>>> def int2bin(n): 'From positive integer to list of binary bits, msb at index 0' if n: bits = [] while n: n,remainder = divmod(n, 2) bits.insert(0, remainder) return bits else: return [0] >>> def bin2int(bits): 'From binary bits, msb at index 0 to integer' i = 0 for bit in bits: i = i * 2 + bit return i