J. Random Hacker

J. Random Hacker
 /J rand'm hak'r/, n.

   [very common] A mythical figure like the Unknown Soldier; the
   archetypal hacker nerd. This term is one of the oldest in the jargon,
   apparently going back to MIT in the 1960s. See {random}, {Suzie
   COBOL}. This may originally have been inspired by `J. Fred Muggs', a
   show-biz chimpanzee whose name was a household word back in the early
   days of {TMRC}, and was probably influenced by `J. Presper Eckert'
   (one of the co-inventors of the electronic computer). See also {Fred
   Foobar}.
    

J. Random Hacker

   <jargon> /J rand'm hak'r/ {MIT} jargon for a mythical figure;
   the archetypal {hacker} nerd.

   This may originally have been inspired by "J. Fred Muggs", a
   show-biz chimpanzee whose name was a household word back in
   the early days of {TMRC}, and was probably influenced by
   {J. Presper Eckert} (one of the co-inventors of the electronic
   computer).

   See {random}, {Suzie COBOL}.

   (1996-10-16)