hack

hack

As a noun, a hack is the source code of a program. For example, the phrase "it must be done through a hack" means someone has to write programming code to solve the problem because there is no pre-written software that does the job.

As a verb, hack refers to writing a small program or adding code to an existing program to solve a problem in a hurry. A hack often implies writing in a low-level programming language rather than a high-level macro language or application generator that is oriented to the user. It may even mean writing and deploying a patch in machine language. See hacker, patch and machine language.

You're Not Supposed To!
A hack may refer to an enhancement made to a computer-based appliance that is not at all user programmable, such as a video game, music player, TV set-top box or cellphone. For example, a digital media hub (media extender) could be modified to play back additional audio or video formats not supported by the unit. This kind of hacking is done by the serious enthusiast, who first has to find a way to expose the software.

It may require opening the box to reach the chips, using tools such as a screwdriver, wire strippers and soldering iron. For example, to make the iPhone work in a non-AT&T network, the first step in 17-year-old George Hotz's hack required applying voltage to one line on its circuit board. It meant scraping the surface of a single wire trace without breaking the line and soldering a wire to it, a very delicate operation. Subsequently, far less extreme methods were found to successfully unlock the phone.

Geek Humor

From "The Best of The Joy of Tech" cartoon book by Nitrozac and Snaggy (O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2003, ISBN 0-596-00578-4). (Image courtesy of GeekCulture, www.geekculture.com)

Hack Everything!

The term is often used to refer to any tip or technique for improving performance or configuring hardware or software; witness these titles from O'Reilly Media, Inc. For information on all the titles in O'Reilly's excellent Hacks series, visit http://hacks.oreilly.com.

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hack¹

1. a dry spasmodic cough

2. a kick on the shins, as in rugby

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hack²

1. a horse kept for riding or (more rarely) for driving

2. an old, ill-bred, or overworked horse

3. a horse kept for hire

4. Brit a country ride on horseback

5. US a coach or carriage that is for hire

6. US informal

a. a cab driver

b. a taxi

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hack

a board on which meat is placed for a hawk

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(jargon)

hack - 1. Originally, a quick job that produces what is needed, but not well. 2. An incredibly good, and perhaps very time-consuming, piece of work that produces exactly what is needed. 3. To bear emotionally or physically. "I can't hack this heat!" 4. To work on something (typically a program). In an immediate sense: "What are you doing?" "I'm hacking TECO." In a general (time-extended) sense: "What do you do around here?" "I hack TECO." More generally, "I hack "foo"" is roughly equivalent to ""foo" is my major interest (or project)". "I hack solid-state physics." See Hacking X for Y. 5. To pull a prank on. See hacker. 6. To interact with a computer in a playful and exploratory rather than goal-directed way. "Whatcha up to?" "Oh, just hacking." 7. Short for hacker. 8. See nethack. 9. (MIT) To explore the basements, roof ledges, and steam tunnels of a large, institutional building, to the dismay of Physical Plant workers and (since this is usually performed at educational institutions) the Campus Police. This activity has been found to be eerily similar to playing adventure games such as Dungeons and Dragons and Zork. See also vadding. See also neat hack, real hack.