Geek Code

a.k.a. The Code of the Geeks

Author: Robert A. Hayden

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 (93):

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: