> **Source:** [https://foxhop.net/f3b9a5c5-2f95-11f1-beb3-e86a64d24d78/linux-nc-and-python-sockets](https://foxhop.net/f3b9a5c5-2f95-11f1-beb3-e86a64d24d78/linux-nc-and-python-sockets) > **Snapshot:** 2026-06-15T10:26:09Z > **Generator:** Remarkbox `50b9d1e` > > *This is a thread snapshot. The living document lives at the source URI above — it may have been edited, extended, or replied-to since.*



# linux-nc-and-python-sockets nc or netcat lets you create socket servers or connect to services via sockets. The nc man page is excellent. This first thing I tried was creating a simple-chat like program between two terminals. # Simple nc chat application Start listening (nc -l) for a connection on a port (31337). **On terminal A** ::: {#cb1} nc -l 31337 ::: Connect to (127.0.0.1) on a port (31337). **On terminal B** ::: {#cb2} nc 127.0.0.1 31337 ::: Like the man page suggests all text submitted on either terminal A or B will appear on both terminals. Conventionally the server \"listening\" for connections is typically labeled the server. In this case neither terminal is a server because if either closes, both close\... # Use python to interact with nc On terminal A ::: {#cb3} nc -l 31337 ::: On terminal b ::: {#cb4} python >>> import socket >>> s = socket.socket( socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM ) >>> s.connect( ( 'localhost', 31337 ) ) >>> s.send( 'python says hello nc' ) 20 >>> s.recv( 30 ) 'nc says hello python\n' >>> # To learn more about sockets do: >>> help( s ) >>> # when you are finished run s.close() ::: The constant socket.AF_INET creates a socket which allows us to connect to an ip/name and port. The constant socket.AF_UNIX creates a socket which allows us to connect via files? socket.SOCK_STREAM is the type of socket (tcp/ip). socket.SOCK_DGRAM (data-gram or UDP) --- **Source:** [https://foxhop.net/f3b9a5c5-2f95-11f1-beb3-e86a64d24d78/linux-nc-and-python-sockets](https://foxhop.net/f3b9a5c5-2f95-11f1-beb3-e86a64d24d78/linux-nc-and-python-sockets) **Snapshot:** 2026-06-15T10:26:09Z **Generator:** Remarkbox `50b9d1e`