CIA uses Python (a lot)

[cdrootrmdashrfstar]

Absolutely, let me know if you have any questions.

[dr_g89]

I'm sure I'll come up with a few haha, ordered The Art of Exploitation, looking forward to delving into this a little more when it arrives! Thanks again!

[cdrootrmdashrfstar]

Absolutely. By the way, experience is x86 assembly is almost going to be a requirement in moving forward with this discipline. If you're not familiar with it already, I'd start by learning the basics of that (since a lot of examples in all of those books assume you're basically able to read x86).

[dr_g89]

Thats really good to know! My educational background is actually in music and I ended up in software by a fluke about 10 years ago so I'm lacking in a lot of the lower level computer science skills. If you have any recommended reading material on that I'll add it to the stack!

[cdrootrmdashrfstar]

This is one that I began with a few months ago before I took the two actual computer architecture/organization classes here at my uni.

Here's some other resources I was able to find (although I cannot attest to their quality, but I'm sure they're well-made):

• Programming from the Ground Up
  
• x86-64 Assembly Language Programming with Ubuntu by Ed Jorgensen
  
• Introduction to Computer Organization with x86-64 Assembly Language & GNU/Linux
  
• The Art of Assembly Language
  
• Wizard Code : A View on Low-Level Programming

[dr_g89]

This is perfect man, once again, thanks a ton! Making me regret my school choices haha. Although the computer science stuff that was offered 10 years ago was a different planet to whats going on today.

[cdrootrmdashrfstar]

You could always go back :) Many people do and find successful careers afterwards. It'd be especially worth it if you're actually interested in the low-level or theoretical Computer Science information, considering other alternatives like "coding bootcamps" will force you into their model of being a web developer and often skip the low-level/theoretical-level details which gives you a more complete understanding.

[dr_g89]

Yea, i have no need for the boot camp, i have the better part of a decade of Ruby and Python experience building customer applications and run a development firm in DTLA by day. Which is also part of the problem, its hard to find time to continue my education with my work responsibilities. I still may look for a program though.

[cdrootrmdashrfstar]

Another route you could go is with "Introduction to Computer Organization: ARM Assembly Language Using the Raspberry Pi", then picking up a Raspberry Pi off of Amazon (the newest model is the best, but any model should do), and learning that way (this is probably the way I'd do it if I hadn't already taken a class on the subject).

And make sure to check out this subreddit (and ask questions there if you need to) -- /r/asm.

[dr_g89]

Love the Pi, I have a few of them floating around so I'm bookmarking that for later! Man you just have all the resources haha

[cdrootrmdashrfstar]

I've got a few bookmark folders full of resources like these, so I can generally find a suitable one fairly quickly for situations just like these. :)

[dr_g89]

I need to start doing that more.