Your one-stop guide to learning and implementing artificial neural networks with Keras effectively Key Features * Design and create neural network architectures on different domains using Keras * Integrate neural network models in your applications using this highly practical guide * Get ready for the future of neural networks through transfer learning and predicting multi network models Book Description Neural networks are used to solve a wide range of problems in different areas of AI and deep learning. Hands-On Neural Networks with Keras will start with teaching you about the core concepts of neural networks. You will delve into combining different neural network models and work with real-world use cases, including computer vision, natural language understanding, synthetic data generation, and many more. Moving on, you will become well versed with convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, autoencoders, and generative adversarial networks (GANs) using real-world training datasets. We will examine how to use CNNs for image recognition, how to use reinforcement learning agents, and many more. We will dive into the specific architectures of various networks and then implement each of them in a hands-on manner using industry-grade frameworks. By the end of this book, you will be highly familiar with all prominent deep learning models and frameworks, and the options you have when applying deep learning to real-world scenarios and embedding artificial intelligence as the core fabric of your organization. What you will learn * Understand the fundamental nature and workflow of predictive data modeling * Explore how different types of visual and linguistic signals are processed by neural networks * Dive into the mathematical and statistical ideas behind how networks learn from data * Design and implement various neural networks such as CNNs, LSTMs, and GANs * Use different architectures to tackle cognitive tasks and embed intelligence in systems * Learn how to generate synthetic data and use augmentation strategies to improve your models * Stay on top of the latest academic and commercial developments in the field of AI Who this book is for This book is for machine learning practitioners, deep learning researchers and AI enthusiasts who are looking to get well versed with different neural network architecture using Keras. Working knowledge of Python programming language is mandatory.

Create advanced applications with Python and OpenCV, exploring the potential of facial recognition, machine learning, deep learning, web computing and augmented reality. Key Features * Develop your computer vision skills by mastering algorithms in Open Source Computer Vision 4 (OpenCV 4)and Python * Apply machine learning and deep learning techniques with TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch * Discover the modern design patterns you should avoid when developing efficient computer vision applications Book Description OpenCV is considered to be one of the best open source computer vision and machine learning software libraries. It helps developers build complete projects in relation to image processing, motion detection, or image segmentation, among many others. OpenCV for Python enables you to run computer vision algorithms smoothly in real time, combining the best of the OpenCV C++ API and the Python language. In this book, you'll get started by setting up OpenCV and delving into the key concepts of computer vision. You'll then proceed to study more advanced concepts and discover the full potential of OpenCV. The book will also introduce you to the creation of advanced applications using Python and OpenCV, enabling you to develop applications that include facial recognition, target tracking, or augmented reality. Next, you'll learn machine learning techniques and concepts, understand how to apply them in real-world examples, and also explore their benefits, including real-time data production and faster data processing. You'll also discover how to translate the functionality provided by OpenCV into optimized application code projects using Python bindings. Toward the concluding chapters, you'll explore the application of artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques using the popular Python libraries TensorFlow, and Keras. By the end of this book, you'll be able to develop advanced computer vision applications to meet your customers' demands. What you will learn * Handle files and images, and explore various image processing techniques * Explore image transformations, including translation, resizing, and cropping * Gain insights into building histograms * Brush up on contour detection, filtering, and drawing * Work with Augmented Reality to build marker-based and markerless applications * Work with the main machine learning algorithms in OpenCV * Explore the deep learning Python libraries and OpenCV deep learning capabilities * Create computer vision and deep learning web applications Who this book is for This book is designed for computer vision developers, engineers, and researchers who want to develop modern computer vision applications. Basic experience of OpenCV and Python programming is a must.

Write efficient, reusable scripts to build custom characters, game environments, and control enemy AI Key Features * Build captivating multiplayer games using Unreal Engine and C++ * Incorporate existing C++ libraries into your game to add extra functionality such as hardware integration * Practical solutions for memory management, error handling, inputs, and collision for your game codebase Book Description Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) is a popular and award-winning game engine that powers some of the most popular games. A truly powerful tool for game development, there has never been a better time to use it for both commercial and independent projects. With more than 100 recipes, this book shows how to unleash the power of C++ while developing games with Unreal Engine. This book takes you on a journey to jumpstart your C++ and UE4 development skills. You will start off by setting up UE4 for C++ development and learn how to work with Visual Studio, a popular code editor. You will learn how to create C++ classes and structs the Unreal way. This will be followed by exploring memory management, smart pointers, and debugging your code. You will then learn how to make your own Actors and Components through code and how to handle input and collision events. You will also get exposure to many elements of game development including creating user interfaces, artificial intelligence, and writing code with networked play in mind. You will also learn how to add on to the Unreal Editor itself. With a range of task-oriented recipes, this book provides actionable information about writing code for games with UE4 using C++. By the end of the book, you will be empowered to become a top-notch developer with UE4 using C++ as your scripting language! What you will learn * Create C++ classes and structs that integrate well with UE4 and the Blueprints editor * Discover how to work with various APIs that Unreal Engine already contains * Utilize advanced concepts such as events, delegates, and interfaces in your UE4 projects * Build user interfaces using Canvas and UMG through C++ * Extend the Unreal Editor by creating custom windows and editors * Implement AI tasks and services using C++, Blackboard, and Behavior Trees * Write C++ code with networking in mind and replicate properties and functions Who this book is for If you are really passionate game developer looking for solutions to common scripting problems, then this is the book for you. Understanding of the fundamentals of game design and C++ is expected to get the most from this book.

A practical guide to getting the most out of Excel, using it for data preparation, applying machine learning models (including cloud services) and understanding the outcome of the data analysis. Key Features * Use Microsoft's product Excel to build advanced forecasting models using varied examples * Cover range of machine learning tasks such as data mining, data analytics, smart visualization, and more * Derive data-driven techniques using Excel plugins and APIs without much code required Book Description We have made huge progress in teaching computers to perform difficult tasks, especially those that are repetitive and time-consuming for humans. Excel users, of all levels, can feel left behind by this innovation wave. The truth is that a large amount of the work needed to develop and use a machine learning model can be done in Excel. The book starts by giving a general introduction to machine learning, making every concept clear and understandable. Then, it shows every step of a machine learning project, from data collection, reading from different data sources, developing models, and visualizing the results using Excel features and offerings. In every chapter, there are several examples and hands-on exercises that will show the reader how to combine Excel functions, add-ins, and connections to databases and to cloud services to reach the desired goal: building a full data analysis flow. Different machine learning models are shown, tailored to the type of data to be analyzed. At the end of the book, the reader is presented with some advanced use cases using Automated Machine Learning, and artificial neural network, which simplifies the analysis task and represents the future of machine learning. What you will learn * Use Excel to preview and cleanse datasets * Understand correlations between variables and optimize the input to machine learning models * Use and evaluate different machine learning models from Excel * Understand the use of different visualizations * Learn the basic concepts and calculations to understand how artificial neural networks work * Learn how to connect Excel to the Microsoft Azure cloud * Get beyond proof of concepts and build fully functional data analysis flows Who this book is for This book is for data analysis, machine learning enthusiasts, project managers, and someone who doesn't want to code much for performing core tasks of machine learning. Each example will help you perform end-to-end smart analytics. Working knowledge of Excel is required.

Use Ansible to configure your systems, deploy software, and orchestrate advanced IT tasks Key Features * Get familiar with the fundamentals of Ansible 2.7 * Understand how to use Ansible Tower to scale your IT automation * Gain insights into how to develop and test Ansible playbooks Book Description Ansible is an open source automation platform that assists organizations with tasks such as application deployment, orchestration, and task automation. With the release of Ansible 2.7, even complex tasks can be handled much more easily than before. Learning Ansible 2.7 will help you take your first steps toward understanding the fundamentals and practical aspects of Ansible by introducing you to topics such as playbooks, modules, and the installation of Linux, Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), and Windows support. In addition to this, you will focus on various testing strategies, deployment, and orchestration to build on your knowledge. The book will then help you get accustomed to features including cleaner architecture, task blocks, and playbook parsing, which can help you to streamline automation processes. Next, you will learn how to integrate Ansible with cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) before gaining insights into the enterprise versions of Ansible, Ansible Tower and Ansible Galaxy. This will help you to use Ansible to interact with different operating systems and improve your working efficiency. By the end of this book, you will be equipped with the Ansible skills you need to automate complex tasks for your organization. What you will learn * Create a web server using Ansible * Write a custom module and test it * Deploy playbooks in the production environment * Troubleshoot networks using Ansible * Use Ansible Galaxy and Ansible Tower during deployment * Deploy an application with Ansible on AWS, Azure and DigitalOcean Who this book is for This beginner-level book is for system administrators who want to automate their organization's infrastructure using Ansible 2.7. No prior knowledge of Ansible is required

Understand, design, and create cognitive applications using Watson’s suite of APIs. Key Features * Develop your skills and work with IBM Watson APIs to build efficient and powerful cognitive apps * Learn how to build smart apps to carry out different sets of activities using real-world use cases * Get well versed with the best practices of IBM Watson and implement them in your daily work Book Description Cognitive computing is rapidly infusing every aspect of our lives riding on three important fields: data science, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI). It allows computing systems to learn and keep on improving as the amount of data in the system grows. This book introduces readers to a whole new paradigm of computing – a paradigm that is totally different from the conventional computing of the Information Age. You will learn the concepts of ML, deep learning (DL), neural networks, and AI through the set of APIs provided by IBM Watson. This book will help you build your own applications to understand, plan, and solve problems, and analyze them as per your needs. You will learn about various domains of cognitive computing, such as NLP, voice processing, computer vision, emotion analytics, and conversational systems, using different IBM Watson APIs. From this, the reader will learn what ML is, and what goes on in the background to make computers "do their magic," as well as where these concepts have been applied. Having achieved this, the readers will then be able to embark on their journey of learning, researching, and applying the concept in their respective fields. What you will learn * Get well versed with the APIs provided by IBM Watson on IBM Cloud * Learn ML, AI, cognitive computing, and neural network principles * Implement smart applications in fields such as healthcare, entertainment, security, and more * Understand unstructured content using cognitive metadata with the help of Natural Language Understanding * Use Watson’s APIs to create real-life applications to realize their capabilities * Delve into various domains of cognitive computing, such as media analytics, embedded deep learning, computer vision, and more Who this book is for This book is for beginners and novices; having some knowledge about artificial intelligence and deep learning is an advantage, but not a prerequisite to benefit from this book. We explain the concept of deep learning and artificial intelligence through the set of tools IBM Watson provides.

Bayesian modeling with PyMC3 and exploratory analysis of Bayesian models with ArviZ Key Features *A step-by-step guide to conduct Bayesian data analyses using PyMC3 and ArviZ *A modern, practical and computational approach to Bayesian statistical modeling *A tutorial for Bayesian analysis and best practices with the help of sample problems and practice exercises. Book Description The second edition of Bayesian Analysis with Python is an introduction to the main concepts of applied Bayesian inference and its practical implementation in Python using PyMC3, a state-of-the-art probabilistic programming library, and ArviZ, a new library for exploratory analysis of Bayesian models. The main concepts of Bayesian statistics are covered using a practical and computational approach. Synthetic and real data sets are used to introduce several types of models, such as generalized linear models for regression and classification, mixture models, hierarchical models, and Gaussian processes, among others. By the end of the book, you will have a working knowledge of probabilistic modeling and you will be able to design and implement Bayesian models for your own data science problems. After reading the book you will be better prepared to delve into more advanced material or specialized statistical modeling if you need to. What you will learn *Build probabilistic models using the Python library PyMC3 *Analyze probabilistic models with the help of ArviZ *Acquire the skills required to sanity check models and modify them if necessary *Understand the advantages and caveats of hierarchical models *Find out how different models can be used to answer different data analysis questions *Compare models and choose between alternative ones *Discover how different models are unified from a probabilistic perspective *Think probabilistically and benefit from the flexibility of the Bayesian framework Who this book is for If you are a student, data scientist, researcher, or a developer looking to get started with Bayesian data analysis and probabilistic programming, this book is for you. The book is introductory so no previous statistical knowledge is required, although some experience in using Python and NumPy is expected.

Architect scalable, reliable, and maintainable applications for enterprises with Python Key Features *Explore various Python design patterns used for enterprise software development *Apply best practices for testing and performance optimization to build stable applications *Learn about different attacking strategies used on enterprise applications and how to avoid them Book Description Dynamically typed languages like Python are continuously improving. With the addition of exciting new features and a wide selection of modern libraries and frameworks, Python has emerged as an ideal language for developing enterprise applications. Hands-On Enterprise Application Development with Python will show you how to build effective applications that are stable, secure, and easily scalable. The book is a detailed guide to building an end-to-end enterprise-grade application in Python. You will learn how to effectively implement Python features and design patterns that will positively impact your application lifecycle. The book also covers advanced concurrency techniques that will help you build a RESTful application with an optimized frontend. Given that security and stability are the foundation for an enterprise application, you’ll be trained on effective testing, performance analysis, and security practices, and understand how to embed them in your codebase during the initial phase. You’ll also be guided in how to move on from a monolithic architecture to one that is service oriented, leveraging microservices and serverless deployment techniques. By the end of the book, you will have become proficient at building efficient enterprise applications in Python. What you will learn *Understand the purpose of design patterns and their impact on application lifecycle *Build applications that can handle large amounts of data-intensive operations *Uncover advanced concurrency techniques and discover how to handle a large number of requests in production *Optimize frontends to improve the client-side experience of your application *Effective testing and performance profiling techniques to detect issues in applications early in the development cycle *Build applications with a focus on security *Implement large applications as microservices to improve scalability Who this book is for If you’re a developer who wants to build enterprise-grade applications, this book is for you. Basic to intermediate-level of programming experience with Python and database systems is required to understand the concepts covered in this book.

Learn a modern approach to data analysis using Python to harness the power of programming and AI across your data. Detailed case studies bring this modern approach to life across visual data, social media, graph algorithms, and time series analysis. Key Features *Bridge your data analysis with the power of programming, complex algorithms, and AI *Use Python and its extensive libraries to power your way to new levels of data insight *Work with AI algorithms, TensorFlow, graph algorithms, NLP, and financial time series *Explore this modern approach across with key industry case studies and hands-on projects Book Description Data Analysis with Python offers a modern approach to data analysis so that you can work with the latest and most powerful Python tools, AI techniques, and open source libraries. Industry expert David Taieb shows you how to bridge data science with the power of programming and algorithms in Python. You'll be working with complex algorithms, and cutting-edge AI in your data analysis. Learn how to analyze data with hands-on examples using Python-based tools and Jupyter Notebook. You'll find the right balance of theory and practice, with extensive code files that you can integrate right into your own data projects. Explore the power of this approach to data analysis by then working with it across key industry case studies. Four fascinating and full projects connect you to the most critical data analysis challenges you’re likely to meet in today. The first of these is an image recognition application with TensorFlow – embracing the importance today of AI in your data analysis. The second industry project analyses social media trends, exploring big data issues and AI approaches to natural language processing. The third case study is a financial portfolio analysis application that engages you with time series analysis - pivotal to many data science applications today. The fourth industry use case dives you into graph algorithms and the power of programming in modern data science. You'll wrap up with a thoughtful look at the future of data science and how it will harness the power of algorithms and artificial intelligence. What you will learn *A new toolset that has been carefully crafted to meet for your data analysis challenges *Full and detailed case studies of the toolset across several of today’s key industry contexts *Become super productive with a new toolset across Python and Jupyter Notebook *Look into the future of data science and which directions to develop your skills next Who this book is for This book is for developers wanting to bridge the gap between them and data scientists. Introducing PixieDust from its creator, the book is a great desk companion for the accomplished Data Scientist. Some fluency in data interpretation and visualization is assumed. It will be helpful to have some knowledge of Python, using Python libraries, and some proficiency in web development.

Leverage PowerShell to perform many day-to-day tasks in Microsoft Azure Key Features *Deploy and manage Azure virtual machines with PowerShell commands. *Get to grips with core concept of Azure PowerShell such as working with images and disks, custom script extension, high availability and more. *Leverage hands-on projects to successfully apply what you learned through the course of this book. Book Description As an IT professional, it is important to keep up with cloud technologies and learn to manage those technologies. PowerShell is a critical tool that must be learned in order to effectively and more easily manage many Azure resources. This book is designed to teach you to leverage PowerShell to enable you to perform many day-to-day tasks in Microsoft Azure. Taking you through the basic tasks of installing Azure PowerShell and connecting to Azure, you will learn to properly connect to an Azure tenant with PowerShell. Next, you will dive into tasks such as deploying virtual machines with PowerShell, resizing them, and managing their power states with PowerShell. Then, you will learn how to complete more complex Azure tasks with PowerShell, such as deploying virtual machines from custom images, creating images from existing virtual machines, and creating and managing of data disks. Later, you will learn how to snapshot virtual machines, how to encrypt virtual machines, and how to leverage load balancers to ensure high availability with PowerShell. By the end of this book, you will have developed dozens of PowerShell skills that are invaluable in the deployment and management of Azure virtual machines. What you will learn *Manage virtual machines with PowerShell *Resize a virtual machine with PowerShell *Create OS disk snapshots via PowerShell *Deploy new virtual machines from snapshots via PowerShell *Provision and attach data disks to a virtual machine via PowerShell *Load balance virtual machines with PowerShell *Manage virtual machines with custom script extensions Who this book is for This book is intended for IT professionals who are responsible for managing Azure virtual machines. No prior PowerShell or Azure experience is needed.

Learn development skills and improve productivity when programming in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 - the popular Enterprise Resourse Planning management system used across a variety of industries for business process management Key Features *Solve common business problems with the valuable features and flexibility of Dynamics NAV *Understand the structure of NAV database - how documents and business entities are mapped to DB tables *Design user interface and bind the presentation layer with the data storage Book Description Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software suite for organizations. The system offers specialized functionality for manufacturing, distribution, government, retail, and other industries. This book gets you started with its integrated development environment for solving problems by customizing business processes. This book introduces the NAV development environment – C/SIDE. It gives an overview of the internal system language and the most essential development tools. The book will enable the reader to customize and extend NAV functionality with C/AL code, design a user interface through pages, create role centers, and build advanced reports in Microsoft Visual Studio. By the end of the book, you will have learned how to extend the NAV data model, how to write and debug custom code, and how to exchange data with external applications. What you will learn *Manage NAV Server configuration with Microsoft Management Console *Manage NAV installation with the NAV Administration Shell *Create integration events and extend functionality via the NAV event model *Run XML Ports from C/AL code *Design reports and write client code in RDLC expressions Who this book is for This book is for experienced NAV users who have an understanding of basic programming concepts. Familiarity with NAV development environment or its internal development language-C/AL is not expected.

Over 30 recipes to develop custom drivers for your embedded Linux applications. Key Features * Use Kernel facilities to develop powerful drivers * Via a practical approach, learn core concepts of developing device drivers * Program a custom character device to get access to kernel internals Book Description Linux is a unified kernel that is widely used to develop embedded systems. As Linux has turned out to be one of the most popular operating systems used, the interest in developing proprietary device drivers has also increased. Device drivers play a critical role in how the system performs and ensures that the device works in the manner intended. By offering several examples on the development of character devices and how to use other kernel internals, such as interrupts, kernel timers, and wait queue, as well as how to manage a device tree, you will be able to add proper management for custom peripherals to your embedded system. You will begin by installing the Linux kernel and then configuring it. Once you have installed the system, you will learn to use the different kernel features and the character drivers. You will also cover interrupts in-depth and how you can manage them. Later, you will get into the kernel internals required for developing applications. Next, you will implement advanced character drivers and also become an expert in writing important Linux device drivers. By the end of the book, you will be able to easily write a custom character driver and kernel code as per your requirements. What you will learn * Become familiar with the latest kernel releases (4.19+/5.x) running on the ESPRESSObin devkit, an ARM 64-bit machine * Download, configure, modify, and build kernel sources * Add and remove a device driver or a module from the kernel * Master kernel programming * Understand how to implement character drivers to manage different kinds of computer peripherals * Become well versed with kernel helper functions and objects that can be used to build kernel applications * Acquire a knowledge of in-depth concepts to manage custom hardware with Linux from both the kernel and user space Who this book is for This book will help anyone who wants to develop their own Linux device drivers for embedded systems. Having basic hand-on with Linux operating system and embedded concepts is necessary.

A beginner's guide to storing, managing, and analyzing data with the updated features of Elastic 7.0 Key Features * Gain access to new features and updates introduced in Elastic Stack 7.0 * Grasp the fundamentals of Elastic Stack including Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana * Explore useful tips for using Elastic Cloud and deploying Elastic Stack in production environments Book Description The Elastic Stack is a powerful combination of tools for techniques such as distributed search, analytics, logging, and visualization of data. Elastic Stack 7.0 encompasses new features and capabilities that will enable you to find unique insights into analytics using these techniques. This book will give you a fundamental understanding of what the stack is all about, and help you use it efficiently to build powerful real-time data processing applications. The first few sections of the book will help you understand how to set up the stack by installing tools, and exploring their basic configurations. You’ll then get up to speed with using Elasticsearch for distributed searching and analytics, Logstash for logging, and Kibana for data visualization. As you work through the book, you will discover the technique of creating custom plugins using Kibana and Beats. This is followed by coverage of the Elastic X-Pack, a useful extension for effective security and monitoring. You’ll also find helpful tips on how to use Elastic Cloud and deploy Elastic Stack in production environments. By the end of this book, you’ll be well versed with the fundamental Elastic Stack functionalities and the role of each component in the stack to solve different data processing problems. What you will learn * Install and configure an Elasticsearch architecture * Solve the full-text search problem with Elasticsearch * Discover powerful analytics capabilities through aggregations using Elasticsearch * Build a data pipeline to transfer data from a variety of sources into Elasticsearch for analysis * Create interactive dashboards for effective storytelling with your data using Kibana * Learn how to secure, monitor and use Elastic Stack’s alerting and reporting capabilities * Take applications to an on-premise or cloud-based production environment with Elastic Stack Who this book is for This book is for entry-level data professionals, software engineers, e-commerce developers, and full-stack developers who want to learn about Elastic Stack and how the real-time processing and search engine works for business analytics and enterprise search applications. Previous experience with Elastic Stack is not required, however knowledge of data warehousing and database concepts will be helpful.

Evade antiviruses and bypass firewalls with the most widely used penetration testing frameworks Key Features * Gain insights into the latest antivirus evasion techniques * Set up a complete pentesting environment using Metasploit and virtual machines * Discover a variety of tools and techniques that can be used with Kali Linux Book Description Penetration testing or ethical hacking is a legal and foolproof way to identify vulnerabilities in your system. With thorough penetration testing, you can secure your system against the majority of threats. This Learning Path starts with an in-depth explanation of what hacking and penetration testing is. You’ll gain a deep understanding of classical SQL and command injection flaws, and discover ways to exploit these flaws to secure your system. You'll also learn how to create and customize payloads to evade antivirus software and bypass an organization's defenses. Whether it’s exploiting server vulnerabilities and attacking client systems, or compromising mobile phones and installing backdoors, this Learning Path will guide you through all this and more to improve your defense against online attacks. By the end of this Learning Path, you'll have the knowledge and skills you need to invade a system and identify all its vulnerabilities. This Learning Path includes content from the following Packt products: * Web Penetration Testing with Kali Linux - Third Edition by Juned Ahmed Ansari and Gilberto Najera-Gutierrez * Metasploit Penetration Testing Cookbook - Third Edition by Abhinav Singh , Monika Agarwal, et al What you will learn * Build and analyze Metasploit modules in Ruby * Integrate Metasploit with other penetration testing tools * Use server-side attacks to detect vulnerabilities in web servers and their applications * Explore automated attacks such as fuzzing web applications * Identify the difference between hacking a web application and network hacking * Deploy Metasploit with the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) * Use MSFvenom to generate payloads and backdoor files, and create shellcode Who this book is for This Learning Path is designed for security professionals, web programmers, and pentesters who want to learn vulnerability exploitation and make the most of the Metasploit framework. Some understanding of penetration testing and Metasploit is required, but basic system administration skills and the ability to read code are a must.

Understand how blockchain works and explore a variety of strategies to implement it in your organization effectively Key Features * Become familiar with business challenges faced by companies when using blockchain * Discover how companies implement blockchain to monetize and secure their data * Study real-world examples to understand blockchain and its use in organizations Book Description In addition to cryptocurrencies, blockchain-based apps are being developed in different industries such as banking, supply chain, and healthcare to achieve digital transformation and enhance user experience. Blockchain is not only about Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies, but also about different technologies such as peer-to-peer networks, consensus mechanisms, and cryptography. These technologies together help sustain trustless environments in which digital value can be transferred between individuals without intermediaries. This book will help you understand the basics of blockchain such as consensus protocols, decentralized applications, and tokenization. You'll focus on how blockchain is used today in different industries and the technological challenges faced while implementing a blockchain strategy. The book also enables you, as a decision maker, to understand blockchain from a technical perspective and evaluate its applicability in your business. Finally, you'll get to grips with blockchain frameworks such as Hyperledger and Quorum and their usability. By the end of this book, you'll have learned about the current use cases of blockchain and be able to implement a blockchain strategy on your own. What you will learn * Become well-versed with how blockchain works * Understand the difference between blockchain and Bitcoin * Learn how blockchain is being used in different industry verticals such as finance and retail * Delve into the technological and organizational challenges of implementing blockchain * Explore the possibilities that blockchain can unlock for decision makers * Choose a blockchain framework best suited for your projects from options such as Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric Who this book is for This book is for CXOs, business professionals, organization leaders, decision makers, technology enthusiasts, and managers who wish to understand how blockchain is implemented in different organizations, its impact, and how it can be customized according to business needs. Prior experience with blockchain is not required.

Discover various techniques to develop maintainable code and keep it in shape. Key Features * Learn all about refactoring - why it is important and how to do it * Discover easy ways to refactor code with examples * Explore techniques that can be applied to most other programming languages Book Description Refactoring improves your code without changing its behavior. With refactoring, the best approach is to apply small targeted changes to a codebase. Instead of doing a huge sweeping change to your code, refactoring is better as a long-term and continuous enterprise. Refactoring TypeScript explains how to spot bugs and remove them from your code. You’ll start by seeing how wordy conditionals, methods, and null checks make code unhealthy and unstable. Whether it is identifying messy nested conditionals or removing unnecessary methods, this book will show various techniques to avoid these pitfalls and write code that is easier to understand, maintain, and test. By the end of the book, you’ll have learned some of the main causes of unhealthy code, tips to identify them and techniques to address them. What you will learn * Spot and fix common code smells to create code that is easier to read and understand * Discover ways to identify long methods and refactor them * Create objects that keep your code flexible, maintainable, and testable * Apply the Single Responsibility Principle to develop less-coupled code * Discover how to combine different refactoring techniques * Learn ways to solve the issues caused by overusing primitives Who this book is for This book is designed for programmers who are looking to explore various refactoring techniques to develop healthy and maintainable code. Some experience in JavaScript and TypeScript can help you easily grasp the concepts explained in this book.

Build smart looking Kotlin apps with UI and functionality for the Android platform Key Features * Start your Android programming career, or just have fun publishing apps on Google Play marketplace * The first-principle introduction to Kotlin through Android, to start building easy-to-use apps * Learn by example and build four real-world apps and dozens of mini-apps Book Description Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world and Kotlin has been declared by Google as a first-class programming language to build Android apps. With the imminent arrival of the most anticipated Android update, Android 10 (Q), this book gets you started building apps compatible with the latest version of Android. It adopts a project-style approach, where we focus on teaching the fundamentals of Android app development and the essentials of Kotlin by building three real-world apps and more than a dozen mini-apps. The book begins by giving you a strong grasp of how Kotlin and Android work together before gradually moving onto exploring the various Android APIs for building stunning apps for Android with ease. You will learn to make your apps more presentable using different layouts. You will dive deep into Kotlin programming concepts such as variables, functions, data structures, Object-Oriented code, and how to connect your Kotlin code to the UI. You will learn to add multilingual text so that your app is accessible to millions of more potential users. You will learn how animation, graphics, and sound effects work and are implemented in your Android app. By the end of the book, you will have sound knowledge about significant Kotlin programming concepts and start building your own fully featured Android apps. What you will learn * Learn how Kotlin and Android work together * Build a graphical drawing app using Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles * Build beautiful, practical layouts using ScrollView, RecyclerView, NavigationView, ViewPager and CardView * Write Kotlin code to manage an apps' data using different strategies including JSON and the built-in Android SQLite database * Add user interaction, data captures, sound, and animation to your apps * Implement dialog boxes to capture input from the user * Build a simple database app that sorts and stores the user's data Who this book is for This book is for people who are new to Kotlin, Android and want to develop Android apps.It also acts as a refresher for those who have some experience in programming with Android and Kotlin.

Refine your Python programming skills and build professional grade applications with this comprehensive guide Key Features * Create manageable code that can run in various environments with different sets of dependencies * Implement effective Python data structures and algorithms to write optimized code * Discover the exciting new features of Python 3.7 Book Description Python is a dynamic programming language that's used in a wide range of domains thanks to its simple yet powerful nature. Although writing Python code is easy, making it readable, reusable, and easy to maintain is challenging. Complete with best practices, useful tools, and standards implemented by professional Python developers, the third edition of Expert Python Programming will help you overcome this challenge. The book will start by taking you through the new features in Python 3.7. You'll then learn the advanced components of Python syntax, in addition to understanding how to apply concepts of various programming paradigms, including object-oriented programming, functional programming, and event-driven programming. This book will also guide you through learning the best naming practices, writing your own distributable Python packages, and getting up to speed with automated ways of deploying your software on remote servers. You’ll discover how to create useful Python extensions with C, C++, Cython, and CFFI. Furthermore, studying about code management tools, writing clear documentation, and exploring test-driven development will help you write clean code. By the end of the book, you will have become an expert in writing efficient and maintainable Python code. What you will learn * Explore modern ways of setting up repeatable and consistent development environments * Package Python code effectively for community and production use * Learn modern syntax elements of Python programming such as f-strings, enums, and lambda functions * Demystify metaprogramming in Python with metaclasses * Write concurrent code in Python * Extend Python with code written in different languages * Integrate Python with code written in different languages Who this book is for This book will appeal to you if you’re a programmer looking to take your Python knowledge to the next level by writing efficient code and learning the latest features of version 3.7 and above.

This CRM masterclass gives you a proven approach to modern customer relationship management Key Features * Proven techniques to architect CRM systems that perform well, that are built on time and on budget, and that deliver value for many years * Combines technical knowledge and business experience to provide a powerful guide to CRM implementation * Covers modern CRM opportunities and challenges including machine learning, cloud hosting, and GDPR compliance Book Description CRM systems have delivered huge value to organizations. This book shares proven and cutting-edge techniques to increase the power of CRM even further. In The Art of CRM, Max Fatouretchi shares his decades of experience building successful CRM systems that make a real difference to business performance. Through clear processes, actionable advice, and informative case studies, The Art of CRM teaches you to design successful CRM systems for your clients. Fatouretchi, founder of Academy4CRM institute, draws on his experience over 20 years and 200 CRM implementations worldwide. Bringing CRM bang up to date, The Art of CRM shows how to add AI and machine learning, ensure compliance with GDPR, and choose between on-premise, cloud, and hybrid hosting solutions. If you’re looking for an expert guide to real-world CRM implementations, this book is for you. What you will learn * Deliver CRM systems that are on time, on budget, and bring lasting value to organizations * Build CRM that excels at operations, analytics, and collaboration * Gather requirements effectively: identify key pain points, objectives, and functional requirements * Develop customer insight through 360-degree client view and client profiling * Turn customer requirements into a CRM design spec * Architect your CRM platform * Bring machine learning and artificial intelligence into your CRM system * Ensure compliance with GDPR and other critical regulations * Choose between on-premise, cloud, and hybrid hosting solutions Who this book is for CRM practitioners who want to update their work with new, proven techniques and approaches

Become familiar with Kubernetes and explore techniques to manage your containerized workloads and services Key Features * Learn everything from creating a cluster to monitoring applications in Kubernetes * Understand and develop DevOps primitives using Kubernetes * Use Kubernetes to solve challenging real-life DevOps problems Book Description Kubernetes and DevOps are the two pillars that can keep your business at the top by ensuring high performance of your IT infrastructure. Introduction to DevOps with Kubernetes will help you develop the skills you need to improve your DevOps with the power of Kubernetes. The book begins with an overview of Kubernetes primitives and DevOps concepts. You'll understand how Kubernetes can assist you with overcoming a wide range of real-world operation challenges. You will get to grips with creating and upgrading a cluster, and then learn how to deploy, update, and scale an application on Kubernetes. As you advance through the chapters, you’ll be able to monitor an application by setting up a pod failure alert on Prometheus. The book will also guide you in configuring Alertmanager to send alerts to the Slack channel and trace down a problem on the application using kubectl commands. By the end of this book, you’ll be able to manage the lifecycle of simple to complex applications on Kubernetes with confidence. What you will learn * Create and manage Kubernetes clusters in on-premise systems and cloud * Exercise various DevOps practices using Kubernetes * Explore configuration, secret, and storage management, and exercise these on Kubernetes * Perform different update techniques and apply them on Kubernetes * Use the built-in scaling feature in Kubernetes to scale your applications up and down * Use various troubleshooting techniques and have a monitoring system installed on Kubernetes Who this book is for If you are a developer who wants to learn how to apply DevOps patterns using Kubernetes, then this book is for you. Familiarity with Kubernetes will be useful, but not essential.

Make your WebAssembly journey fun while making a game with it Key Features * Create a WebAssembly game that implements sprites, animations, physics, particle systems, and other game development fundamentals * Get to grips with advanced game mechanics in WebAssembly * Learn to use WebAssembly and WebGL to render to the HTML5 canvas element Book Description Within the next few years, WebAssembly will change the web as we know it. It promises a world where you can write an application for the web in any language, and compile it for native platforms as well as the web. This book is designed to introduce web developers and game developers to the world of WebAssembly by walking through the development of a retro arcade game. You will learn how to build a WebAssembly application using C++, Emscripten, JavaScript, WebGL, SDL, and HTML5. This book covers a lot of ground in both game development and web application development. When creating a game or application that targets WebAssembly, developers need to learn a plethora of skills and tools. This book is a sample platter of those tools and skills. It covers topics including Emscripten, C/C++, WebGL, OpenGL, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS. The reader will also learn basic techniques for game development, including 2D sprite animation, particle systems, 2D camera design, sound effects, 2D game physics, user interface design, shaders, debugging, and optimization. By the end of the book, you will be able to create simple web games and web applications targeting WebAssembly. What you will learn * Build web applications with near-native performance using WebAssembly * Become familiar with how web applications can be used to create games using HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, and SDL * Become well versed with game development concepts such as sprites, animation, particle systems, AI, physics, camera design, sound effects, and shaders * Deploy C/C++ applications to the browser using WebAssembly and Emscripten * Understand how Emscripten HTML shell templates, JavaScript glue code, and a WebAssembly module interact * Debug and performance tune your WebAssembly application Who this book is for Web developers and game developers interested in creating applications for the web using WebAssembly. Game developers interested in deploying their games to the web Web developers interested in creating applications that are potentially orders of magnitude faster than their existing JavaScript web apps C/C++ developers interested in using their existing skills to deploy applications to the web