Geekcode 2022

Another even year, another odd Geekcode.

The Geekcode is a very old tradition. It was written by Robert A. Hayden and last updated in 1996, It’s a formated series of codes that are not unlike the kind of at-a-glance keyword biography you now get on Twitter, only… well, geekier.

Here, it’s a kind of milestone marker. I’ve published my geekcode every other year since 1999, each year updating it “blind” – no looking at previous year’s codes, only following the original guidelines. So, my 2022 geekcode:

GCM$/IT$/PA d s+:+ a+ C++++ UL++++$ US- 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?

You can see what it means on this ancient decoder site, or in context with the last 24(?!) years.

There’s a few things I find interesting here. Because the geek code is a slice of history, it represents things that were important in 1996 (and, specifically, mostly around californian-university-usenet in 1996) that aren’t so much a thing anymore. My opinion on OS/2, the Internet Oracle (not that one), Kibo, VMS, Babylon 5, X-Files and original Doom haven’t changed a lot since the 1998 one.

Also documented here is my falling off Usenet in 2009, the gradual shift in age brackets, my opinion of Linux & Unixen over time, and the shifting ever further left of my personal politics. Oh, and the fall of Scott Adams.

It’s also the first time I’ve used a gender marker on it since 2014. My consideration of my gender hasn’t changed, but my decisions on using it apparently have.

Anyway, a vague snapshot of me as a person, ages 17 to 40. Alongside the rest of this chronic mess of a website. Maybe I’ll get back to it this year.

Who knows?

Here’s a picture of a puppy.