As I began exploring the world of programming, I was amazed by the sheer variety of languages and resources available. It quickly became clear that choosing the right language to start learning would be a challenging task, given the hundreds of different options and new languages constantly being created. In my research to pick the right language, I noticed that while some languages had widespread applications, each one had its own niche where it seemed to excel beyond its competitors. Among the most popular programming languages, JavaScript is widely used for web development, Python for its simplicity and versatility, Java for cross-platform development, C# for Windows applications, and PHP for server-side web development. Understanding the strengths of each language ultimately helped me decide which one to choose.
The key for me was to take a step back and ask myself two questions: “What do I want my code to do?” and “Why am I learning to code in the first place?” The answers were relatively straightforward: I wanted to learn coding to use it for penetration testing. So, I decided to research the coding languages that penetration testers use and why. Python emerged as the most popular choice due to its ease of learning and use, extensive libraries and tools, cross-platform compatibility with operating systems like Windows, Linux, and macOS, a large and active community, scripting and automation capabilities, and the fact that many popular pentesting tools like Burp Suite have built-in support for Python. With these factors in mind, I set out to teach myself Python.
One of the greatest advantages of learning Python is the abundance of resources available to help you master the language. With thousands of books, online courses, YouTube videos, apps, and even AI tools like Chat-GPT at your disposal, there’s no shortage of ways to learn. I’ve chosen to teach myself using a combination of books, YouTube tutorials, and assistance from Chat-GPT—which some might consider “cheating,” but that’s a discussion for another post. The books I’ve selected are “Black Hat Python” by Justin Seitz and Tim Arnold and “Python Crash Course” by Eric Matthes. I picked these two books because they both offer a fast-paced learning approach, and when used together, they streamline the process of learning Python specifically for penetration testing—the ultimate goal of my journey.
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As I embark on this exciting journey of learning Python, I look forward to sharing my progress with you through future posts here on The Red Tech Blog. By documenting my experiences, challenges, and successes, I hope to inspire others who are interested in programming and penetration testing. Additionally, I believe that sharing my learning process will help create a supportive community where we can exchange ideas, tips, and encouragement. So, stay tuned for updates on my Python programming adventure, and feel free to join the conversation by sharing your own experiences or asking questions in the comments section. Together, we can grow and learn as we explore the fascinating world of programming and cybersecurity. Happy coding!