EMACS refers to a class of text editors, possessing an extensive set of features, that are popular with computer programmers and other technically proficient computer users. The original EMACS, a set of Editor MACroS for the TECO editor, was written in 1975 by Richard Stallman, and initially put together with Guy Steele. Many versions of EMACS have appeared over the years, but now there are two that are commonly used: GNU EMACS, started by Richard Stallman in 1984 and still maintained by him, and XEmacs, a fork of GNU EMACS which was started in 1991 and has remained mostly compatible. In this chapter, the development of EMACS is used to illustrate how hacker culture and the FLOSS innovation co-evolved over the development process.
Published in Chapter:
Hacker Culture and the FLOSS Innovation
Yu-Wei Lin (University of Manchester, UK)
Copyright: © 2007
|Pages: 13
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59140-999-1.ch004
Abstract
This chapter aims to contribute to our understanding of the free/libre open source software (FLOSS) innovation and how it is shaped by and also shapes various perceptions on and practices of hacker culture. Unlike existing literature that usually normalises, radicalises, marginalises, or criminalises hacker culture, I confront such deterministic views that ignore the contingency and heterogeneity of hacker culture, which evolve over time in correspondence with different settings where diverse actors locate. I argue that hacker culture has been continuously defi ned and redefi ned, situated and resituated with the ongoing development and growing implementation of FLOSS. The story on the development of EMACSen (plural form of EMACS—Editing MACroS) illustrates the consequence when different interpretations and practices of hacker culture clash. I conclude that stepping away from a fi xed and rigid typology of hackers will allow us to view the FLOSS innovation from a more ecological view. This will also help us to value and embrace different contributions from diverse actors including end-users and minority groups.