cyberpunk

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Show HN: Hacker Fables – A satirical cyberpunk novel you can read as a man page
2 months ago
- The text is a promotion for a satirical cyberpunk novella titled 'hacker-fables' by Sebastian Carlos.
- The novella is intended to be read while an AI agent completes Jira tickets, suggesting a theme of automation and tech culture.
- The author is seeking the first $50 in funding to create a non-AI cover for the book.
- The book can be accessed via man pages, info pages, or direct installation using curl and sudo commands.
- The instructions include downloading the manual page and info file, and optionally installing them system-wide for easier access.
Pluralistic: AI and amateurism (15 Jun 2026)
2 months ago
- The author's lifelong involvement with technology, from a cardboard computer to digital rights activism, shapes his perspective on AI.
- Cyberpunk's dualism—technology as both liberating and oppressive—is key to understanding AI's potential and pitfalls.
- Tools like Hypercard and Scratch empower non-programmers to create software that meets their specific needs, a principle extended by 'vibe coding' for personal projects.
- Vibe coding is valuable for personal automation but is misrepresented by industry hype as a replacement for professional software development.
- The AI industry focuses on centralization and homogenization, while local models and amateur tinkering preserve idiosyncrasy and user control.
Hack to the future. (interview with Bruce Sterling)
3 months ago
- Bruce Sterling's new book is tentatively titled 'The Hacker Crackdown', covering the digital dragnet of 1990 and the origins of the Electronic Frontiers Foundation.
- The public's fear of hackers stems from a broader fear of computers, which are seen as uncontrollable and threatening societal changes.
- A true computer hacker is defined by intellectual curiosity, not just criminal activities like code theft.
- Hacking is driven by the pursuit of power rather than financial gain, distinguishing it from crimes like embezzlement.
- Sterling believes hacking should not be outlawed entirely, but laws against code theft are necessary as activities become more sophisticated and global.
- The future of hacking is predicted to involve more unsavory characters, moving beyond its earlier 'Summer of Love' phase.
- Sterling regrets the term 'cyberpunk' being applied to hackers, viewing it as a literary term misused due to ignorance, which led to unjust actions like the Steve Jackson bust.

cyberpunk

Show HN: Hacker Fables – A satirical cyberpunk novel you can read as a man page

Pluralistic: AI and amateurism (15 Jun 2026)

Hack to the future. (interview with Bruce Sterling)