I read the article Orphans Preferred (An excerpt from the book After the Gold Rush, by Steve McConnell)on Gamasutra.
This is a fairly interesting look at programmers, as compared to the
rest of the population. I think that what is really interesting is to
compare types within the field of programmers. The best known among
types of programmers are the hackers -- those whose work and culture
disproportionately influences technology. In addition to being the
types who design the tools and infrastructure that lets the
"mainstream programmers" do their work, these also tend to assume the
advisory roles, helping others through their problems, and writing
about the art of programming.
When thinking about "hackers", a long list of names springs to mind,
some famous, and others almost completely unknown outside of their own
community. John McCarthy (jmm), Richard Greenblatt (rwg), Guy Lewis
Steele (gls), JonL White (jonl), Bill Gosper, Richard Stallman (rms),
all from MIT; others proudly wear the title, including Don Knuth
(dek), Bill Joy (wnj), John Walker, and Jamie Zawinski (jwz).
No other virtual community has so well established its culture and its
contributions. Hackers have done this through their writings,
especially by means of such treasures as JARGON.TXT (now published as
The New Hacker's Dictionary), the HAKMEM series, and beautiful books
that describe the very essence of computing.
Returning to the MBTI discussed in the article Vince referenced, it's
noteworthy that almost all hackers are of the types INTP or INTJ.
Looking at the history and culture of hackers and the influence of
hackers on their community, it isn't difficult to see how many of the
stereotypes about "computer people", especially programmers, got their
start. The sometimes maniacal intensity, the complete lack of
acknowledgment of social structures and rank, and the apparent
disconnection with "reality" are hallmarks of not only the hacker
culture, but of the INT_ personalities (especially the INTP).
Given this apparent influence of the hackers on the stereotype of
programmers, it's particularly interesting to observe that, contrary
to stereotype, most hackers, despite their intense focus on The Hack,
are actually very well-rounded, intellectually. It isn't the least
bit uncommon to find a hacker who is also a competent amateur
physicist or mathematician. More surprisingly, the same can be said
of hackers who are competent musicians, historians, or followers of
other disciplines which seem completely unrelated to the hacker's
occupational choice.
Thus I leave you with some further reading for those interested in
more.
The New Hacker's Dictionary
http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/
How To Become A Hacker
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html
A Brief History of Hackerdom
http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/hacker-history/
--
Matt Curtin cmcurtin@interhack.net
http://www.interhack.net/people/cmcurtin/