Full Disclosure: I solicited Mr. Sweigart for an eBook copy of this book for review purposes. This was AFTER purchasing the original Hacking Secret Ciphers book for Python 2 around 3 years ago and AFTER purchasing a physical copy of Cracking Codes immediately upon release based solely on my love for the previous installment. If it makes you feel any better, he got me the eBook months ago, and I'm dreadfully late on my review.
I'm a huge fan of Mr. Sweigart's work. I found Hacking Secret Ciphers to be a brilliant primer on basic Python programming practices, and find that it has only been refined and updated in Cracking Codes. Many friends have expressed an interest in what I do and asked me where to begin to learn programming concepts, and I frequently point them toward Python and Mr. Sweigart's resources.
Cracking Codes walks you through several different methods of encoding messages with different ciphers using the Python programming language. From a simple Caesar cipher all the way through an implementation of the textbook RSA cipher. He walks you through from basic data types and decision structures through loops, data structures, common Python modules, and other advanced concepts. You read from and write to files, and learn to powerfully process and transform text with Python.
I frequently use Hacking Secret Ciphers/Cracking Codes and Automate The Boring Stuff as references for writing basic Python programs. They're outstanding resources, and it's a joy to go back through Cracking Codes, retype all the exercises, and troubleshoot them until they run. The diff tool on Mr. Sweigart's InventWithPython site is a godsend, and the ability to run the source code to see what my code should look like when it executes has helped me pass many a roadblock.
I don't quite understand how every cipher works or why it's difficult to hack, but I do generally get what each program is doing at any given point, and you can, too. If you don't quite get cryptography, this is also a neat way to look under the hood and get some of the basic concepts. It's pretty wild to see a computer hack a cipher in seconds that would take a human hours, days, or months -- if they could solve it at all.
An excellent and entertaining book of exercises. I wholeheartedly suggest it, especially for teens and adults interested in computer science and programming. Thank you for another great book, Mr. Sweigart!
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Customers find the book to be a brilliant primer on basic Python programming practices, with one customer noting how it helps powerfully process and transform text. Moreover, the content is comprehensive, with one review highlighting the historical context provided. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's entertainment value, with one mentioning it keeps beginners engaged for some time, and they like its approach to encryption.
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9 customers mention python knowledge, 9 positive, 0 negative
Good book to learn python off of.Read more
Nice book with all concepts clearly explainedRead more
...I found Hacking Secret Ciphers to be a brilliant primer on basic Python programming practices, and find that it has only been refined and updated in...Read more
...In this book you learn by doing. Then he walks you through line by line and explains everything in such a way that I gained an understanding of...Read more
6 customers mention content quality, 6 positive, 0 negative
...Codes with Python gets right into producing something that is comprehensive and useful. In this book you learn by doing....Read more
...Covers most of the basics, not very deeply though, but in my opinion good enough....Read more
...As a student of computer history, I really appreciated the historical context provided for why codebreaking and ciphers are so important to the...Read more
...types and decision structures through loops, data structures, common Python modules, and other advanced concepts....Read more
5 customers mention enjoyment, 5 positive, 0 negative
Just excellent.. I really enjoy this book.Read more
Reading, and as a Python primer; touching on a bit of crypto history in the process.Read more
...interest in cryptography & Network Security, this book makes learning python more interesting & useful. Highly recommended.Read more
Decent content, should keep a beginner busy for some time....Read more
3 customers mention encryption, 3 positive, 0 negative
Learn about computers, programming, and secret codes - all in one book!
Cracking Codes with Python is a fantastic introduction to the Python programming language -- and coding in general -- using the super-fun theme of codebreaking. What's especially fun about this approach is that you can use these secret codes to send messages to your friends -- it's way better than invisible ink. As a student of computer history, I really appreciated the historical context provided for why codebreaking and ciphers are so important to the history of computers and technology. It's also great that the book provides a companion website with answers to all the practice problems at the end of each chapter, so that you can easily check your work. I've recommended this book to folks who want to learn to code, and I'll keep doing so! By the end of it, you'll become quite the code-breaker and also a great Python programmer! I hope you enjoy it!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2021Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Cracking Codes with Python is a fantastic introduction to the Python programming language -- and coding in general -- using the super-fun theme of codebreaking. What's especially fun about this approach is that you can use these secret codes to send messages to your friends -- it's way better than invisible ink. As a student of computer history, I really appreciated the historical context provided for why codebreaking and ciphers are so important to the history of computers and technology. It's also great that the book provides a companion website with answers to all the practice problems at the end of each chapter, so that you can easily check your work.
Learn about computers, programming, and secret codes - all in one book!
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2021
I've recommended this book to folks who want to learn to code, and I'll keep doing so! By the end of it, you'll become quite the code-breaker and also a great Python programmer! I hope you enjoy it!
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Top reviews from other countries
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FedericoReviewed in Italy on March 17, 2022
Il miglior libro da affiancare alla teoria
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Sono uno studente del corso Cryptography e cercavo un libro che si approcciasse all'aspetto pratico della crittografia utilizzando Python e ho trovato questo MAGNIFICO libro. È proprio quello che cercavo!FedericoIl miglior libro da affiancare alla teoria
Reviewed in Italy on March 17, 2022
Il libro è molto ben strutturato seguendo la tipica impronta americana che si focalizza più sulla pratica che sulla teoria (che ho apprezzato molto).
La qualità del libro è notevole e la carta è buona, lo consiglio a tutti gli interessati alla materia.
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- Mehedi Hasan ShuvoReviewed in Australia on January 20, 2020
Love it.
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - Anustup kanrarReviewed in India on April 2, 2021
5 stars ! Awesome page and cover quality
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
