Geek Code

a.k.a. The Code of the Geeks

Author: Robert A. Hayden

Date:

Tags: #geek

Specification (3.12)
geekcode.xyz
Encoder (3.12)
www.joereiss.net
Decoder (3.12)
www.dcode.fr

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.

Geek Code 3.1’s spec and date have not yet been found; the first reference available is for August 17, 1995.

Robert Hayden was the progenitor of the original Geek Code, but seems not to have been involved in versions beyond 3.12. He made allusions to working on Geek Code 4.0, noting in October 1996 that it “will be out ‘Real Soon Now’”, but no additional information about that work is available.

As of version 4.0, the group telavivmakers/geek_code GitHub repo has taken over documenting, describing, and evolving the code. Many of the changes to the code happened directly on GitHub, so the versions have a date and commit range rather than a single identifiable version. Many of the links in this section come from that 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.

Media coverage

The Geek Code received 5 pages of coverage in the February 1995 issue of bulletin board magazine Boardwatch.

It was mentioned in a brief paragraph in a Rolling Stone #732 article on page 20 published on April 18, 1996 - which itself was then described in an April 9 edition of the MSU Reporter.

Geek Code was also covered in the Washington Post on May 16, 1996, which was then published several times in modified forms as a syndicated article.

Example

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.1 GED/J d-- s:++>: a-- C++(++++) ULU++ 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++** ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
source

Details

Successors (3):

Inspired (97):

Found on:

Linked from:

Articles and Pages:

Known versions

Version 0.1 ():

Version 0.2 ():

Version 0.3 ():

Version 1.0.1 ():

Version 2.0 ():

Version 2.1 ():

Version 3.0 ():

Version 3.1 ():

Version 3.12 ():

Version 4.0 ():

Version 4.2 ():

Version 4.5 ():

Version 4.55 ():

Version 5.0 ():

Version 6.0 ():

Timeline

Details

Geek Code 0.1

Geek Code 0.2

Geek Code 0.3

Code of Codes (inspired)

Geek Code 1.0.1

CoSy Code 2.0 (inspired)

Geek Code 2.0

Geek Code 2.1

Animaniacs Code 1.1 (inspired)

Animaniacs Code 2.0 (inspired)

Animaniacs Code 2.1 (inspired)

Wheel of Time Geek Code (inspired)

Geek Code 3.0

Geek Code 3.1

Magic Code 0.86 (inspired)

LEGO Code 1.0 (inspired)

BluesCode (inspired)

BluesCode 1.0 (inspired)

Goth Code 1.0 (Beta) (inspired)

Goth Code 1.1a (inspired)

BluesCode 1.1 (inspired)

BluesCode 1.2 (inspired)

LEGO Code 1.1 (inspired)

Brit Code 1.1 (inspired)

Sondheim Code 1.3 (inspired)

"Lego Geek Code" (inspired)

LEGO Code 2.0 (inspired)

Simpsons Code 1.0 (inspired)

BluesCode 1.3 (inspired)

BluesCode 1.4 (inspired)

Geek Code 3.12

BluesCode 1.5 (inspired)

Goth Code 2.0 (inspired)

Animaniacs Code 2.2 (inspired)

Cric-Code 1.2 (inspired)

Simpsons Code 1.1 (inspired)

Animaniacs Code 2.2.1 (inspired)

Goth Code 2.0A (inspired)

Goth Code 2.5 (inspired)

Furry Code 1.0 (inspired)

Furry Code 1.1 (inspired)

Transformers Code 1.0 (inspired)

Furry Code 1.2 (inspired)

Goth Code 2.5A (inspired)

Magic Code 0.90 (inspired)

Transformers Code 1.1 (inspired)

Transformers Code 1.2 (inspired)

Furry Code 1.22 (inspired)

Animaniacs Code 2.2.3 (inspired)

Hamster Code 1.0 (inspired)

Simpsons Code 1.2 (inspired)

SF2 Code 1.0 (inspired)

SF2 Code 2.0 (inspired)

SF2 Code 3.0 (inspired)

SF2 Code 4.0 (inspired)

Magic Code 0.92 (inspired)

Magic Code 0.93 (inspired)

Magic Code 1.5 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.0b4 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.0b5 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.0b6 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.0b7 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.0b8 (inspired)

Action Figure Code 1.1 (inspired)

Goth Code 3.0 (inspired)

Rat Code 0.1 (inspired)

Hamster Code 1.3 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.1 (inspired)

Stephen King Code (inspired)

Bob Code 0.1 (inspired)

Bob Code 0.11 (inspired)

Bob Code 0.13 (inspired)

Bob Code 0.14 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.2 (inspired)

Goth Code 3.0A (inspired)

Goth Code 3.1 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.21 (inspired)

Goth Code 3.1A (inspired)

Meta Geek Code 1 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.22 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.23 (inspired)

Cantab Code v0.2.1 (inspired)

Faanish Code 1.0 (inspired)

Acorn Code v1.00 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.3 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.4 (inspired)

Whore Code 1.0 (inspired)

Dragon Code 1.0 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.0b (inspired)

Acorn Code v1.01 (inspired)

Whore Code 2.0 (inspired)

Whore Code (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.41 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.42 (inspired)

Disney Afternoon Signature Code (inspired)

AFP Code 0.1beta (inspired)

AFP Code 0.2beta (inspired)

Moonie Code 0.7.15 (inspired)

AFP Code 0.3beta (inspired)

AFP Code 0.4beta (inspired)

AFP Code 1.0 (inspired)

AFP Code 1.1 (inspired)

AFP Code 1.1a (inspired)

Moonie Code 0.8.1 (inspired)

Acorn Code v1.02 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.43 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.44 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 0.01 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 0.50 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 1.00 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 1.01 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 1.02 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 1.03 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 1.04 (inspired)

Demo Scene Code 1.05 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.45 (inspired)

alt.music.duran-duran Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Wednesday Code (inspired)

Wednesday Code 3point0 (inspired)

SF2 Code 5.0 (inspired)

Animaniacs Code 2.3.0r2 (inspired)

Teen Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Moonie Code 0.11.11 (inspired)

alt.disney.disneyland Code 0.1 (inspired)

Moonie Code 1.1.23 (inspired)

Furry Code 1.3 (inspired)

Goth Code 98 (inspired)

Space Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Were Code (SabreLion) 0.8b (inspired)

Were Code (SabreLion) v.4.3 Beta 2 RC3 Pass 4 (inspired)

Were Code (SabreLion) 0.9c (inspired)

AB/DL Code 0.1 alpha (inspired)

AB/DL Code 0.1 beta (inspired)

AB/DL Code 1.0 (inspired)

Rocky Horror Freak Code 1.01 (inspired)

Beatle Freak Code 1.01 (inspired)

Rocky Horror Freak Code 1.02 (inspired)

Rocky Horror Freak Code 1.1 (inspired)

Rocky Horror Freak Code 1.2 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.46 (inspired)

alt.music.duran-duran Geek Code 1.03 (inspired)

Ranger Code 0.1 (inspired)

Ranger Code 0.5 (inspired)

Ranger Code 0.8 (inspired)

Ranger Code 1.0 (inspired)

Ranger Code 1P (inspired)

Sex Code (Powell) 1.2 (inspired)

Sex Code (Powell) 1.3 (inspired)

Moonie Code 1.8.11 (inspired)

DTJ Code (inspired)

XML Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Space Geek Code 1.1 (inspired)

Rivetcode (inspired)

Geek-R 1.0 (inspired)

Geek-R 1.1 (inspired)

Geek-R 1.2 (inspired)

Geek-R 1.3 (inspired)

Moonie Code 1.12.o5 (inspired)

Space Geek Code 1.2 (inspired)

Homeschool Geek Code 1.0b (inspired)

alt.disney.disneyland Code 0.2.1 (inspired)

alt.disney.disneyland Code 0.3a (inspired)

alt.disney.disneyland Code 0.3b (inspired)

Rockapella Geek Code 1.2b (inspired)

RGFcode 1.0 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.47 (inspired)

BikeCode 0.1 (inspired)

BikeCode 0.2 ("FullEnglishBreakfast") (inspired)

Wallflowers Code 0.2 (inspired)

Conlanger Code 1.0 (inspired)

RGFcode 1.5 (inspired)

GargCode 1.0 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.1b (inspired)

Futurama Geek Code 0.9 beta (inspired)

Futurama Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

AFP Code 2.0 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.1 final (inspired)

RGFcode 1.6 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.2 (inspired)

Comic Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Furry Code 1.4.russian (inspired)

Star Wars Fan Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.3 (inspired)

uk.local.yorkshire Geek Code 1.05 (inspired)

Cantab Code v0.2.2 (inspired)

Cantab Code v0.3.0 (inspired)

Cantab Code v0.3.1 (inspired)

Cantab Code v0.3.2 (inspired)

Cantab Code v0.3.3 (inspired)

Cantab Code v1.0.0 (inspired)

Cantab Code v1.0.1 (inspired)

Cantab Code v1.1.0 (inspired)

Cantab Code v1.1.1 (inspired)

Cantab Code v1.1.2 (inspired)

Cantab Code v1.1.3 (inspired)

Cantab Code v1.1.4 (inspired)

Moonie Code 1.12.25 (inspired)

Moonie Code 1.14.15a (inspired)

Simpsons Code 1.3 (inspired)

Scout Code 1.4 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.4 (inspired)

Personal Growth Geek Code 0.4 (inspired)

Personal Growth Geek Code 0.5 (inspired)

My Little Pony Geek Code (inspired)

Conlanger Code 1.1 (inspired)

Perl Geek Code 0.01 (inspired)

ER Code 1.0 (inspired)

Multiple Code (Consortium) 1 beta (inspired)

HumanPIN 0.2 (inspired)

Halfbakery Geek Code (inspired)

BikeCode 0.2.1a ("FullScottishBreakfast") (inspired)

Gun Geek Code (inspired)

HumanPIN 0.4 (inspired)

RGFcode 1.8 (inspired)

RGFcode 1.9 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.5 (inspired)

EverQuest GeEQ Code 1.0 (inspired)

Otaku Code (inspired)

Otaku Code 3.0 (inspired)

HumanPIN 0.5 (inspired)

OmniCode 0.0.6 (successor)

OmniCode 0.1.0 (successor)

OmniCode 0.1.1 (successor)

OmniCode 0.1.2 (successor)

OmniCode 0.1.7 (successor)

Blogger Code (inspired)

Good Eats Geek Code 1.1 (inspired)

Autistic Spectrum Code 1.0 (inspired)

ODP .sig Code 1.2 (inspired)

Dragon Code 2.6 (inspired)

H2G2 Researcher Code (inspired)

Newsies Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Watership Down Code 1.1 (inspired)

Phainocode 2.0 (inspired)

HP Code 1.0 (inspired)

SCA Geek Code YF0307a (inspired)

SCA Geek Code YF0307b (inspired)

SCA Geek Code YF0307c (inspired)

HP Code 1.1 (inspired)

Hacker Key 0 (successor)

Linguist's Geek Code 0.9b1 (inspired)

Multiple Code (Consortium) (inspired)

Hacker Key 1 (Hooray) (successor)

Moonie Code 1.14.15c (inspired)

Knitter's Geek Code 1.0 (inspired)

Knitter's Geek Code 1.1 (inspired)

Phainocode 3.0 (inspired)

Zoo Code 1.50 (inspired)

Phainocode 3.1 (inspired)

Phainocode 3.2 (inspired)

Hacker Key 2 (Soul Sucking MegaCorp Edition) (successor)

Doctor Who Geek Code (inspired)

Where's George? Code (inspired)

Phainocode 4.0 (inspired)

H2G2 Researcher Code 1.1 (inspired)

Hacker Key 3 (Where You At Dawg Edition) (successor)

Phainocode 4.1 (inspired)

Hacker Key 4 (Remix) (successor)

Phainocode 4.11 (inspired)

Geek Code Reloaded 4.0R (successor)

SCA Geek Code YF07a (inspired)

PuritanBoard Geek Code (inspired)

EvE Geek Code 0.8 (inspired)

Naruto Fancode (inspired)

Orion's Arm Geek Code 1.0.1 (inspired)

HumanID 0.8 (inspired)

Pizza Code (inspired)

Geek Code 4.0

Geek Code 4.2

Geek Code 4.5

Geek Code 4.55

Geek Code 5.0

Geek Code 6.0

Board Game Geek Code 2023 0.1 (inspired)