Tag: shell

Try Hack Me – Cyber Security Challenges

Try Hack Me – Cyber Security Challenges

Sometimes I just stumble across these random resources that I immediately want to share with fellow geeks. If you like computers and programming, you should definitely have a look at…

https://tryhackme.com

TryHackMe started in 2018 by two cyber security enthusiasts, Ashu Savani and Ben Spring, who met at a summer internship. When getting started with in the field, they found learning security to be a fragmented, inaccessable and difficult experience; often being given a vulnerable machine’s IP with no additional resources is not the most efficient way to learn, especially when you don’t have any prior knowledge. When Ben returned back to University he created a way to deploy machines and sent it to Ashu, who suggested uploading all the notes they’d made over the summer onto a centralised platform for others to learn, for free.

To allow users to share their knowledge, TryHackMe allows other users (at no charge) to create a virtual room, which contains a combination of theoretical and practical learning components.. In early 2019, Jon Peters started creating rooms and suggested the platform build up a community, a task he took on and succeeded in.

The platform has never raised any capital and is entirely bootstrapped.

https://tryhackme.com/about

I don’t have any affiliation or whatever with the platform, but I just think it’s a super cool resource if you want to learn more about hands-on computer stuff.

Here’s a nice demo on an advanced programmer taking on one of the first challenges. I definitely still have a long way to go, but it’s fun to watch someone sneak into a (dummy) server and look for clues! Like a proper detective, but then an extra nerdy one!

There are many “hacktivities” you can try on the platform.

And if you’re serious about learning this stuff, there are learning paths set out for you!

If you like their content, do consider taking a paid subscription and share this great initiative!

CodeWars: Learn programming through test-driven development

CodeWars: Learn programming through test-driven development

As I wrote about Project Euler and CodingGame before, someone recommended me CodeWars. CodeWars offers free online learning exercises to develop your programming skills through fun daily challenges.

In line with Project Euler, you are tasked with solving increasingly complex programming challenges. At CodeWars, these little problems you need to solve with code are called kata.

Kata take a test-driven development approach: the programs you write need to pass the tests of the developer who made the kata in the first place. Only then are you awarded with honour and can you earn your ranks and progress to the more complex kata.

Sounds fun right? I’m definitely going to check this out, as they support a wide range of programming languages, each with many kata to solve!

Python, Ruby, C++, Java, JavaScript and many other main programming languages are already supported, but CodeWards is also still developing kata for more niche or upcoming languages like R, Lua, Kotlin, and Scala.

Comprehensive Introduction to Command Line for R Users

Comprehensive Introduction to Command Line for R Users

Too little time, too many things of interest. Here’s a resource that’s still on my to-do list: A Comprehensive Introduction to Command Line for R Users by rsquaredacademy.com

In this tutorial, you will be introduced to the command line. We have selected a set of commands we think will be useful in general to a wide range of audience. […] after completing this tutorial, readers should be able to use the shell for version control, managing cloud services (like deploying your own shiny server etc.), execute commands in R & RMarkdown and execute R scripts in the shell.

https://blog.rsquaredacademy.com/command-line-basics-for-r-users/

If you want a deeper understanding of using command line for data science, the original authors suggest you read Data Science at the Command Line. Moreover, Software Carpentry has a lesson on shell. More references are listed at the end of the original tutorial. Use the clickable table of contents to quickly browse to the topic of your interest: