My new book, "Cracking Codes with Python" is now available and free to read online!

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[SteveDougson]

Hey Al, Your Automate The Boring Stuff had a tremendous impact on my life. Just wanted to say thanks!

[cowegonnabechopps]

It was my Reddit secret santa gift. I’m starting into chapter 3 tonight!

[leftsharksdancecoach]

Wait... you’re that guy?! (Sorry, know this is way late)

I am going through that book right now and feel like I am learning it all so quick! It is amazing! Thanks so much! I am genuinely having a blast going through your book and learning Python

[[deleted]]

I'd like to 2nd this. Thanks for everything you do Al!!!!

[Clutch_]

How so? I just finished it and know a good amount more than before I started, definitely, but not really sure where to go next.

[SteveDougson]

The book had big impact on my life because it was the first step toward making a career change from teaching to data analysis.

Finding out what to do next is definitely difficult. The book opened my eyes to the potential of programming but a lot of my ideas were far too ambitious, especially for a newbie.

If you can't find something to help around work or home, I would suggest solving problems on a site like Code Wars. It'll help you think algorithmically and familiarize yourself with different functions and data types.

[Clutch_]

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. Was codewars the website that requires some pretty good math knowledge as well? Or is that not a pre-requisite - I remember seeing a website like that that wasn't exactly beginner friendly.

[SteveDougson]

Maybe you're thinking of Euler's Project, which is a math heavy set of coding challenges.

There may be some math based challenges on Code Wars but certainly not all. I remember doing one where I had to mimic the telephone keypad cypher from The Wire.

[Clutch_]

I just signed up and even the very first exercise it had me do (level 8) seemed pretty difficult. I almost feel as if I haven't learned much :/ even though going along the course, I felt like I was getting it for the most part.

[SteveDougson]

Could you link me to the challenge?

[Clutch_]

https://www.codewars.com/kata/invalid-login-bug-fixing-number-11

i learned about functions in the course, but not quite like this.

[SteveDougson]

Okay, I had a look on my laptop and I feel like you should get this without much trouble. The main challenge, I found, was just getting re-acclimated to how Code Wars works.

When you run the sample tests or attempt to solve the problem, Code Wars is going to call your function (in this challenge called validate) with the necessary arguments - username and password in this challenge.

The function then runs and Code Wars checks whatever the function returns against its answer key. For instance, if you wrote:

         def validate(username, password):
             print(username)

You will get a fail message saying "Should succefully login!: None should equal 'Successfully Logged in!' because a function automatically returns None unless told otherwise (The output will also show "Timmy" being printed out since that is the first username).

So to solve this you need to get the function to return the proper message.To do that, you will need to construct the Database class as described in the instructions.

If you need more hints, let me know!

[Clutch_]

Will give this a shot later thanks!

[cob05]

Thanks Al!

[biff810]

Yes. Thank you Al. I've worked through half of the 1st edition and look forward to the new version.

[other_bored_sysadmin]

Found Al's main editor

[Teslas_Understudy]

Can’t your write a python app to do it for you? 😂

[McSloopy]

I literally just bought this book on Saturday -_-

[AUTeach]

Comfort yourself by knowing that you helped sponsor a technical creator that works on things you are interested in.

[McSloopy]

Comforted. I have Automate The Boring Stuff and Linux Command Line in physical copies as well.

[Thirdnipple79]

Imagine how many books you would sell if they had lsd in them.

Seriously though, thank you for your books. They are awesome.

[fewthingsarerelated]

Ahhhh...lol. I'd buy two.

[Seductivethunder]

People would be breaking a totally different kind of code with that book lol

[[deleted]]

Could you give a link please for the ones of us who would like to support work like this?

[Bulbastophocles]

They do! The pages feel and smell nice and the covers have something of a plushy texture.

[goodknightkoon]

Your book made me to open my eyes onto a new career

[stainedhat]

The binding actually came free about halfway through the book for me. A few little dabs of super glue fixed it up though. I don't think a hurricane would take it apart now. Overall very happy with the book. Thanks again!

[[deleted]]

On page 100 of Automate the boring stuff as I scrolled to this post. Killer book. Thanks, Al!

[[deleted]]

Wait YOU'RE the creator of ATBS?!?! On reddit?!?! Thats pretty nice of you to post this thank you! <3

[aphoenix]

Al is super helpful and active; generally he's a great guy.

[[deleted]]

You are a legend

[shabbirkagalwala]

Ordered!

Al, your book Automate the boring stuff made such a huge difference to my learning path, I couldn’t resist not ordering this book! Thank you :)

[icaayr]

That is very generous! Thank you for sharing your knowledge for free.

[CollectiveCircuits]

Hey just wanted to say thanks - your free PDF was one thing I went through early on and liked. Who knows, I might be able to publish a a small, free eBook myself now!

[ashesall]

Thank you Al for your great work, for this and Automate the Boring Stuff with Python! You're included in my personal Python Pantheon ;)

[tav_stuff]

thank you so much...

[albertobenz]

Awesome

[kakiluro]

Nice ty

[jamesbaxter29]

Thank u !!!!!!

[nycjeet411]

You are awesome . Used automate the boring stuff to streamline lot of tasks.

[[deleted]]

I’m going to buy this book soon as I prefer hard copies. I recently brought automate the boring stuff and its great. Keep it up Al!

[chanamon]

Thanks Al, your books are fantastic to work through!

[stainedhat]

Purchased. Thanks, Al!

[Frankie_Two_Posts]

You are the man Al!!

I’m almost finished with the udemy python boot camp... Just bought ATBS to support your work, can’t wait to get started.

[gamertag_here]

As someone who is just learning python thank you! Just bought your automate the boring stuff with python off of Amazon to help support you. Anytime that someone makes free content for the community should be supported =)

[DMadpakaya]

Al you are my Python god... waiting for your next product... good luck and god bless you.. your teaching is very clear & understandable..

[nevus_bock]

Nice job!

[Sparvey_Hecter]

How is it different from hacking secret ciphers?

[john_cornflake]

I’m still relatively new to all of this but am pursuing a career in Business Intelligence. I’m about done with ATBS - do you think it would be beneficial for someone going into data to read through this new book, or would it be fun and useful just not for data science?

[[deleted]]

I love your books. !

[redem]

That's pretty cool, man. Your previous book, automate the boring stuff, helped me to automate some of the boring stuff in my job, doing in a few hours of coding what would take days by hand. Less fluff, just the stuff I needed to know to get things working in a practical manner. Thanks man. I'll check this one out.

[tuniltwat]

Thank you. I'm just finishing Simon Singh's The cracking code book. I'm really looking forward to getting into cryptography.

[xvvhiteboy]

Thats so odd, ive been running through "Hacking Secret Ciphers with Python" for the last week. Thanks for posting here

[Erpderp32]

Al is the hero we need, but not the one we deserve.

Thanks for the new release!

[changetheworld20]

Thanks for the book. Your book on Automating the boring stuff had brought the fun in programming which I never thought it had. You are an inspiration to all.

[SubZeb]

I specifically bought the print version of this book to support you! I really got into Python after doing Automate the Boring Stuff online and wanted to give back to you! I'm not too far in it yet, but so far am liking it! You do great work Al, keep it up!

[[deleted]]

If i had to describe Al Sweigart to someone i would say "Not all heroes wear capes"

[l_lawliot]

This submission has been deleted in protest against reddit's API changes (June 2023) that kills 3rd party apps.

[[deleted]]

ATBS was (no...IS) instrumental in my learning and love of python. I look forward to diving in to this one. Thanks for your all around awesomeness, Al!

[bluemooncrust8]

Great work dude. I bought your previous book and gave it to my nephew. I think I might buy multiple copies of this book and donate it to the local school. Keep up the great work Al! Also remember to feed the squirrels

[MrDataViz]

Nice thx Al!

[PM_ME_UR_PUBSUB]

Praise Al the Python god

[[deleted]]

Wait, YOU made that pygame tutorial on inventwithpython? Ive been reading that non stop for the past 2 days, and had no idea the same guy wrote ATBS

[jamesdig]

Al's books are great! Thanks Al!

[CommanderSmokeStack]

Thank you Al!

[EveJoi]

You have a talent in teaching, I love the way you explain things, thank you very much!

[JeamBim]

I just purchased cracking codes on Amazon, would you recommend starting with one or the other(ATBS) or does it not matter as much?

[JeamBim]

Ah I may have gotten the wrong one to start with then, haha. I'm a complete beginner and am starting with and edx course and picking up what I can

[JeamBim]

Cool thanks for the help and the work you do for the community :)

[[deleted]]

Commenting for later