The Hacker Test was written to measure your computer Hacking experiences and abilities. Like all tests, treat this one as a game. People should be judged by what they create and who they are, not by bogus criteria like test scores or grades.
The idea for a question administering program such as this came from my friend Curt 'Classic' Tatman's now legendary _Purity Test_software. Available wherever fine software is given away.
I wrote this program to administer the questions listed in the file HACKER.DAT. Those questions were written by Felix Lee, John Hayes and Angela Thomas in 1989. Also in 1989, I received the Hacker Test in the form of a text file over Internet, and the rest is history.
I've worked hard to maintain the integrity and readability of the HACKER.DAT file. Take a peek at it, or print it out. Although the HACKTEST program uses it as a data file, it is still a human readable text file.

After writing a rough version of the Hacker Test program, I sent E-Mail to the original authors of the Hacker Test, and received their permission to freely distribute it. I then whipped out my trusty Turbo Pascal compiler, and finished this program using the windowing Units I've developed. I began the program using Turbo Pascal 4.0, and by the time it was finished to my satisfaction, the final compile was in Turbo Pascal 6.0

The term Hacker has been terribly distorted and misused by the American media for the past ten years. Now the international press has also taken up the use of the term to refer to *common criminals* who happen to use computers. These people are NOT Hackers in ANY sense of the word, and it's tragic that the average person in America has been exposed only to the corrupted meaning of the proud Hacker moniker.
This definition of a Hacker was created by my friend Beth Lamb long ago. She knew from first-hand experience what Hackers are really all about.


HACKER, n., a term of endearment for someone with talent, knowledge, intelligence, and ingenuity, esp. concerning computer operations, networks, security concerns, etc.

The following definition was found in a text file being distributed internationally through the INTERNET computer network;

HACKER, n. 1. A person who enjoys learning the details of programming systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. 2. One who programs enthusiastically, or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming. 3. A person capable of appreciating hack value (q.v.). 4. A person who is good at programming quickly. Not everything a hacker produces is a hack. 5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; example: "A SAIL hacker". (Definitions 1 to 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.) 6. An inquisitive meddler who tries to discover information by poking around. Hence quot;password hacker", "network hacker".

Note that NO definition defines a Hacker as a criminal. At their best, Hackers change the very fabric of an information-based society and advance the flow of technology. At their worst, Hackers can be mischievous pranksters or curious explorers.
Hackers do NOT write harmful computer viruses. Sad, insecure, mediocre programmers do. Harmful viruses are completely against the Hacker Ethic.

In the book _HACKERS; Heros of the Computer Revolution_, by Steven Levy the "Hacker Ethic" was first put into concrete words. This ethic follows;

* Access to computers - and anything which might teach you something about the way the world works - should be unlimited and total. Always yield to the Hands-On-Imperative!
* All information should be free.
* Mistrust authority - promote de-centralization.
* Hackers should be judged by their Hacking, not bogus criteria such as degrees, age, race, or position.
* You can create art and beauty on a computer.
* Computers can change your life for the better.

Now... enough teaching/preaching. :-] Here are some Hacker Test program notes, tips, and tricks.
Scoring =======
The program will add 1 to your score for each question that you can answer YES to. Your score is given in HEX, unless you score very poorly. Wimps and common Users are coddled along and given their score in Base 10. :]
If your score is between: You are:
0x000 and 0x010 -> Computer Illiterate 0x011 and 0x040 -> a User 0x041 and 0x080 -> an Operator 0x081 and 0x0C0 -> a Nerd 0x0C1 and 0x100 -> a Hacker 0x101 and 0x180 -> a Guru 0x181 and 0x200 -> a Wizard
Note: If you don't understand the scoring, stop here. :]
Free! =====
Like the best of all software, this program is FREE. Do with it what you will. Copy it - it wants to travel. Treat this program with the respect that all software entities deserve. After all, someday a silicon-based lifeform may be your best friend - treat its ancestors with appropriate respect.
Have fun with it.
Quote =====
"The louder the music, the better the code." - Darren Griffith, Unix Hacker
Tips ====
Fun things to try:
o Hit ESC to quit out of the program prematurely. Maybe. o Hit F10 during the program to pop up a 'Boss Screen.' If you are taking the Hacker Test, and your pesky boss shows up, this screen will look like a word processor and get you out of trouble...maybe. :] o Look closely at the screen when taking the test. Strange things MAY occur. :]
Errors ======
If you find any bugs in this program, please drop me a note. (BUGS?? What are those??) Actually, I THINK it won't display correctly on a monochrome monitor...but I don't really care. :-p
Credits =======
Thanks to Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and other electronic pioneers for their inspiration and entertainment over the years.
The Author ==========
Rich 'Crash' Lewis is an emergency assault programmer and free-lance computer software designer, as well as working a 9 to 5 job as a computer contractor. He is a Hacker in the VERY best sense of the word.
He loves to talk to fellow Computer Enthusiasts, so drop him a note!
Via GEnie: RICH.LEWIS
Via Compu$erve: 73040,3405
Via Internet: 73040.3405@compuserve.com
Via U.S. mail: Rich Lewis, Jr. President: SuperNova Software, Inc. 2490 Royal View Ct. Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
LOGOFF ======
'Happy Hacking!' - Crash