I am writing a new ebook about Crypto++

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My first encounter with Crypto++ was at an old job. I remember struggling to find good material aimed at novice users. I managed to complete my tasks by reading the official documentation, the wiki (which is currently offline), and adapting the existing Crypto++ code in our codebase. However, I missed having a quick, beginner-friendly tutorial that explained the basics of the library and provided short examples of how to use its various algorithms.

To partially address this gap, I wrote a blog post that outlined some Crypto++ usage guidelines and demonstrated them with a code sample. The post garnered some interest, which inspired me to expand the idea into a book. Following the blog post's title, the book is named "Brief Introduction to Crypto++".

What to Expect from the Book

The book aims to be concise while providing enough information to help you get your job done. It is specifically designed for beginner Crypto++ users and is neither a cryptography book nor a C++ programming book.

The book consists of 13 short chapters, each exploring a specific topic. They are:

  • Adding Crypto++ to Your Project
  • Crypto++ Concepts
  • Sources and Sinks
  • Encoding/Decoding Filters
  • Hashing Algorithms
  • Random Number Generators
  • Compression Algorithms
  • Key Derivation Functions
  • Stream Ciphers
  • Block Ciphers
  • MACs
  • Public Key Cryptosystems
  • Public Key Signature Schemes

Each chapter includes a brief explanation of the relevant Crypto++ classes, references to official documentation or the wiki (if necessary), and a mandatory code sample. The goal is to help you understand how to use the classes and see practical examples.

Who Should Read This Book

This book is ideal for C++ developers with basic cryptography knowledge. To get the most value, you should be comfortable with C++ concepts such as memory management, inheritance, STL containers, and basic template usage. On the cryptography front, you should know which algorithm you want to use, how it works, and its limitations. The book does not cover the implementation details or inner workings of cryptographic primitives.

If you're a C++ developer looking to learn how to use Crypto++ or solve a specific problem covered in the chapters, this book is for you.

If you're seeking a cryptography textbook, this book is not the right choice.

When Will the Book Be Available?

The book is nearly complete. I am currently in the final proof-reading and enhancement phase, and I expect it to be released by the end of May 2025.

Is there a sample I can get right now?

Actually yes. You can read this posts:

How to stay up to date?

I will share more details about the book in my newsteller. You can use the form below to subscribe:

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