History Main / TechnoWizard

* Cole in ''Series/{{Tracker}}'' can do just about anything with human computers, including MacGyvering complex technologies from household items.

%% Image removed per Image Pickin thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17055984580.43651600
%% Please see thread to discuss a replacement.

[[quoteright:300:[[Website/SomethingAwful https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/technowizard.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Beware the power of the [[VisualPun installation wizard]]!]]

* The title character from ''Anime/BattleProgrammerShirase''. He can take on even the most skilled and well-equipped hacker with '''just a cellphone.'''
* Although much of Section 9 from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' counts, The Laughing Man leads the pack: he can, in a matter of moments, subvert an entire crowd's ''cybernetic eyes'' and show them what he wants them to see.
* Yuki Nagato from ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya''. She hacked a computer game ''while playing'' and disabled the cheating of its creators they were playing against. She [[http://i44.tinypic.com/2nqce4z.gif played it]] from the motherfucking ''code''. And she learned all those computer skills [[InstantExpert in a matter of days]], as you can see her [[RapidFireTyping typing faster and faster]] every day. Making it even better [[spoiler: she told Kyon in no uncertain terms that she wasn't using her data interface abilities; "I am staying within the limits of the programming."]]
* Nina from ''Manga/UltraManiac'' literally ''is'' a Techno Wizard because she needs to use a PC to cast spells due to her lack of skill.
%%* Washuu in ''Anime/TenchiMuyo''
%%* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'': Ami Mizuno (Sailor Mercury).
%%** And a very literal example with the Witches 5, who use a mix of magic and cobbled-together technology to fight.
%%* The heroes and villains of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' are a borderline example.

* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': [[Characters/{{Batgirl}} Barbara Gordon]] is a wizard with a computer, and has acted as the VoiceWithAnInternetConnection for teams across the DCU as Oracle, most notably the ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey''. She builds her own computers, occasionally with a little help from [[Characters/RobinTimDrake Tim Drake]], the most computer savvy of the Robins who has learned a lot from her. In her position as Oracle, she is often one of the, if not the most, powerful members of the superhero community without even leaving her carefully protected and booby-trapped clock tower.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* Otacon's techno-wizardry in the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Stray|Dahne}}'' is played up to the extent that he manages to build a homemade TimeMachine.
* Fanfic/PowerRangersWildFury features a MonsterOfTheWeek known as Techno-Wizard, complete with appropriate powers. Just before the [[MakeMyMonsterGrow obligatory mech battle]], he does a FusionDance with several of the villains’ spaceships to gain an armoured form on par with the Megazords.

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]
* Downplayed with Caleb from ''Film/ExMachina''. Nathan mentions that as a programmer he's "okay" or "pretty good" -- though that's from the perspective of the most groundbreakingly advanced programmer in the world. He does manage to access Nathan's computer system and reprogram the doors.

* Best-known film example: Q from the ''Film/JamesBond'' films. All of his gadgets are disguised as ordinary objects, even none electronic objects, with the [[Film/{{Goldeneye}} exploding pen]] being a prime example.
* As well as his counterpart, Merlin, in ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'', though his case is more downplayed, since [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome he can’t hack past biometrics locks]].
%%* Jones in ''Film/TheHuntForRedOctober'' both as movie and [[Literature/TheHuntForRedOctober book]].

* 'Gadgets' Schwartz of the HeroesRUs group ''Literature/AbleTeam'', (also nicknamed "The Wizard" on occasion by the other members of his PowerTrio).

* Charles Stross' ''Literature/TheLaundryFiles'', which includes a Palm Treo being turned into a [[spoiler: petrification gun.]]

%%* Foaly the centaur from the ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' series.
%%** Artemis, as well. Even Foaly grudgingly admits the kid is good.

%%* Felicity Smoak in ''Series/{{Arrow}}''.

* ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'': Felicity Smoak in ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' is said the be ''the'' best computer wizard/hacker. Cisco Ramone, on the companion show ''Series/TheFlash2014'' once performed a bit of difficult computering, and shouted out, "Who's the best hacker?" The entire rest of Team Flash responded, "Felicity Smoak!"

%%* Willow on ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', as well as Jenny Calendar.

* Adam on ''Series/{{CSINY}}''. He's their go-to guy for all things tech. In one case, some of the team wonder why an FBI alert for a particular criminal had never been put out. Mac replies that all the jurisdictions involved evidently hadn't gotten around to updating their databases so that the FBI wasn't aware of the guy...
-->'''Mac:''' until we made the connection for them. Besides, we have Adam.
-->[''Enter Adam, with the perp's location on his tablet.'']
-->'''Adam:''' Got him!

** Mickey Smith once described himself as "technical support", and has the hacking skills to match, for instance hacking into UNIT to find out what's going on in [[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion "The Christmas Invasion"]].
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E1AsylumOfTheDaleks Oswin Oswald]], the first version of Clara Oswald seen, is so good at hacking Dalek technology she shocks the Doctor. [[spoiler:It turns out this is because she was converted into a Dalek herself, and is suppressing her memory of it out of trauma.]]
** The original Clara Oswald, meanwhile, temporarily gains super-hacking skills after being partially uploaded to a data cloud in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E6TheBellsOfSaintJohn "The Bells of Saint John"]], as the uploaders spliced her a computer skills package. She puts them to good use tracking down the uploaders' location. It's implied that most of the computer skills faded after a while, as in [[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor "The Time of the Doctor"]], the Doctor complains about her not knowing how to use [=iPlayer=] (the BBC's online media player).
** Nardole is quite good at hacking. Probably his most impressive moment was hacking fuel lines to blow up as a weapon against Cybermen in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls "The Doctor Falls"]].

* ''Series/{{Primeval}}'''s dorky genius Connor Temple. Among other magic, dude built the anomaly detector (and handheld versions) AND the anomaly locker AND figured out how to program a piece of future tech without ever having seen the equipment before. Now if he could just reverse-engineer Abby...

* Cole on ''Series/{{Tracker}}'' could do just about anything with human computers, including MacGyvering complex technologies from household items.

* Claudia in ''Series/Warehouse13'', who to Artie's horror is skilled at hacking the Warehouse's own SteamPunk[=/=]DieselPunk SchizoTech, in addition to more conventional PlayfulHacker skillz.

* Aiden Pearce in Ubisoft's ''VideoGame/WatchDogs''. With one thumb and a smartphone, he makes all of Chicago his technological bitch.
** Marcus Holloway and the San Fransisco branch of [=DedSec=] go several steps beyond in ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2''.
%%* Naomi from ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' plays this role in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' (with some help from Mei Ling); Otacon in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty''.
%%* Li Kohran in ''VideoGame/SakuraWars''.
%%* Professor Elvin Gadd, ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'' series (specifically, ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'').

[[folder:Web Original]]

%%* The Literature/BastardOperatorFromHell.
%%* The Wireless Wizard from ''WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad''.
%%* Dragon and Andrew Richter from ''Literature/{{Worm}}''. Also any tinker that specializes in computers.

%%* Walter "Doc" Hartford from ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'' is a AI Psychiatrist.

* In ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'', Donatello definitely fits the trope-- humorously, he's been referred to as a wizard on more than one occasion: the ''Back to the Sewers'' episode "Superquest", and constantly called "Mr. Wizard" by his dimensional counterpart in ''WesternAnimation/TurtlesForever''.
%%* "Brains" from ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}''.

* ''Franchise/TheDCU'':
** ''ComicBook/{{Oracle}}'' is a wizard with a computer, and has acted as the VoiceWithAnInternetConnection for teams across the DCU, most notably the ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey''. She builds her own computers, occasionally with a little help from [[ComicBook/Robin1993 Tim Drake]], the most computer savvy of the Robins who has learned a lot from her. In her position as Oracle, she is often one of the, if not the most, powerful members of the superhero community without even leaving her carefully protected and booby-trapped clock tower.
%%* The Wizard, enemy of the ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''.
%%* By a similar token, the chief scientist of Franchise/TheDCU's OSS is codenamed "Sorcerer".
%%** Calculator (for the RoguesGallery). Savant (a ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey'' rogue) has a few shades of this.
%%** The Pied Piper/Hartley from ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' series.

%%* Forge from the various ''Franchise/XMen'' continuities.

%%* Naomi from ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' plays this role in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' (with some help from Mei Ling); Otacon in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2''.

%%* Best-known film example: Q from the ''Film/JamesBond'' films.
%%* As well as his counterpart, Merlin, in ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService''

* Otacon's techno-wizardry in the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Stray}}'' is played up to the extent that he manages to build a homemade TimeMachine.

** ''ComicBook/{{Oracle}}'' is a wizard with a computer, and has acted as the VoiceWithAnInternetConnection for teams across the DCU, most notably the ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey''. She builds her own computers, occasionally with a little help from [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], the most computer savvy of the Robins who has learned a lot from her. In her position as Oracle, she is often one of the, if not the most, powerful members of the superhero community without even leaving her carefully protected and booby-trapped clock tower.

Doesn't necessarily have to do with the music genre {{Techno}}, though in that case you might be looking for MagicMusic.

* Yuki Nagato from ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya''. She hacked a computer game ''while playing'' and disabled the cheating of it's creators they were playing against. She [[http://i44.tinypic.com/2nqce4z.gif played it]] from the motherfucking ''code''. And she learned all those computer skills [[InstantExpert in a matter of days]], as you can see her [[RapidFireTyping typing faster and faster]] every day. Making it even better [[spoiler: she told Kyon in no-uncertain terms that she wasn't using her data interface abilities; "I am staying within the limits of the programming."]]
* Nina from ''Manga/UltraManiac'' literally [=*is*=] a Techno Wizard because she needs to use a PC to cast spells due to her lack of skill.

** ''ComicBook/{{Oracle}}'' is a wizard with a computer, and has acted as the VoiceWithAnInternetConnection for teams across the DCU, most notably the ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey''. She builds her own computers, occasionally with a little help from [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], the most computer savvy of the Robins who has learned a lot from her. In her position as Oracle she is often one of the, if not the most, powerful member of the superhero community without even leaving her carefully protected and booby-trapped clock-tower.

** Chuck himself is quite adept, being able to bypass FULCRUM-encryption in minutes, amongst other things. He uses these skills to great effect as a BadassNormal, in season five.

* Adam on ''Series/{{CSINY}}''. He's their go-to guy for all things tech. In one case, some of the team wonder why an FBI alert for a particular criminal had never been put out. Mac replies that all the jurisdictions involved evidently hadn't gotten around to updating their databases, so that the FBI wasn't aware of the guy...

** Nardole is quite good at the hacking. Probably his most impressive moment was hacking fuel lines to blow up as a weapon against Cybermen in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls "The Doctor Falls"]].

* Alec Hardison from ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' embodies this trope -- he can hack ''anything'' (except a hick). Bonus points awarded for the fact that, like a real life hacker, he uses social engineering almost as much as technical know-how to get what he wants... although he does have a tendency to take things a bit too far.

* ''Series/{{Nikita}}'': Birkhoff, [[GovernmentConspiracy Division's]] chief computer expert. Bonus points for designing his own computer network (Shadownet) and making it look enough like a computer game that any of Division's recruits can easily learn how to use it.

* Eventually revealed to be literal in ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' when Sollux Captor is revealed to be a Mage of Doom. Beforehand, his coding was proficient enough to write a virus that made computers explode as well as curse the victim and anyone they knew. Apparently there are entire OS themed around what's essentially and/or coding that's [[SympatheticMagic sympathetic]] to real world conditions. Might have something to do with the world being a RPGMechanicsVerse. Combined with the implementation of an esoteric ItemCrafting system that runs on punch card coding to [[MatterReplicator recreate]] or [[MergingMachine combine]] ''any'' object and you can have him make you literally anything.
* One of Remula's personalities in ''Webcomic/{{Jix}}'' named Lamerix is constantly creating weird devices that wreak havoc in the comic. Even before Lamerix surfaced, Remula reverse engineered a device she had seen briefly.

* Given that the majority of computer users don't step far outside of video games, browsing the Internet and email, pretty much anyone with an education in the subject beyond high school level can appear to be this. However, old school hacker purists will always maintain that there is a clear and important difference between "hacking" (i.e. using an original, creative, and/or unconventional procedure to get a computer or system to do something useful) and "cracking" (achieving unauthorized access to a secure system, usually for nefarious ends but occasionally just to see what's there or prove that one can do it). Hackers in the original sense generally disdain and have no use for crackers, who are widely seen as inferior in terms of their knowledge and skill level (indeed they're more likely to trick the user into giving them access than force their way in) and who often use widely known exploits to do Bad Things. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Script_kiddie Script Kiddie]]. Hollywood almost always ignores this distinction, to the extreme consternation of those that care about such minutiae.
* [[http://www.bellard.org/ Fabrice Bellard]]. In 1997 he discovered a new, faster formula to calculate single digits of pi in binary representation. Won the International Obfuscated C Code Contest twice (including one entry being a self hosted C compiler). In 2004, he wrote the [=TinyCC=] Boot Loader, which can compile and boot a Linux kernel from source in less than 15 seconds. In 2005, he designed a system that could act as an Analog or DVB-T Digital TV transmitter by directly generating a VHF signal from a standard PC and VGA card. In 2011, he created a minimal PC emulator written in pure [=JavaScript=]. Broke the world record for calculations of pi using a desktop computer instead of a supercomputer. Has written both the QEMU emulator ''and'' [=FFmpeg=] (a widely used multimedia encoding, decoding and editing library).

* Yuki Nagato from ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya''. She hacked a computer game ''while playing'' and disabled the cheating of it's creators they were playing against. She [[http://i44.tinypic.com/2nqce4z.gif played it]] from the motherfucking ''code''. And she learned all those computer skills [[InstantExpert in a matter of days]], as you can see her [[RapidFireTyping typing faster and faster]] every day. Making it even better [[spoiler: she told Kyon in no-uncertain terms that she wasn't using her data interface abilities; "I am staying within the limits of the programming."]]

[[caption-width-right:300:Beware the power of the [[VisualPun installation wizard]]!]]]]

[[quoteright:300:[[VisualPun https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/technowizard.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad WIRELESS WIZARD!!!]]]]

* Ax was the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' resident techno whiz, due to Andalite knowledge being highly advanced compared to our own.
* 'Gadgets' Schwartz of the HeroesRUs group ''Literature/AbleTeam'', (also nicknamed "The Wizard" on occasion by the other members of his PowerTrio).
* Considering the fact that Nanaki of the Literature/TanteiTeamKZJikenNote series single-handedly turns the house he's cloistered in to run nearly completely in artificial intelligence (and an occasional driverless car), he falls into this.
* AEGIS from ''Literature/{{Exhuman}}'' is a girl locked in a dark room for dozens of years with nothing but a blank computer. Within days of it coming back online, she's written custom drivers to get an abandoned industrial factory up and running and is churning out blueprints for her own spy network and personal robot army. All while giving romantic advice to her superpowered roommate.

* ''Series/{{Nikita}}'': Birkhoff, [[GovernmentConspiracy Division's]] chief computer expert. Bonus points for designing his own computer network ([[AwesomeMcCoolname Shadownet]]) and making it look enough like a computer game that any of Division's recruits can easily learn how to use it.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Life}}'', Madison can solve almost any problem with her programs. Take, for example, [[http://www.cha0sden.com/Life.php?comic=61 her approach to a calculus test]].

* The title character from ''Anime/BattleProgrammerShirase''. He can take on even the most skilled and well-equipped hacker with '''just a cellphone.'''
* Nina from ''Manga/UltraManiac'' literally [=*is*=] a Techno Wizard because she needs to use a PC to cast spells due to her lack of skill.
* Yuki Nagato from ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya''. She hacked a computer game ''while playing'' and disabled the cheating of it's creators they were playing against. She [[http://i44.tinypic.com/2nqce4z.gif played it]] from the motherfucking ''code''. And she learned all those computer skills [[InstantExpert in a matter of days]], as you can see her [[RapidFireTyping typing faster and faster]] every day. Making it even better [[spoiler: she told Kyon in no-uncertain terms that she wasn't using her data interface abilities; "I am staying within the limits of the programming."]]
* Although much of Section 9 from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' counts, The Laughing Man leads the pack: he can, in a matter of moments, subvert an entire crowd's ''cybernetic eyes'' and show them what he wants them to see.

* ComicBook/{{Oracle}} is a wizard with a computer, and has acted as the VoiceWithAnInternetConnection for teams across the DCU, most notably the ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey''. She builds her own computers, occasionally with a little help from [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], the most computer savvy of the Robins who has learned a lot from her. In her position as Oracle she is often one of the, if not the most, powerful member of the superhero community without even leaving her carefully protected and booby-trapped clock-tower.

* Hackerman from ''Film/KungFury''. His knowledge of HollywoodHacking extends to the point that he can [[TimeTravel hack into time itself]].
* Downplayed with Caleb from ''Film/ExMachina''. Nathan mentions that as a programmer he's "okay" or "pretty good" -- though that's from the perspective of the most groundbreakingly advanced programmer in the world. He does manage to access Nathan's computer system and reprogram the doors.

* Felicity Smoak in ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' is said the be ''the'' best computer wizard/hacker in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''. Cisco Ramone, on the companion show ''Series/TheFlash2014'' once performed a bit of difficult computering, and shouted out, "Who's the best hacker?" The entire rest of Team Flash responded, "Felicity Smoak!"

* Aiden Pearce in Ubisoft's ''VideoGame/WatchDogs''. With one thumb and a smartphone, he makes all of Chicago his technological bitch.
** Marcus Holloway and the San Fransisco branch of [=DedSec=] go several steps beyond in ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2''.
* Pascal from ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'', she's so technologically savvy, she fills all the plot holes. She's also a mage.

* Eventually revealed to be literal in ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' when Sollux Captor is revealed to be a Mage of Doom. Beforehand, his coding was proficient enough to write a virus that made computers explode as well as curse the victim and anyone they knew. Apparently there are entire OS themed around what's essentially and/or coding that's [[SympatheticMagic sympathetic]] to real world conditions. Might have something to do with the world being a RPGMechanicsVerse. Combined with the implementation of an esoteric ItemCrafting system that runs on punch card coding to [[MatterReplicator recreate]] or [[MergingMachine combine]] ''any'' object and you can have him make you literally anything.

* Hafidha Gates of the ''Literature/ShadowUnit'' has a paranormal boost to her technical skills which she describes as "having perfect pitch for computers", with the practical result being that she can effortlessly hack into any computer connected to the Internet. Soon after the start of the series she also develops {{Technopath}}ic powers, which lets her work her Techno Wizardry even faster.
* The children in WebOriginal/TheInnocent. THey are effectively able to hack into every computer.

* Several ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' characters qualify; usually if there's one person responsible for development and maintenance of the team's gear. This can be either the team's SmartGuy or a separate MissionControl character. The list of these people includes but is not limited to [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Billy]], [[Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue Miss Fairweather]], [[Series/PowerRangersTimeForce Trip]], [[Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm Cam]], [[Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder Hayley]], [[Series/PowerRangersSPD Kat Manx]], [[Series/PowerRangersRPM Dr. K]], and [[Series/PowerRangersSamurai Antonio]].

* Felicity Smoak in ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' is said the be ''the'' best computer wizard/hacker in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''. Cisco Ramone, on the companion show ''Series/TheFlash'' once performed a bit of difficult computering, and shouted out, "Who's the best hacker?" The entire rest of Team Flash responded, "Felicity Smoak!"

[[caption-width-right:300:[[WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad WIRELESS WIZARD!!!]]]]]

[[caption-width-right:300:[[WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad WIRELESS WIZARD!!!]] [[note]]Reading Wiki/TVTropes on a monitor a few inches away? [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife For shame!]][[/note]]]]

* Eventually revealed to be literal in ''Webcomic/Homestuck'' when Sollux Captor is revealed to be a Mage of Doom. Beforehand, his coding was proficient enough to write a virus that made computers explode as well as curse the victim and anyone they knew. Apparently there are entire OS themed around what's essentially and/or coding that's [[SympatheticMagic sympathetic]] to real world conditions. Might have something to do with the world being a RPGMechanicsVerse. Combined with the implementation of an esoteric ItemCrafting system that runs on punch card coding to [[MatterReplicator recreate]] or [[MergingMachine combine]] ''any'' object and you can have him make you literally anything.

%%* Hasegawa Chisame from ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' became one after her pactio.

* Otacon's techno-wizardry in the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' fanfic ''FanFic/{{Stray}}'' is played up to the extent that he manages to build a homemade TimeMachine.

* One of Remula's personalities in ''WebComic/{{Jix}}'' named Lamerix is constantly creating weird devices that wreak havoc in the comic. Even before Lamerix surfaced, Remula reverse engineered a device she had seen briefly.

[[caption-width-right:300:[[WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad WIRELESS WIZARD!!!]] [[note]]Reading Wiki/TVTropes on a monitor a few feet away? [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife For shame!]][[/note]]]]

* Yuki Nagato from ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya''. She hacked a computer game ''while playing'' and disabled the cheating of it's creators they were playing against. She [[http://i44.tinypic.com/2nqce4z.gif played it]] from the motherfucking ''code''. And she learned all those computer skills [[InstantExpert in a matter of days]], as you can see her [[RapidFireTyping typing faster and faster]] every day. Making it even better [[spoiler: she told Kyon in no-uncertain terms that she wasn't using her data interface abilities; "I am staying within the limits of the programing."]]