'm a stud!
6 - I've had sex more than a few times.  Still out there in the dating 
    scene so let's not get into numbers.
5 - I've had sex.  Next subject.
4 - I haven't had sex, not that I haven't had the opportunity but I'm 
    saving myself.
3 - I haven't even gotten past second base.  Once my face clears up I'm
    gonna get some though!
2 - Sex is dirty!  Save it for someone you love!
1 - I'm a member of the clergy.  None for me, thanks.

0 - I'm a eunuch.
$ - I'm a prostitute.

M - Male	G - Gay/Lesbian		S - Single	T - Transvestite
F - Female	B - BiSexual		R - Married	D - BDSM
W - Swinger


r - Religion.  Generally Hackers believe in something, even if it's just 
    their favorite OS.  Others have an actual opinion about a Higher Power.

9 - I Am God, you foolish mortal!
8 - Pantheist - The Universe IS God.
7 - Pagan/Wiccan - I worship nature moreso than a deity.
6 - Polytheist - I believe in multiple Gods.
5 - Monothiest - There is only one God who exists.
4 - Theist - God exists and interacts with the world and His/Her/Its 
    followers.
3 - Deist - God exists, but does not intervene in the world.
2 - Agnostic - Unsure of God's existence.
1 - Atheist - There is no God.


e - Education - Indicate your highest level.

9 - I'm omniscient, you insensitive clod!
8 - PhD.
7 - Master's Degree.
6 - Bachelor's Degree.
5 - Trade/Technical school.
4 - High school diploma.
3 - Started high school but dropped out.
2 - Elementary/Middle school.
1 - We don't need no education.


t - Television - most hackers do not watch much TV (that's time they could 
    be hacking!) but for completeness it is included.

9 - I'm Max Headroom.
8 - I've long since given up other things like a job, talking to other 
    people and leaving my house.  I have an IV and dialysis so I don't have 
    to worry about pesky bodily functions.
7 - I watch TV religiously.  The television is never shut off on my house.  
    I have a generator so I can watch TV even when there's a power outage!
6 - I watch a lot of TV.  I have a TiVo just so I can get every show 
    of my favorite series!
5 - I watch TV a few hours a day, and have a few favorite shows.
4 - I watch TV once in awhile.  There's just not much good on anymore.
3 - TV is trash.  I'd rather read a book or go for a walk.
2 - TV is just the (Devil|Government|Big Business)'s tool of control!  
    Throw out your TV!
1 - I'm Amish

Hacker TV Series:

T - Star Trek	N - TNG		D - DS9		V - Voyager	E - Enterprise
B - Babylon 5	S - Stargate SG1		H - Xena/Hercules
L - LEXXX	F - Farscape	R - Red Dwarf	X - The X Files
M - Monty Python


b - Books.  Great variation here, as some hackers are very avid readers, 
    while others limit themselves to the web.

9 - I'm obsessed with reading.  I actually write my own 
    short stories/poetry as well as reading books.
8 - I'm kind of a bookworm, I try to read a book a week/month.
7 - I read actual books, not only technical references.
6 - I pick up the odd book.  I know my way around the local Borders.
5 - I read books occasionally.  You mean besides O'Reilly books?  Oh, then no.
4 - I don't read books, the web is enough of a reading outlet for me.
3 - I haven't read a book since college.
2 - I haven't read a book since high school.
1 - I'm illiterate (See ln1).

Hacker Favorite Books:

H - HitchHiker's Guide	I - Illuminati Trilogy	T - Works of Tolkien
D - The New Hacker's Dictionary		O - O'rielly technical books


p - Politics

9 - I am Pat Robertson
8 - Repeal those pesky anti-slavery and women's suffrage rules and let's 
    get back to the good ole days!
7 - Conservative - Trickle down theory and less government regulation!
6 - I'm a Republican.  I miss the '80s.
5 - I'm a middle of the road person, conservative Democrat or liberal 
    Republican.
4 - I'm a Democrat. I miss the '90s.
3 - Liberal - more social programs, fewer tax cuts.
2 - Bigger government is better!  Tax the rich, feed the poor!
1 - Socialism is the best form of government available.  

0 - Anarchist
$ - Politician or Lobbyist - please stop reading now.


en - Encryption - The only real obstacle between your data and a 
cracker, or is it?

9 - I have my own encryption algorithm named after me.
8 - I can crack Enigma in my head.
7 - I use GnuPG for all email and have many cryptographic filesystems on 
    my hard drive.  If you want my data you're going to have to earn it!
6 - I use encryption frequently.  Want to sign my key?
5 - I like and use encryption.
4 - I don't use encryption.   I have nothing to hide.
3 - Encryption is needless overhead.  If you use it, you must have 
    something to hide!
2 - Only terrorists use encryption.  The government should have back 
    doors to all encryption mechanisms.
1 - Only the government should be able to use encryption to be able to 
    keep its secrets safe!


g - Gaming.  Be it console or PC, gaming is popular among some hackers.

9 - I am John Carmack.
8 - I've developed the occasional game.  People consider me to be a 
    gaming guru.  People disconnect from servers when they see me log on.
7 - I play all the time, when I'm not hacking, eating or sleeping.
6 - I play often, I have a console or two and/or quite a few PC games.
5 - I'll pick up the occasional game.
4 - I used to play video games back in the 8-bit days, but not anymore.
3 - I don't like video games, that's time I could be hacking.
2 - I don't like video games, that's time I could be sleeping.
1 - I suck at video games.

Genre Categories:

R - Graphical RPG	A - Action/Adventure	S - Sports
Z - Puzzle		T - Text Based/MUD	H - Shooter

Console Categories:

C - "Classic" (i.e. dead) systems - Nintendo [S]NES, Sega
M - Modern systems (PS(2), XBOX, GameCube).	
H - Handhelds (Gameboy)		P - PC Gamer

Displaying your Hacker Key

Blame - Who's Responsible for This?

Feedback - Please!

History

• v0 - Released 2003.11.29 - RFC release
• v1 - Released 2004.02.08 - Added Programming and Math sections, added Swinger category to Sex, revamped Game categories