Cracking Codes with Python: An Introduction to Building and Breaking Ciphers

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!

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!

As a Python tutorial, it is superb - comprehensive, well organized and painless. Follow along with the exercises and you'll end up with a good working knowledge of the language. Each succeeding chapter introduces more and more complex and useful language constructs, each of which is identified in the accompanying text and clearly explained. Indeed, it is the use of constructs like lists and dictionaries that make Python the very valuable and powerful scripting tool that it is.

As a Code Cracking tutorial, it is, as declared in the book sub-title, an "Introduction". You'll see how various algorithmic strategies can be used against comparatively simple ciphers. The techniques include frequency analysis, word pattern matching and dictionary tests for decrypted text.

But the book is more about Learning Python than it is about Cracking Codes. Upon completing it you'll emerge a journeyman Python programmer and a novice cryptographer.

Not much to dislike here guys! It's good to have some basic knowledge of python in hand. However, if you don't just take it one chapter at a time. It's worth it!

Prior to picking this book up I had made various attempts to learn how to program. I would go good for a while, but then I would get bored with it and move onto something else. The practice codes that other sources provide, just don't seem to hold interest due to them not really being useful. However, Cracking Codes with Python gets right into producing something that is comprehensive and useful. 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 previously misunderstood concepts.

Decent content, should keep a beginner busy for some time. I picked project in there and modified it so it can decode and code stuff the way I like it and added a some what UI to it. Covers most of the basics, not very deeply though, but in my opinion good enough. Would recommend, but if ur looking into cyber security, look else where, as the encryption technique in here is really just practice for newer engineers. If your looking to start your python career somewhere and specifically cyber security, this is much better than the other books on the basics.

Good tutorial of basic python programming with the added bonus of interesting introduction to encrypting and decrypting old ciphers. It's probably the only tech book I ever read from cover to cover.

Great Book really breaks down the fundamentals of cracking.

Quality of the book is awesome. Gave 5 start for the book quality and availability. Delivery was on time. Over all awsome experience

A great book, but only for those who are programming Python for the first time and also have no idea about the history of cryptography. But nothing else has been promised.

One can get into Python programming and cryptography without any prior knowledge. Each chapter introduces successively further into Python programming and at the same time into the history of cryptography.

The theory, the code and also the examples are very well explained.

Also, the presentation as an ebook for Kindle is also well done, which is not a given with technical books.

I haven't sat down in earnest to study it. But, having flicked through the contents, it seems an good way to learn.

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!

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.

I'm addicted to these No starch Python books.

Cracking Codes is a great starting point for ciphers and encryprions. Well explained easy to follow.

Worth every cent!!