Geek Code

a.k.a. The Code of the Geeks

Author: Robert A. Hayden

Tags: #geek

Inspired: Action Figure Code, Acorn Code, AFP Code, Animaniacs Code, Attrition Code, Autism Spectrum Code, BikeCode, Blogger Code, Board Game Geek Code 2023, Bob Code, Brit Code, BodMod Code, C-ADD Code, CoSy Code, Comic Geek Code, Cantab Code, dd Geek Code, Demo Scene Code, Disney Afternoon Signature Code, Doctor Who Geek Code, Dragon Code, Faanish Code 🔍, Furry Code, Futurama Geek Code, Hacker Code, Halfbakery Geek Code, Goth Code, H2G2 Researcher Code, Good Eats Geek Code, Homeschool Geek Code, Knitter's Geek Code, LEGO Code, Meta Geek Code, My Little Pony Geek Code, Moonie Code, Orion's Arm Geek Code, OmniCode, Otaku Code, Personal Growth Geek Code, Perl Geek Code, PuritanBoard Geek Code, Rat Code, Ranger Code, Rivetcode, Rockapella Geek Code, Scout Code, Sex Code (Powell) 🔞, SF2 Code, Sex Code (Psyche) 🔞, Simpsons Code, Sondheim Code, Space Geek Code, soc.bi code, Star Wars Fan Geek Code, Teen Geek Code, Transformers Code, Stephen King Code, uk.local.yorkshire Geek Code, Wallflowers Code, Wednesday Code, Were Code (SabreLion), Wheel of Time Geek Code, Where's George? Code, XML Geek Code, Whore Code 🔞🔍, Zoo Code 🔞

• Version 0.1
  • Specification (canonical, 1993-04-24)
• Version 0.2
  • Specification (canonical, 1993-04-27)
• Version 0.3
  • Specification (mirror, 1993)
• Version 1.0.1
  • Specification (mirror, 1993-07-17)
• Version 2.0
  • Specification (canonical, 1994-07-17)
• Version 2.1
  • Specification: www.aleph.se (mirror, 1994-07-18)
  • Specification: www.qrd.org (mirror, 1994-07-18)
• Version 3.0
  • Specification (mirror, 1995-07-15)
• Version 3.1
  • Encoder
  • Decoder
• Version 3.12
  • Specification: web.archive.org (canonical, 1996-03-05, archived)
  • Specification: geekcode.xyz (mirror) - archival mirror of geekcode.com
  • Encoder: www.joereiss.net
  • Encoder: moomoohk.github.io
  • Encoder: metacpan.org
  • Encoder: github.com
  • Decoder: www.ebb.org
  • Decoder: mj.ucw.cz
• Version 4.0
  • Specification (canonical, 2019-2020)
• Version 6.0
  • Specification (canonical, 2023-02-17)

Found on:

• alt.geek (newsgroup)

Referenced from:

• At least 80 signature codes
• Critter Code (archived)
• DataPacRat's Code Mirror
• Goth.Code Homepage (archived)
• Robin Powell's Code List
• Queer Resource Directory

See also:

• telavivmakers/geek_code GitHub Repo - Contains a history of Geek Code.
• Geek Code on Wikipedia
• "Geek Code: a piece of web history"
• Slashdot Interview with Wil Wheaton (2001-10-29) - Wil lists his own geek code

The Geek Code was one of the first widespread variants of the Natural Bears Classification System. As Juhani Anttila describes in an appendix for his thesis “Classifying Galaxies, Gays and Geeks - Signature Codes in Usenet postings”, its topics evolved substantially between versions.

Geek Code makes reference to Kibology, a parody religion discussed on alt.religion.kibology created by James “Kibo” Parry. This was also discussed on the forum itself.

Robert Hayden was the progenitor of the original Geek Code, but seems not to have been involved in versions beyond 3.12.

Many of the links in this section come from the telavivmakers/geek_code GitHub repo. Much appreciation to them for archiving and sharing their work.

The list of resources for Geek Code, particularly v3.12, is unlikely to be complete: the code is very popular and is a favorite for geeks to write tools for.