Ask HN: What came first: the hacker or the program?

Assuming you mean the positive sense of 'hacker', the basic concept predates computer software. The MIT model railroad club is the best example off the top of my head.

Think and act

It's a fun question to ask yourself. "If I was born 100 years ago, what would I be doing?"

Hackers have always existed. The difference is now we have the ability to amplify our creativity through technology. The end result is what we've seen over the past 60 years: people rapidly building on other people's ideas, generating accelerating technologies, returns, and wealth along the way.