Re: python does not mix binary and string, well I thought this hashlib.sha256(encoded).digest() was a binary hash. I am positive that I printed it to see, but right now I have no time, so I will update tomorrow. The rest is very useful and I will read it tomorrow.

UPDATE: the digest() prints out b'+\xbd\xd0Z\xda;\x05\xbb\x80\x058(.' etc