\dontleavehmode
\externalfigure[hacker][width=1cm] Same line!
\stoptext
</texcode>
=== Why the space is gobbled after some commands? ===
<texcode>
\starttext
X \externalfigure[hacker][width=1cm] X
\stoptext
</texcode>
Answer: When you don't use all of the optional square bracket arguments,
ConTeXt gobbles the space after the last square bracket. You have at
least 2 solutions:
<texcode>
\starttext
X \externalfigure[hacker][width=1cm][] X % adding empty square brackets
X \externalfigure[hacker][width=1cm]\ X % adding explicit space command
\stoptext
</texcode>