Great Hackers
21 hours ago
- Variation in wealth can indicate variation in productivity, which is beneficial in a society with technological leverage.
- Great hackers are motivated primarily by interesting work and good tools, not money.
- Hackers prefer open source software and powerful languages like Python and Perl for control and expression.
- A quiet, distraction-free office environment is crucial for hackers to concentrate and be productive.
- Interesting projects are those posing novel technical challenges; managers can redefine problems to make them engaging.
- Hackers avoid projects with many 'nasty little problems' that offer no learning and dull the mind.
- Great hackers tend to clump together, creating winner-take-all environments like Xerox Parc or Google.
- Recognizing great hackers is difficult; the best way is to work with them on projects.
- To become a great hacker, work on what you love, cultivate curiosity and focus, and refuse boring or half-assed work.