demigod

person A hacker with years of experience, a national

reputation, and a major role in the development of at least

one design, tool, or game used by or known to more than half

of the hacker community. To qualify as a genuine demigod, the

person must recognisably identify with the hacker community

and have helped shape it. Major demigods include KenThompson and Dennis Ritchie (co-inventors of Unix and

C) and Richard Stallman (inventor of Emacs). In their

hearts of hearts, most hackers dream of someday becoming

demigods themselves, and more than one major software project

has been driven to completion by the author's veiled hopes of

apotheosis.

See also net.god, true-hacker.

[Jargon File]

(1994-10-27)