Which programming languages do hackers use? A survey at the German Chaos Computer Club

TL;DR

This study surveys members of the German Chaos Computer Club to identify which programming languages hackers use and how important these languages are for their activities, providing initial insights into hacker programming preferences.

Contribution

It presents the first scientific survey-based analysis of programming languages used by hackers within a major hacker organization.

Findings

Identifies popular programming languages among hackers

Assesses the importance of different languages in hacking activities

Provides foundational data for future research on hacker toolsets

Abstract

There are numerous articles about the programming languages most commonly used by hackers. Among them, however, there are hardly any scientific studies. One reason might be that hackers mainly operate anonymously and are difficult to reach. This paper aims to shed light on this interesting and relevant research question. In order to find answers, we conducted a survey among the members of the German Chaos Computer Club. As one of the world's largest organisations for information security and hacking, the club provides a good basis for our study. We examine the question of which programming languages are used by hackers as well as the importance of the programming language for their work. The paper offers first insights into the topic and can provide a starting point for further research.