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Programming Cheatsheets

You know that saying in security? "Programming is the cure for script kiddies." It's true , but here's the thing: it's not just about using tools. You need to understand how they work , tweak them , build your own , and solve problems that nobody's solved before

These cheatsheets won't teach you everything , though they cover a ton. Think of them as your quick reference guide. When you're a security pro , you'll need to write code fast , read code you've never seen , and build tools that actually work. That's what these are for. And remember , you own your brain

Here's how to use them:

  • Learning something new? Start with the basics , then skip right to the security stuff when you're ready
  • Need a quick reminder? Check the table of contents. You'll find exactly what you need in seconds
  • Building something cool? Jump to the cookbook sections for real world examples you can actually use
  • Focus on security? Most of these include security specific sections and common vulnerabilities you should know about

Categories

Shell Scripting

Bash , PowerShell , Regex - the glue that holds your terminal together Everything from one-liner log parsing to full automation pipelines Start here if you spend more time typing commands than writing code

Compiled Languages

C , C++ , Rust , Go , Java , Kotlin - compile-to-native/binary languages These are the performance kings. Memory management , system programming , and the kind of speed that makes Python blush Start here if you're building tools that need to be fast or poking at binaries

Web Languages

HTML/CSS , JavaScript , TypeScript , PHP - the browser and the server-side glue Everything that makes the web render and the APIs that feed it Start here if you're testing web apps or building frontends

Data & Scripting

Python , SQL - the data manipulation and automation workhorses Python does everything. SQL talks to databases. Together they handle 90% of security automation Start here if you're doing data analysis , automation , or database security testing

Node.js

Node is not a language but JS on the server is a different beast CommonJS vs ESM , process APIs , event loop , fs - the runtime that powers 70% of backend APIs Full curriculum at Node.js Backend

Quick Start Guide

Never programmed before? Start with Python. It's friendly , readable , and you'll use it constantly for security work

Working with web apps? Learn JavaScript first , then figure out how browsers actually work under the hood

Doing system admin or automation? Bash is essential. Use PowerShell if you're stuck on Windows

Building tools that need to be fast? Check out Go or C/C++. They're not the easiest , but they're fast

Doing security testing? Python , Bash , and JavaScript will cover 90% of what you need