Brewology

Hacker: people who circumvent security and break down code to gain an end (CFW, running backups, homebrew)

Modder: someone who physically modifies their systems to gain a new feature (LEDs, More memory, unique looks, and unique functionality, controller ports, rapid fire, etc)

Brewer: a designer of software to be used to increase functionality( PSPtube, IRshell, Homebrew games and apps)

User: someone who benefits from the work of hackers and brewers




also if you think of any more categories (file pirate, cyber punk, technical assistant) tell me ill add it to the list

I would think most of us are modders. In my opinion the "hackers" are the true pioneers.

If you have to wait for a custom firmware release you are a modder.

If you write your own firmware and programs, you hack.

End of discussion.

Exactly I also would consider people who take things apart like say the PS3, to see whats inside would be modders, but if they take apart say an old PS2 and put your own harddrive in and put pirated games on it then thats a hacker.

i think i agree. i mod and ive gotten absurdly good at it. but people who make their own original ideas are hackers. theyre artists

They're GODS.

For people just running the simple pandora creation tools to modify the psp, i wouldn't consider them anything. Would you consider someone a modder for installing firefox on their PC and using that instead of IE or something? Of course not... All they are doing is running an application, same as a PC.

I think to be a hacker, you actually have to be doing the hack-ing... physically breaking security measures on your own (or in teams, you know what i mean).

I believe a modder has to be doing some kind of physical modification.

99% of the people on these boards don't really fall into either category in my opinion.

brent is right.
Most are neither hackers or modders.
Modders = people who mod things to be different than they were designed to be
Hackers(in the PSP scene) = people who code/find exploits and are usually smarter than the average bear

Imo, I agree close to mostly everyone. There are different kind of hackers but I believe the mainstream definition as well as mine is someone who can/did break security measures using their own prior knowledge of some sort of electronic device.

Modders are just someone who modify some sort of electronic device to suite their own needs, probably more physically than software. Even though hackers use any means necessary including social engineering, I think hackers are modders while just because you are a modder doesn't mean your a hacker.

Until you find it in webster's famous book, I don't think there can be a definitive answer although anyone following a tutorial I believe is neither. Someone who pioneer's their own creations are either modders or hackers. Similar to what brent said but I believe at least 75% of people not on just this board but on any forums in regards to any electronic device can be called either. The other 25% are made up of people on forums like overclock.net or dark alex in the psp scene.

But just because your a "hacker" doesn't mean your smarter than the average bear. It just means your good at what you do. Anyone such as doctors, or even garbage men can be smart according to that definition that your good at what you do. Sometimes it just means you read a ton of books.

O yea, Happy Merry Christmas Eve!

From merriam-webster:




I guess through basic definition all custom firmware users could be considered a hacker, but I think it would be demeaning to real hackers to do so...

i never really like the word "hacker" maybe programming rogue would be more appropriate? the word hacker implies criminal.

as for the other 75%? i dunno. they are important too and shouldnt be called posers or "users'. maybe... brewers?

Thats because hacker either means or implies circumventing security or copyright... which are criminal acts. So yes, hacker does mean/imply criminal.

As far as the every day user, I would never call myself a hacker. I have not personally sat down with some code and tried to break it down. I haven't run programs to do some brute-force cracking to get passwords or anything of the sort. I have used different utilities to decrypt psp firmware files to hex edit the XMB, but I still don't deem that hacking.

I would however call myself a modder as I have actually physically modified my Wii and 2 psp's.

Had I JUST slapped custom firmware on my psp or added the homebrew channel to my Wii, I wouldn't feel right calling myself either. I'm just using a program. I wouldn't even go so far as to call myself a brewer. I would save that title for someone actually developing the software. Users are users.

but not all hackers should be called criminals. is DAX criminal? no i dont think so. but by our defintition he IS a hacker.

i too have modded my 2 psp's, my ps2, and my original xbox.

so here is how it stands

Hacker: people who circumvent security and break down code to gain an end (CFW, running backups, homebrew)

Modder: someone who physically modifies their systems to gain a new feature (LEDs, More memory, unique looks, and unique functionality)

Brewer: a designer of software to be used to increase functionality( PSPtube, IRshell, Homebrew games and apps)

User: someone who benefits from the work of hackers and brewers

so why doesnt everyone briefly list what category you fall under? and maybe some projects you've completed so we can maybe learn more about each other and perhaps endeavor in doing more projects?

also if you think of any more categories (file pirate, cyber punk, technical assistant) tell me ill add it to the list

I'm sure what DAX did in the beginning was probably illegal. The only way for software releases such as DAX's to be legal is to not only not contain copyrighted code, but to also have been developed without copyrighted code as well. I'm sure almost every legal release in the realm of hacking started with illegal activity.

Don't forget that modding is not only pretty shiny lights, but also equipment such as chips and LCD screens as well as other modifications (controller ports, rapid fire, etc.).

true. what he did was edit the code, but im pretty sure reverse engineering is legal. dont quote me on it though.

duly noted. ill include that in the description

About modders, I believe you are still one even if you copy someone else's idea or don't come up with any on your own. As long as you can follow directions on your own and succeed you are a modder.