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{{Short description|Letters and symbols used by geeks to describe themselves}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
[[File:Código geek, AA 2012.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Geek code example, which opens by stating that the user is a Geek of Technical Writing (GTW) who usually wears jeans and a t-shirt (d-@), is of average height and above-average weight (s:+), and is aged between 25 and 29 (a-).]]
[[File:Bloque de código geek (1330560000).svg|thumb|Geek code example]]


The '''Geek Code''', developed in 1993, is a series of letters and symbols used by self-described "[[geek]]s" to inform fellow geeks about their [[personality psychology|personality]], appearance, interests, skills, and opinions. The idea is that everything that makes a geek [[individual]] can be [[Code|encode]]d in a compact format which only other geeks can read. This is deemed to be [[Algorithmic efficiency|efficient]] in some sufficiently geeky manner.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mgw7-M7t63MC |pages=10–20 |title=The cultures of computing |author=[[Susan Leigh Star]] |year=1995}}</ref>
The '''Geek Code''', developed in 1993, is a series of letters and symbols used by self-described "[[geek]]s" to inform fellow geeks about their [[personality psychology|personality]], appearance, interests, skills, and opinions. The idea is that everything that makes a geek [[individual]] can be [[Code|encode]]d in a compact format which only other geeks can read. This is deemed to be [[Algorithmic efficiency|efficient]] in some sufficiently geeky manner.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/culturesofcomput00susa |url-access=registration |pages=10–20 |title=The cultures of computing |publisher=Wiley |author=Susan Leigh Star |author-link=Susan Leigh Star |year=1995|isbn=9780631192824 }}</ref>


It was once common practice to use a geek code as one's email or Usenet signature,<ref name="wapo">{{cite news |last1=Romenesko |first1=James |title=The Code of the Geeks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/05/17/the-code-of-the-geeks/764cb760-d6f4-4ba2-860c-e1d1bcc69919/?noredirect=on |accessdate=14 November 2018 |work=Washington Post |date=17 May 1996}}</ref> but the last official version of the code was produced in 1996,<ref name="geekcode"/> and it has now largely fallen out of use.
It was once common practice to use a geek code as one's email or Usenet signature, but the last official version of the code was produced in 1996, and it has now largely fallen out of use.<ref name="wapo">{{cite news |last1=Romenesko |first1=James |title=The Code of the Geeks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/05/17/the-code-of-the-geeks/764cb760-d6f4-4ba2-860c-e1d1bcc69919/?noredirect=on |access-date=14 November 2018 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=17 May 1996}}</ref><ref name="geekcode"/>

A number of similar codes were developed for other subcultures, such as a Goth Code for the [[Goth subculture]], and the [[Natural Bears Classification System]] for gay men.


==History==
==History==
⚫
The Geek Code was invented by Robert A. Hayden in 1993 and was defined at geekcode.com.<ref name="geekcode">{{Cite web |url=http://www.geekcode.com/ |title=The Geek Code |access-date=April 9, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228200740/http://www.geekcode.com/ |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> It was inspired by [[Natural Bears Classification System|a similar code]] for the [[Bear (gay culture)|bear]] subculture - which in turn was inspired by the [[Yerkes spectral classification scheme|Yerkes spectral classification]] system for describing stars.<ref name="jargon"/><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/bitwise/2014/08/online_gay_culture_and_soc_motss_how_a_usenet_group_anticipated_how_we_use.2.html|title=The First Gay Space on the Internet|journal=Slate |date=August 20, 2014 |publisher=[[Slate.com]] |last1=Auerbach |first1=David }}</ref><ref>Unlike the Geek Code, the Yerkes system uses classes, subclasses and peculiarities for categorization. These systems differ in their [[orthogonality]]: the Geek Code is very [[Orthogonal (computing)|orthogonal in the computer science sense]] (where variables may be [[Projection (linear algebra)|projected]] onto [[basis vectors]]), where the Yerkes system is very [[Orthogonality#Taxonomy|orthogonal in the taxonomic sense]] (representing mutually exclusive [[class (computer science)|classes]]).</ref>

⚫
The Geek Code was invented by Robert A. Hayden in 1993 and was defined at geekcode.com.<ref name="geekcode">[{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228200740/http://www.geekcode.com/ |date=February 28, 2009 }}</ref> It was inspired by [[The Natural Bears Classification System|a similar code]] for the [[Bear (gay culture)|bear]] subculture<ref name="jargon"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/bitwise/2014/08/online_gay_culture_and_soc_motss_how_a_usenet_group_anticipated_how_we_use.2.html|title=The First Gay Space on the Internet|publisher=[[Slate.com]]}}</ref> - which in turn was inspired by the [[Yerkes spectral classification scheme|Yerkes spectral classification]] system for describing stars.<ref>Unlike the Geek Code, the Yerkes system uses classes, subclasses and peculiarities for categorization. These systems differ in their [[orthogonality]]: the Geek Code is very [[Orthogonal (computing)|orthogonal in the computer science sense]] (where variables may be [[Projection (linear algebra)|projected]] onto [[basis vectors]]), where the Yerkes system is very [[Orthogonality#Taxonomy|orthogonal in the taxonomic sense]] (representing mutually exclusive [[class (computer science)|classes]]).</ref>

In some parts of the net, it was once common practice to use a geek code as one's email or Usenet [[signature block|signature]]. One of the consequences of being so old in such a fast-moving field is that much of the geek code now looks rather dated, with the [[World Wide Web]] being described as "relatively new and little understood".


After a number of updates, the last revision of the code was v3.12, in 1996.<ref>
After a number of updates, the last revision of the code was v3.12, in 1996.<ref>
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| url = http://www.werewlf.demon.co.uk/quintin/code.html
| url = http://www.werewlf.demon.co.uk/quintin/code.html
| title = The Acorn Code&nbsp;– Geek Code Supplement
| title = The Acorn Code&nbsp;– Geek Code Supplement
| accessdate =May 5, 2011
| access-date =May 5, 2011
| last = Parker
| last = Parker
| first = Quintin
| first = Quintin
| year = 1997
| year = 1997
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19970713210304/http://www.werewlf.demon.co.uk/quintin/code.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970713210304/http://www.werewlf.demon.co.uk/quintin/code.html
| archivedate =July 13, 1997
| archive-date =July 13, 1997
| quote = The problem is, for us Acorn users, is that it asks you quantify all your opinions of UNIX and PC programs, whereas many of us wouldn't even touch them with a bargepole!
| quote = The problem is, for us Acorn users, is that it asks you quantify all your opinions of UNIX and PC programs, whereas many of us wouldn't even touch them with a bargepole!
}}
}}
Line 37: Line 37:
==Format==
==Format==
Geek codes can be written in two formats;<ref name="geekcode"/> either as a simple string:<br>
Geek codes can be written in two formats;<ref name="geekcode"/> either as a simple string:<br>
<nowiki>GED/J d-- s:++>: a-- C++(++++) ULU++ P+ L++ E---- W+(-) N+++ o+ K+++ w--- O- M+ V-- PS++>$ PE++>$ Y++ PGP++ t- 5+++ X++ R+++>$ tv+ b+ DI+++ D+++ G+++++ e++ h r-- y++**</nowiki>
{{sxhl|GED/J d-- s:++>: a-- C++(++++) ULU++ P+ L++ E---- W+(-) N+++ o+ K+++ w--- O- M+ V-- PS++>$ PE++>$ Y++ PGP++ t- 5+++ X++ R+++>$ tv+ b+ DI+++ D+++ G+++++ e++ h r-- y++**|zeek}}
...or as a "Geek Code Block", a parody of the output produced by the encryption program [[Pretty Good Privacy|PGP]]:<br>
...or as a "Geek Code Block", a parody of the output produced by the encryption program [[Pretty Good Privacy|PGP]]:<br>
<nowiki>-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
{{sxhl|-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
Version: 3.1
GED/J d-- s:++>: a-- C++(++++) ULU++ P+ L++ E---- W+(-) N+++ o+ K+++ w---
GED/J d-- s:++>: a-- C++(++++) ULU++ P+ L++ E---- W+(-) N+++ o+ K+++ w---
O- M+ V-- PS++>$ PE++>$ Y++ PGP++ t- 5+++ X++ R+++>$ tv+ b+ DI+++ D+++
O- M+ V-- PS++>$ PE++>$ Y++ PGP++ t- 5+++ X++ R+++>$ tv+ b+ DI+++ D+++
G+++++ e++ h r-- y++**
G+++++ e++ h r-- y++**
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------</nowiki>
-----END GEEK CODE BLOCK-----|pem}}
Note that this latter format has a line specifying the version of Geek Code being used.
Note that this latter format has a line specifying the version of Geek Code being used.


(Both these examples use Hayden's own geek code.)<ref name="jargon">{{cite web |title=geek code |url=http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/G/geek-code.html |website=The Jargon File (version 4.4.7) |accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref>
(Both these examples use Hayden's own geek code.)<ref name="jargon">{{cite web |title=geek code |url=http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/G/geek-code.html |website=The Jargon File (version 4.4.7) |access-date=16 November 2018 |archive-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814154444/http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/G/geek-code.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Encoding==
==Encoding==
===Occupation===
===Occupation===
The code starts with the letter <code>G</code> (for Geek) followed by the geek's occupation(s): <code>GMU</code> for a geek of [[music]], <code>GCS</code> for a geek of computer science etc. There are 28 occupations that can be represented, but <code>GAT</code> is for geeks that can do anything and everything - and "usually precludes the use of other vocational descriptors".<ref name="geekcode"/>
The code starts with the letter <code>G</code> (for Geek) followed by the geek's occupation(s): <code>GMU</code> for a geek of [[music]], <code>GCS</code> for a geek of computer science etc. There are 28 occupations that can be represented, but <code>GAT</code> is for geeks that can do anything and everything - and "usually precludes the use of other vocational descriptors".<ref name="geekcode"/>

For geeks with multiple occupations, a slash or slashes are used: <code>GMD/TW</code>, for instance, for a geek of medicine and technical writing.


===Categories===
===Categories===
⚫
The Geek Code website contains the complete list of categories, along with all of the special syntax options.<ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Hayden |url=http://www.geekcode.com/ |title=geekcode.com |publisher=geekcode.com |access-date=March 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228200740/http://www.geekcode.com/ |archive-date=February 28, 2009}}</ref>
There are a number of categories in Geek Code, each represented by a letter. For example, the lower-case letter <code>t</code> represents ''[[Star Trek]]''. The Geek Code's author has this to say about ''Star Trek'':

:"Most geeks have an undeniable love for the ''Star Trek'' television show. Because geek is often synonymous with [[trekkie]], it is important that all geeks list their ''Trek'' rating."

Meanwhile, the lower-case letter <code>r</code> represents [[personal relationship|relationship]]s. Geeks are less associated with relationships than they are with ''Star Trek'', and the Geek Code says this about them:

:"While many geeks are highly successful at having relationships, a good many more are not. Give us the gritty details."

⚫
The Geek Code website contains the complete list of categories, along with all of the special syntax options.<ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Hayden |url=http://www.geekcode.com/ |title=geekcode.com |publisher=geekcode.com |date= |accessdate=March 12, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228200740/http://www.geekcode.com/ |archivedate=February 28, 2009}}</ref> The choice of categories (from version 3 onward) reflects what geeks consider important. Categories include appearance, computers, computer-related politics, general politics, computer-related interests, other interests, and lifestyle and [[sexual intercourse|sex]].

===Category-specific modifiers===
Although some categories have special syntax, generally each category is followed by a series of <code>+</code> or <code>-</code> signs showing how much the geek agrees or disagrees with the category. For example, <code>t+++</code> indicates a geek who thinks this about Star Trek:

:"I know all about [[warp drive (Star Trek)|warp field dynamics]] and the principles behind the [[transporter (Star Trek)|transporter]]. I have memorized the TECH manual. I speak [[Klingon language|Klingon]]. I go to [[Star Trek convention|cons]] with [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]] ears on."

On the other hand, someone who puts <code>r---</code> in their geek code feels the following way about relationships:

:"I'm beginning to think that I'm a leper or something, the way people avoid me like the plague."

===Modifiers===
The meaning of each category can be changed in subtle or not-so-subtle ways using [[punctuation]] marks as modifiers. For example, an <code>@</code> after a category means that the geek's feelings on this category are not very rigid and can change with time, while a [[dollar]] sign implies the geek is in the enviable position of being paid for their work in this category. A [[greater-than sign]] indicates a "wannabe" rating and means that the person is at a rating indicated before the sign, but wants to reach the one after the sign. A rating in [[Bracket|parentheses]] indicates instability, as does the <code>@</code>, but indicates a specific range rather that the entire rating. The [[asterisk]] modifier exists for some categories, expressing a category-dependent "off-the-charts" value: for example, <code>R*</code> is described as "I thought life WAS role-playing?".


==Decoding==
==Decoding==
There have been several '"decoders" produced to transform a specific geek code into English, including:
There have been several '"decoders" produced to transform a specific geek code into English, including:
⚫
* [[Bradley M. Kuhn]], in late 1998, made Williams' program available as a web service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebb.org/ungeek |title=The Geek Code Decoder Page |publisher=Ebb.org |access-date=March 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301204113/http://www.ebb.org/ungeek/ |archive-date=March 1, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>The site first appears in the Internet Archive on December 7, 1998 ({{cite web
* Pete Williams' Perl program ''ungeek.pl''.
⚫
* [[Bradley M. Kuhn]], in late 1998, made Williams' program available as a web service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebb.org/ungeek |title=The Geek Code Decoder Page |publisher=Ebb.org |date= |accessdate=March 12, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301204113/http://www.ebb.org/ungeek/ |archivedate=March 1, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>The site first appears in the Internet Archive on December 7, 1998 ({{cite web
|authorlink=http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
|title=Geek Code Decoder history at the WayBack machine
|title=Geek Code Decoder history at the WayBack machine
|publisher=The Internet Archive
|publisher=The Internet Archive
|date=December 7, 1998
|date=December 7, 1998
|url=http://www.ebb.org/ungeek
|url=http://www.ebb.org/ungeek
|accessdate=January 5, 2008
|access-date=January 5, 2008
|deadurl=no
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130414153627/http://www.ebb.org/ungeek/
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414153627/http://www.ebb.org/ungeek/
|archivedate=April 14, 2013
|archive-date=April 14, 2013
|df=mdy
|df=mdy
}}).</ref>
}}).</ref>
* Joe Reiss [http://www.joereiss.net/geek/ungeek.html made a similar page available] in October 1999.<ref>Reference to the site first appears in the Internet Archive on October 7, 1999({{cite web
* Joe Reiss [http://www.joereiss.net/geek/ungeek.html made a similar page available] in October 1999.<ref>Reference to the site first appears in the Internet Archive on October 7, 1999({{cite web
|authorlink = http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
|title = Geek Code Decoder history at the WayBack machine
|title = Geek Code Decoder history at the WayBack machine
|publisher = The Internet Archive
|publisher = The Internet Archive
|date = February 9, 1999
|date = February 9, 1999
|url = http://www.joereiss.net/geek
|url = http://www.joereiss.net/geek
|accessdate = October 5, 2016
|access-date = October 5, 2016
|deadurl = yes
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://archive.is/20161005144259/http://www.joereiss.net/geek/
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20161005144259/http://www.joereiss.net/geek/
|archivedate = October 5, 2016
|archive-date = October 5, 2016
|df = mdy
|df = mdy
}}).</ref>
}}).</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Leet Speak]]
*[[Leet]]
*[[New Speak]]
*[[Newspeak]]
*[[The Natural Bears Classification System]]
*[[Signature block]]
*[[Signature block]]

''Geek life style''
*''[[Babylon 5]]''
*[[Bookstore]]
*''[[Dilbert]]''
*''[[DOOM]]''
*[[Filmophile]]
*[[Geek girl]]s
*[[Television]]
*[[Role-playing]]
**[[Fantasy role-playing]]
**[[Living history]], historical role-playing
*[[Role-playing games]]
**[[Live action role-playing game]] (LARP)
*''[[Star Trek]]''
*''[[X-Files]]''


==References==
==References==
Line 133: Line 91:
==External links==
==External links==
*Robert Hayden's [https://web.archive.org/web/20090228200740/http://www.geekcode.com/ official Geek Code web site] (presenting v3.12)
*Robert Hayden's [https://web.archive.org/web/20090228200740/http://www.geekcode.com/ official Geek Code web site] (presenting v3.12)

[[Category:Internet self-classification codes]]
[[Category:Internet self-classification codes]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:Lifestyle websites]]
[[Category:Lifestyle websites]]
[[Category:Nerd culture]]
[[Category:Nerd culture]]
[[Category:1993 introductions]]

Latest revision as of 03:16, 11 October 2024

Geek code example, which opens by stating that the user is a Geek of Technical Writing (GTW) who usually wears jeans and a t-shirt (d-@), is of average height and above-average weight (s:+), and is aged between 25 and 29 (a-).

The Geek Code, developed in 1993, is a series of letters and symbols used by self-described "geeks" to inform fellow geeks about their personality, appearance, interests, skills, and opinions. The idea is that everything that makes a geek individual can be encoded in a compact format which only other geeks can read. This is deemed to be efficient in some sufficiently geeky manner.[1]

It was once common practice to use a geek code as one's email or Usenet signature, but the last official version of the code was produced in 1996, and it has now largely fallen out of use.[2][3]

A number of similar codes were developed for other subcultures, such as a Goth Code for the Goth subculture, and the Natural Bears Classification System for gay men.

History

[edit]

The Geek Code was invented by Robert A. Hayden in 1993 and was defined at geekcode.com.[3] It was inspired by a similar code for the bear subculture - which in turn was inspired by the Yerkes spectral classification system for describing stars.[4][5][6]

After a number of updates, the last revision of the code was v3.12, in 1996.[7]

Some alternative encodings have also been proposed. For example, the 1997 Acorn Code was a version specific to users of Acorn's RISC OS computers.[8]

Format

[edit]

Geek codes can be written in two formats;[3] either as a simple string:

GED/J d-- s:++>: a-- C++(++++) ULU++ P+ L++ E---- W+(-) N+++ o+ K+++ w--- O- M+ V-- PS++>$ PE++>$ Y++ PGP++ t- 5+++ X++ R+++>$ tv+ b+ DI+++ D+++ G+++++ e++ h r-- y++**

...or as a "Geek Code Block", a parody of the output produced by the encryption program PGP:

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
  Version: 3.1
  GED/J d-- s:++>: a-- C++(++++) ULU++ P+ L++ E---- W+(-) N+++ o+ K+++ w---
  O- M+ V-- PS++>$ PE++>$ Y++ PGP++ t- 5+++ X++ R+++>$ tv+ b+ DI+++ D+++
  G+++++ e++ h r-- y++**
-----END GEEK CODE BLOCK-----

Note that this latter format has a line specifying the version of Geek Code being used.

(Both these examples use Hayden's own geek code.)[4]

Encoding

[edit]

Occupation

[edit]

The code starts with the letter G (for Geek) followed by the geek's occupation(s): GMU for a geek of music, GCS for a geek of computer science etc. There are 28 occupations that can be represented, but GAT is for geeks that can do anything and everything - and "usually precludes the use of other vocational descriptors".[3]

Categories

[edit]

The Geek Code website contains the complete list of categories, along with all of the special syntax options.[9]

Decoding

[edit]

There have been several '"decoders" produced to transform a specific geek code into English, including:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Susan Leigh Star (1995). The cultures of computing. Wiley. pp. 10–20. ISBN 9780631192824.
  2. ^ Romenesko, James (May 17, 1996). "The Code of the Geeks". Washington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "The Geek Code". Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2004.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ a b "geek code". The Jargon File (version 4.4.7). Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  5. ^ Auerbach, David (August 20, 2014). "The First Gay Space on the Internet". Slate. Slate.com.
  6. ^ Unlike the Geek Code, the Yerkes system uses classes, subclasses and peculiarities for categorization. These systems differ in their orthogonality: the Geek Code is very orthogonal in the computer science sense (where variables may be projected onto basis vectors), where the Yerkes system is very orthogonal in the taxonomic sense (representing mutually exclusive classes).
  7. ^ Serge K. Keller (May 8, 2017). "An archival copy of The Code of the Geeks v3.12".
  8. ^ Parker, Quintin (1997). "The Acorn Code – Geek Code Supplement". Archived from the original on July 13, 1997. Retrieved May 5, 2011. The problem is, for us Acorn users, is that it asks you quantify all your opinions of UNIX and PC programs, whereas many of us wouldn't even touch them with a bargepole!
  9. ^ Robert Hayden. "geekcode.com". geekcode.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  10. ^ "The Geek Code Decoder Page". Ebb.org. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  11. ^ The site first appears in the Internet Archive on December 7, 1998 ("Geek Code Decoder history at the WayBack machine". The Internet Archive. December 7, 1998. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2008.).
  12. ^ Reference to the site first appears in the Internet Archive on October 7, 1999("Geek Code Decoder history at the WayBack machine". The Internet Archive. February 9, 1999. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2016.).
[edit]
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