Learn the foundations of blockchain technology - its core concepts and algorithmic solutions across cryptography, peer-to-peer technology, and game theory. Key Features * Learn the core concepts and foundations of the blockchain and cryptocurrencies * Understand the protocols and algorithms behind decentralized applications * Master how to architect, build, and optimize blockchain applications Book Description Blockchain technology is a combination of three popular concepts: cryptography, peer-to-peer networking, and game theory. This book is for anyone who wants to dive into blockchain from first principles and learn how decentralized applications and cryptocurrencies really work. This book begins with an overview of blockchain technology, including key definitions, its purposes and characteristics, so you can assess the full potential of blockchain. All essential aspects of cryptography are then presented, as the backbone of blockchain. For readers who want to study the underlying algorithms of blockchain, you’ll see Python implementations throughout. You’ll then learn how blockchain architecture can create decentralized applications. You’ll see how blockchain achieves decentralization through peer-to-peer networking, and how a simple blockchain can be built in a P2P network. You’ll learn how these elements can implement a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, and the wider applications of blockchain work through smart contracts. Blockchain optimization techniques, and blockchain security strategies are then presented. To complete this foundation, we consider blockchain applications in the financial and non-financial sectors, and also analyze the future of blockchain. A study of blockchain use cases includes supply chains, payment systems, crowdfunding, and DAOs, which rounds out your foundation in blockchain technology. What you will learn * The core concepts and technical foundations of blockchain * The algorithmic principles and solutions that make up blockchain and cryptocurrencies * Blockchain cryptography explained in detail * How to realize blockchain projects with hands-on Python code * How to architect the blockchain and blockchain applications * Decentralized application development with MultiChain, NEO, and Ethereum * Optimizing and enhancing blockchain performance and security * Classical blockchain use cases and how to implement them Who this book is for This book is for anyone who wants to dive into blockchain technology from first principles and build a foundational knowledge of blockchain. Familiarity with Python will be helpful if you want to follow how the blockchain protocols are implemented. For readers who are blockchain application developers, most of the applications used in this book can be executed on any platform.

Stay updated with expert techniques for solving data analytics and machine learning challenges and gain insights from complex projects and power up your applications Key Features * Build independent machine learning (ML) systems leveraging the best features of R 3.5 * Understand and apply different machine learning techniques using real-world examples * Use methods such as multi-class classification, regression, and clustering Book Description Given the growing popularity of the R-zerocost statistical programming environment, there has never been a better time to start applying ML to your data. This book will teach you advanced techniques in ML ,using? the latest code in R 3.5. You will delve into various complex features of supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning algorithms to design efficient and powerful ML models. This newly updated edition is packed with fresh examples covering a range of tasks from different domains. Mastering Machine Learning with R starts by showing you how to quickly manipulate data and prepare it for analysis. You will explore simple and complex models and understand how to compare them. You’ll also learn to use the latest library support, such as TensorFlow and Keras-R, for performing advanced computations. Additionally, you’ll explore complex topics, such as natural language processing (NLP), time series analysis, and clustering, which will further refine your skills in developing applications. Each chapter will help you implement advanced ML algorithms using real-world examples. You’ll even be introduced to reinforcement learning, along with its various use cases and models. In the concluding chapters, you’ll get a glimpse into how some of these blackbox models can be diagnosed and understood. By the end of this book, you’ll be equipped with the skills to deploy ML techniques in your own projects or at work. What you will learn * Prepare data for machine learning methods with ease * Understand how to write production-ready code and package it for use * Produce simple and effective data visualizations for improved insights * Master advanced methods, such as Boosted Trees and deep neural networks * Use natural language processing to extract insights in relation to text * Implement tree-based classifiers, including Random Forest and Boosted Tree Who this book is for This book is for data science professionals, machine learning engineers, or anyone who is looking for the ideal guide to help them implement advanced machine learning algorithms. The book will help you take your skills to the next level and advance further in this field. Working knowledge of machine learning with R is mandatory.

A comprehensive guide for MCSA Exam 70-740, that will help you prepare from day one to earn the valuable Microsoft Certificate Key Features * Leverage practice questions and mock tests to pass this certification with confidence * Learn to Install Windows Servers,implement high availability, and monitor server environments * Gain necessary skills to implement and configure storage and compute features Book Description MCSA: Windows Server 2016 certification is one of the most sought-after certifications for IT professionals, which includes working with Windows Server and performing administrative tasks around it. This book is aimed at the 70-740 certification and is part of Packt's three-book series on MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification, which covers Exam 70-740, Exam 70-741, and Exam 70-742. This book will cover exam objectives for the 70-740 exam, and starting from installing and configuring Windows Server 2016, Windows Server imaging and deployment to configuring and managing disks and volumes, implementing and configuring server storage and implementing Hyper-V. At the end of each chapter you will be provided test questions to revise your learnings which will boost your confidence in preparing for the actual certifications. By the end of this book, you will learn everything needed to pass the, MCSA Exam 70-740: Installation, Storage, and Compute with Windows Server 2016, certification. What you will learn * Install Windows Server 2016 * Upgrade and Migrate servers and workloads * Implement and configure server storage * Install and configure Hyper-V * Configure the virtual machine (VM) settings * Configure Hyper-V storage * Configure Hyper-V networking Who this book is for This book is ideal for system administrators interested in installing and configuring storage and compute features with Windows Sever 2016 and aiming to pass the 70-740 certification. Some experience with Windows Server in an enterprise environment is assumed.

Explore Golang's data structures and algorithms to design, implement, and analyze code in the professional setting Key Features * Learn the basics of data structures and algorithms and implement them efficiently * Use data structures such as arrays, stacks, trees, lists and graphs in real-world scenarios * Compare the complexity of different algorithms and data structures for improved code performance Book Description Golang is one of the fastest growing programming languages in the software industry. Its speed, simplicity, and reliability make it the perfect choice for building robust applications. This brings the need to have a solid foundation in data structures and algorithms with Go so as to build scalable applications. Complete with hands-on tutorials, this book will guide you in using the best data structures and algorithms for problem solving. The book begins with an introduction to Go data structures and algorithms. You'll learn how to store data using linked lists, arrays, stacks, and queues. Moving ahead, you'll discover how to implement sorting and searching algorithms, followed by binary search trees. This book will also help you improve the performance of your applications by stringing data types and implementing hash structures in algorithm design. Finally, you'll be able to apply traditional data structures to solve real-world problems. By the end of the book, you'll have become adept at implementing classic data structures and algorithms in Go, propelling you to become a confident Go programmer. What you will learn * Improve application performance using the most suitable data structure and algorithm * Explore the wide range of classic algorithms such as recursion and hashing algorithms * Work with algorithms such as garbage collection for efficient memory management * Analyze the cost and benefit trade-off to identify algorithms and data structures for problem solving * Explore techniques for writing pseudocode algorithm and ace whiteboard coding in interviews * Discover the pitfalls in selecting data structures and algorithms by predicting their speed and efficiency Who this book is for This book is for developers who want to understand how to select the best data structures and algorithms that will help solve coding problems. Basic Go programming experience will be an added advantage.

Understand the core concepts of deep learning and deep reinforcement learning by applying them to develop games Key Features * Apply the power of deep learning to complex reasoning tasks by building a Game AI * Exploit the most recent developments in machine learning and AI for building smart games * Implement deep learning models and neural networks with Python Book Description The number of applications of deep learning and neural networks has multiplied in the last couple of years. Neural nets has enabled significant breakthroughs in everything from computer vision, voice generation, voice recognition and self-driving cars. Game development is also a key area where these techniques are being applied. This book will give an in depth view of the potential of deep learning and neural networks in game development. We will take a look at the foundations of multi-layer perceptron’s to using convolutional and recurrent networks. In applications from GANs that create music or textures to self-driving cars and chatbots. Then we introduce deep reinforcement learning through the multi-armed bandit problem and other OpenAI Gym environments. As we progress through the book we will gain insights about DRL techniques such as Motivated Reinforcement Learning with Curiosity and Curriculum Learning. We also take a closer look at deep reinforcement learning and in particular the Unity ML-Agents toolkit. By the end of the book, we will look at how to apply DRL and the ML-Agents toolkit to enhance, test and automate your games or simulations. Finally, we will cover your possible next steps and possible areas for future learning. What you will learn * Learn the foundations of neural networks and deep learning. * Use advanced neural network architectures in applications to create music, textures, self driving cars and chatbots. * Understand the basics of reinforcement and DRL and how to apply it to solve a variety of problems. * Working with Unity ML-Agents toolkit and how to install, setup and run the kit. * Understand core concepts of DRL and the differences between discrete and continuous action environments. * Use several advanced forms of learning in various scenarios from developing agents to testing games. Who this book is for This books is for game developers who wish to create highly interactive games by leveraging the power of machine and deep learning. No prior knowledge of machine learning, deep learning or neural networks is required this book will teach those concepts from scratch. A good understanding of Python is required.

Understand the fundamentals of C# programming and get started with coding from ground up in an engaging and practical manner Key Features * Beginner's guide to getting started with software development concepts from a macro level * Leverage the power of the latest C# in solving the complex programming problems * Learn to script and customize your 3D games and implement animation techniques to make them engaging Book Description Learning to program in today’s technical landscape can be a daunting task, especially when faced with the sheer number of languages you have to choose from. Luckily, Learning C# with Unity 2019 removes the guesswork and starts you off on the path to becoming a confident, and competent, programmer using game development with Unity. You’ll start off small by learning the building blocks of programming, from variables, methods, and conditional statements to classes and object-oriented systems. After you have the basics under your belt you’ll explore the Unity interface, creating C# scripts, and translating your newfound knowledge into simple game mechanics. Throughout this journey, you’ll get hands-on experience with programming best practices and macro-level topics such as manager classes and flexible application architecture. By the end of the book, you’ll be familiar with intermediate C# topics like generics, delegates, and events, setting you up to take on projects of your own. What you will learn * Understand programming fundamentals with practice examples in C# * Explore the interface and features of Unity 2019 * Learn C# programming syntax from scratch * Create a game design document and prototype level * Explore intermediate programming topics and best practices * Implement game mechanics, interactions, and UI elements with C# Who this book is for The book caters to developers and programmers who want to get started with C# programming in a fun and engaging manner. Anyone who wants to build games and script in C# language and Unity can take this book up. No prior programming or Unity experience is required.

Effectively implement and administer business solutions on any scale in a cost-effective way to have a competitive advantage using Gsuite Key Features * Enhance administration with Admin console and Google Apps Script * Prepare for the G suite certification using the concepts in the book * Learn how to use reports to monitor, troubleshoot and optimize G Suite Book Description Hands-On G Suite for Administrators is a comprehensive hands-on guide to G Suite Administration that will prepare you with all you need to know to become a certified G Suite Administrator, ready to handle all the business scales, from a small office to a large enterprise. You will start by learning the main features, tools, and services from G Suite for Business and then, you will explore all it has to offer and the best practices, so you can make the most out of it. We will explore G Suite tools in depth so you and your team get everything you need -combination of tools, settings and practices- to succeed in an intuitive, safe and collaborative way. While learning G Suite tools you will also learn how to use Google Sites and App Maker, to create from your corporate site to internal tools, live reports that seamlessly integrate with live documents, and advanced Google Services. Finally, you will learn how to set up, analyze and enforce Security, Privacy for your business and how to efficiently troubleshoot a wide variety of issues. What you will learn * Setting up G Suite for the business account * Work with the advanced setup of additional business domains and administrate users in multiple * Explore Guite's extensive set of features to cover your team’s creation and collaboration needs * Setup, manage and analyze your security to prevent, find or fix any security problem in G Suite * Manage Mobile devices and integrate with third-party apps * Create cloud documents, working alone or collaborating in real time Who this book is for System administrators, cloud administrators, business professionals, and aspirants of G Suite admin certificate wanting to master implementing G Suite tools for various admin tasks and effectively implement the G Suite administration for business

Learn to create and customize impressive Drupal 8 modules to extend your website's functionalities Key Features * Explore a plethora of Drupal 8 APIs and get the best out of them using the power of PHP coding * Learn to implement efficient data management and data security by creating dedicated modules for it. * Stay up to date with the changes introduced in the new Drupal 8 releases Book Description Drupal 8 comes with a release cycle that allows for new functionality to be added at a much faster pace. However, this also means code deprecations and changing architecture that you need to stay on top of. This book updates the first edition and includes the new functionality introduced in versions up to, and including 8.7. The book will first introduce you to the Drupal 8 architecture and its subsystems before diving into creating your first module with basic functionality. You will work with the Drupal logging and mailing systems, learn how to output data using the theme layer and work with menus and links programmatically. Then, you will learn how to work with different kinds of data storages, create custom entities, field types and leverage the Database API for lower level database queries. You will further see how to introduce JavaScript into your module, work with the various file systems and ensure the code you write works on multilingual sites. Finally, you will learn how to programmatically work with Views, write automated tests for your functionality and also write secure code in general. By the end, you will have learned how to develop your own custom module that can provide complex business solutions. And who knows, maybe you’ll even contribute it back to the Drupal community. What you will learn * Develop Drupal 8 modules that do all the things you want * Master numerous Drupal 8 sub-systems and APIs in the process * Model, store, manipulate and process data to serve your purposes * Display data and content in a clean and secure way using the Drupal 8 theme system * Test your business logic to prevent regressions * Stay ahead of the curve and write code following the current best practices Who this book is for The primary target of this book is Drupal developers who want to learn how to write modules and develop in Drupal 8. It is also intended for Drupal site builders and PHP developers who have basic Object Oriented Programming skills. A little bit of Symfony experience is helpful but not mandatory.

A comprehensive guide to understanding network architecture, communication protocols, and network analysis to build secure applications compatible with the latest versions of C# 8 and .NET Core 3.0 Key Features * Explore various network architectures that make distributed programming possible * Learn how to make reliable software by writing secure interactions between clients and servers * Use .NET Core for network device automation, DevOps, and software-defined networking Book Description The C# language and the .NET Core application framework provide the tools and patterns required to make the discipline of network programming as intuitive and enjoyable as any other aspect of C# programming. With the help of this book, you will discover how the C# language and the .NET Core framework make this possible. The book begins by introducing the core concepts of network programming, and what distinguishes this field of programming from other disciplines. After this, you will gain insights into concepts such as transport protocols, sockets and ports, and remote data streams, which will provide you with a holistic understanding of how network software fits into larger distributed systems. The book will also explore the intricacies of how network software is implemented in a more explicit context, by covering sockets, connection strategies such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP), asynchronous processing, and threads. You will then be able to work through code examples for TCP servers, web APIs served over HTTP, and a Secure Shell (SSH) client. By the end of this book, you will have a good understanding of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network stack, the various communication protocols for that stack, and the skills that are essential to implement those protocols using the C# programming language and the .NET Core framework. What you will learn * Understand the breadth of C#'s network programming utility classes * Utilize network-layer architecture and organizational strategies * Implement various communication and transport protocols within C# * Discover hands-on examples of distributed application development * Gain hands-on experience with asynchronous socket programming and streams * Learn how C# and the .NET Core runtime interact with a hosting network * Understand a full suite of network programming tools and features Who this book is for If you're a .NET developer or a system administrator with .NET experience and are looking to get started with network programming, then this book is for you. Basic knowledge of C# and .NET is assumed, in addition to a basic understanding of common web protocols and some high-level distributed system designs.

Efficiently deploy and manage Kubernetes clusters on a cloud Key Features * Deploy highly scalable applications with Kubernetes on Azure * Leverage AKS to deploy, manage, and operations of Kubernetes * Gain best practices from this guide to increase efficiency of container orchestration service on Cloud Book Description Microsoft is now one of the most significant contributors to Kubernetes open source projects. Kubernetes helps to create, configure, and manage a cluster of virtual machines that are preconfigured to run containerized applications. This book will be your resource for achieving successful container orchestration and deployment of Kubernetes clusters on Azure. You will learn how to deploy and manage highly scalable applications, along with how to set up a production-ready Kubernetes cluster on Azure. With this book, you will be able to reduce the complexity and operational overheads of managing a Kubernetes cluster on Azure. By the end of this book, you will not only be capable of deploying and managing Kubernetes clusters on Azure with ease, but also have the knowledge of industry best practices to work with advanced Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS) concepts for complex systems. What you will learn * Get to grips with Microsoft AKS deployment, management, and operations * Learn about the benefits of using Microsoft AKS, as well as the limitations, and avoid potential problems * Integrate Microsoft toolchains such as Visual Studio Code, and Git * Implement simple and advanced AKS solutions * Implement the automated scalability and high reliability of secure deployments with Microsoft AKS * Use kubectl commands to monitor applications Who this book is for If you’re a cloud engineer, cloud solution provider, sysadmin, site reliability engineer, or a developer interested in DevOps and are looking for an extensive guide to running Kubernetes in the Azure environment then, this book is for you. Though any previous knowledge of Kubernetes is not expected, some experience with Linux and Docker containers would be beneficial.

Build modular React web apps that are scalable, maintainable and powerful using design patterns and insightful practices Key Features * Get familiar with design patterns in React like Render props and Controlled/uncontrolled inputs * Learn about class/ functional, style and high order components with React * Work through examples that can be used to create reusable code and extensible designs Book Description React is an adaptable JavaScript library for building complex UIs from small, detached bits called components. This book is designed to take you through the most valuable design patterns in React, helping you learn how to apply design patterns and best practices in real-life situations. You’ll get started by understanding the internals of React, in addition to covering Babel 7 and Create React App 2.0, which will help you write clean and maintainable code. To build on your skills, you will focus on concepts such as class components, stateless components, and pure components. You'll learn about new React features, such as the context API and React Hooks that will enable you to build components, which will be reusable across your applications. The book will then provide insights into the techniques of styling React components and optimizing them to make applications faster and more responsive. In the concluding chapters, you’ll discover ways to write tests more effectively and learn how to contribute to React and its ecosystem. By the end of this book, you will be equipped with the skills you need to tackle any developmental setbacks when working with React. You’ll be able to make your applications more flexible, efficient, and easy to maintain, thereby giving your workflow a boost when it comes to speed, without reducing quality. What you will learn * Get familiar with the new React features,like context API and React Hooks * Learn the techniques of styling and optimizing React components * Make components communicate with each other by applying consolidate patterns * Use server-side rendering to make applications load faster * Write a comprehensive set of tests to create robust and maintainable code * Build high-performing applications by optimizing components Who this book is for This book is for web developers who want to increase their understanding of React and apply it to real-life application development. Prior experience with React and JavaScript is assumed.

Convert Android to a powerful pentesting platform. Key Features * Get up and running with Kali Linux NetHunter * Connect your Android device and gain full control over Windows, OSX, or Linux devices * Crack Wi-Fi passwords and gain access to devices connected over the same network collecting intellectual data Book Description Kali NetHunter is a version of the popular and powerful Kali Linux pentesting platform, designed to be installed on mobile devices. Hands-On Penetration Testing with Kali NetHunter will teach you the components of NetHunter and how to install the software. You’ll also learn about the different tools included and how to optimize and use a package, obtain desired results, perform tests, and make your environment more secure. Starting with an introduction to Kali NetHunter, you will delve into different phases of the pentesting process. This book will show you how to build your penetration testing environment and set up your lab. You will gain insight into gathering intellectual data, exploiting vulnerable areas, and gaining control over target systems. As you progress through the book, you will explore the NetHunter tools available for exploiting wired and wireless devices. You will work through new ways to deploy existing tools designed to reduce the chances of detection. In the concluding chapters, you will discover tips and best practices for integrating security hardening into your Android ecosystem. By the end of this book, you will have learned to successfully use a mobile penetration testing device based on Kali NetHunter and Android to accomplish the same tasks you would traditionally, but in a smaller and more mobile form factor. What you will learn * Choose and configure a hardware device to use Kali NetHunter * Use various tools during pentests * Understand NetHunter suite components * Discover tips to effectively use a compact mobile platform * Create your own Kali NetHunter-enabled device and configure it for optimal results * Learn to scan and gather information from a target * Explore hardware adapters for testing and auditing wireless networks and Bluetooth devices Who this book is for Hands-On Penetration Testing with Kali NetHunter is for pentesters, ethical hackers, and security professionals who want to learn to use Kali NetHunter for complete mobile penetration testing and are interested in venturing into the mobile domain. Some prior understanding of networking assessment and Kali Linux will be helpful.

A step-by-step guide that will help you design, develop, scale, and deploy RESTful APIs with TypeScript 3 and Node.js Key Features * Gain in-depth knowledge of OpenAPI and Swagger to build scalable web services * Explore a variety of test frameworks and test runners such as Stryker, Mocha, and Chai * Create a pipeline by Dockerizing your environment using Travis CI, Google Cloud Platform, and GitHub Book Description In the world of web development, leveraging data is the key to developing comprehensive applications, and RESTful APIs help you to achieve this systematically. This book will guide you in designing and developing web services with the power of TypeScript 3 and Node.js. You'll design REST APIs using best practices for request handling, validation, authentication, and authorization. You'll also understand how to enhance the capabilities of your APIs with ODMs, databases, models and views, as well as asynchronous callbacks. This book will guide you in securing your environment by testing your services and initiating test automation with different testing approaches. Furthermore, you'll get to grips with developing secure, testable, and more efficient code, and be able to scale and deploy TypeScript 3 and Node.js-powered RESTful APIs on cloud platforms such as the Google Cloud Platform. Finally, the book will help you explore microservices and give you an overview of what GraphQL can allow you to do. By the end of this book, you will be able to use RESTful web services to create your APIs for mobile and web apps and other platforms. What you will learn * Explore various methods to plan your services in a scalable way * Understand how to handle different request types and the response status code * Get to grips with securing web services * Delve into error handling and logging your web services for improved debugging * Uncover the microservices architecture and GraphQL * Create automated CI/CD pipelines for release and deployment strategies Who this book is for If you’re a developer who has a basic understanding of REST concepts and want to learn how to design and develop RESTful APIs, this book is for you. Prior knowledge of TypeScript will help you make the most out of this book.

Create dynamic dashboards to bring interactive data visualization to your enterprise using Qlik Sense Key Features * Implement various Qlik Sense features to create interactive dashboards * Analyze data easily and make business decisions faster using Qlik Sense * Perform self-service data analytics and geospatial analytics using an example-based approach Book Description Qlik Sense allows you to explore simple-to-complex data to reveal hidden insights and data relationships to make business-driven decisions. Hands-On Business Intelligence with Qlik Sense begins by helping you get to grips with underlying Qlik concepts and gives you an overview of all Qlik Sense’s features. You will learn advanced modeling techniques and learn how to analyze the data loaded using a variety of visualization objects. You’ll also be trained on how to share apps through Qlik Sense Enterprise and Qlik Sense Cloud and how to perform aggregation with AGGR. As you progress through the chapters, you’ll explore the stories feature to create data-driven presentations and update an existing story. This book will guide you through the GeoAnalytics feature with the geo-mapping object and GeoAnalytics connector. Furthermore, you’ll learn about the self-service analytics features and perform data forecasting using advanced analytics. Lastly, you’ll deploy Qlik Sense apps for mobile and tablet. By the end of this book, you will be well-equipped to run successful business intelligence applications using Qlik Sense's functionality, data modeling techniques, and visualization best practices. What you will learn * Discover how to load, reshape, and model data for analysis * Apply data visualization practices to create stunning dashboards * Make use of Python and R for advanced analytics * Perform geo-analysis to create visualizations using native objects * Learn how to work with AGGR and data stories Who this book is for If you’re a data analyst, BI developer, or interested in business intelligence and want to gain practical experience of working on Qlik Sense, this book is for you. You’ll also find it useful if you want to explore Qlik Sense’s next-generation applications for self-service business intelligence. No prior experience of working with Qlik Sense is required.

Simplify your ETL processes with these hands-on data hygiene tips, tricks, and best practices. Key Features * Focus on the basics of data wrangling * Study various ways to extract the most out of your data in less time * Boost your learning curve with bonus topics like random data generation and data integrity checks Book Description For data to be useful and meaningful, it must be curated and refined. Data Wrangling with Python teaches you the core ideas behind these processes and equips you with knowledge of the most popular tools and techniques in the domain. The book starts with the absolute basics of Python, focusing mainly on data structures. It then delves into the fundamental tools of data wrangling like NumPy and Pandas libraries. You’ll explore useful insights into why you should stay away from traditional ways of data cleaning, as done in other languages, and take advantage of the specialized pre-built routines in Python. This combination of Python tips and tricks will also demonstrate how to use the same Python backend and extract/transform data from an array of sources including the Internet, large database vaults, and Excel financial tables. To help you prepare for more challenging scenarios, you’ll cover how to handle missing or wrong data, and reformat it based on the requirements from the downstream analytics tool. The book will further help you grasp concepts through real-world examples and datasets. By the end of this book, you will be confident in using a diverse array of sources to extract, clean, transform, and format your data efficiently. What you will learn * Use and manipulate complex and simple data structures * Harness the full potential of DataFrames and numpy.array at run time * Perform web scraping with BeautifulSoup4 and html5lib * Execute advanced string search and manipulation with RegEX * Handle outliers and perform data imputation with Pandas * Use descriptive statistics and plotting techniques * Practice data wrangling and modeling using data generation techniques Who this book is for Data Wrangling with Python is designed for developers, data analysts, and business analysts who are keen to pursue a career as a full-fledged data scientist or analytics expert. Although, this book is for beginners, prior working knowledge of Python is necessary to easily grasp the concepts covered here. It will also help to have rudimentary knowledge of relational database and SQL.

Implement neural network architectures by building them from scratch for multiple real-world applications. Key Features * From scratch, build multiple neural network architectures such as CNN, RNN, LSTM in Keras * Discover tips and tricks for designing a robust neural network to solve real-world problems * Graduate from understanding the working details of neural networks and master the art of fine-tuning them Book Description This book will take you from the basics of neural networks to advanced implementations of architectures using a recipe-based approach. We will learn about how neural networks work and the impact of various hyper parameters on a network's accuracy along with leveraging neural networks for structured and unstructured data. Later, we will learn how to classify and detect objects in images. We will also learn to use transfer learning for multiple applications, including a self-driving car using Convolutional Neural Networks. We will generate images while leveraging GANs and also by performing image encoding. Additionally, we will perform text analysis using word vector based techniques. Later, we will use Recurrent Neural Networks and LSTM to implement chatbot and Machine Translation systems. Finally, you will learn about transcribing images, audio, and generating captions and also use Deep Q-learning to build an agent that plays Space Invaders game. By the end of this book, you will have developed the skills to choose and customize multiple neural network architectures for various deep learning problems you might encounter. What you will learn * Build multiple advanced neural network architectures from scratch * Explore transfer learning to perform object detection and classification * Build self-driving car applications using instance and semantic segmentation * Understand data encoding for image, text and recommender systems * Implement text analysis using sequence-to-sequence learning * Leverage a combination of CNN and RNN to perform end-to-end learning * Build agents to play games using deep Q-learning Who this book is for This intermediate-level book targets beginners and intermediate-level machine learning practitioners and data scientists who have just started their journey with neural networks. This book is for those who are looking for resources to help them navigate through the various neural network architectures; you'll build multiple architectures, with concomitant case studies ordered by the complexity of the problem. A basic understanding of Python programming and a familiarity with basic machine learning are all you need to get started with this book.

Equip yourself with the most complete and comprehensive preparation experience for Identity with Windows Server 2016: Microsoft 70-742 exam. Key Features * Helps you demonstrate real-world mastery of Windows Server 2016 identity features and functionality and prepare for 70-742 * Acquire skills to reduce IT costs and deliver more business value * Enhance your existing skills through practice questions and mock tests Book Description MCSA: Windows Server 2016 certification is one of the most sought-after certifications for IT professionals, which includes working with Windows Server and performing administrative tasks around it. This book is aimed at the 70-742 certification and is part of Packt's three-book series on MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification, which covers Exam 70-740, Exam 70-741, and Exam 70-742. This exam guide covers the exam objectives for the 70-742 Identity with Windows Server 2016 exam. It starts with installing and configuring Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), managing and maintaining AD DS objects and advanced configurations, configuring Group Policy, Active Directory Certificate Services, and Active Directory Federation Services and Rights Management. At the end of each chapter, convenient test questions will help you in preparing for the certification in a practical manner. By the end of this book, you will be able to develop the knowledge and skills needed to complete MCSA Exam 70-742: Identity with Windows Server 2016 with confidence. What you will learn * Install, configure, and maintain Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) * Manage Active Directory Domain Services objects * Configure and manage Active Directory Certificate Services * Configure and manage Group Policy * Design, implement, and configure Active Directory Federation Services * Implement and configure Active Directory Rights Management Services Who this book is for This book primarily targets system administrators who are looking to gain knowledge about identity and access technologies with Windows Server 2016 and aiming to pass the 70-742 certification. This will also help infrastructure administrators who are looking to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of identity and access technologies with Windows Server 2016. Familiarity with the concepts such as Active Directory, DNS is assumed.

Leverage powerful features of the SQL Server and watch your infrastructure transform into a high-performing, reliable network of systems. Key Features * Explore more than 20 real-world use cases to understand SQL Server features * Get to grips with the SQL Server Always On technology * Learn how to choose HA and DR topologies for your system Book Description Professional SQL Server High Availability and Disaster Recovery explains the high availability and disaster recovery technologies available in SQL Server: Replication, AlwaysOn, and Log Shipping. You’ll learn what they are, how to monitor them, and how to troubleshoot any related problems. You will be introduced to the availability groups of AlwaysOn and learn how to configure them to extend your database mirroring. Through this book, you will be able to explore the technical implementations of high availability and disaster recovery technologies that you can use when you create a highly available infrastructure, including hybrid topologies. By the end of the book, you’ll be equipped with all that you need to know to develop robust and high performance infrastructure. What you will learn * Configure and troubleshoot Replication, AlwaysOn, and Log Shipping * Study the best practices to implement HA and DR solutions * Design HA and DR topologies for the SQL Server and study how to choose a topology for your environment * Use T-SQL to configure replication, AlwaysOn, and log shipping * Migrate from On-Premise SQL Server to Azure SQL Database * Manage and maintain AlwaysOn availability groups for extended database mirroring Who this book is for Professional SQL Server High Availability and Disaster Recovery is for you if you are a database administrator or database developer who wants to improve the performance of your production environment. Prior experience of working with SQL Server will help you get the most out of this book.

Design cost-efficient database solutions, scale enterprise operations and reduce overhead business costs with MySQL Key Features * Explore the new and advanced features of MySQL 8.0 * Use advanced techniques to optimize MySQL performance * Create MySQL-based applications for your enterprise with the help of practical examples Book Description Advanced MySQL 8 teaches you to enhance your existing database infrastructure and build various tools to improve your enterprise applications and overall website performance. The book starts with the new and exciting MySQL 8.0 features and how to utilize them for maximum efficiency. As you make your way through the chapters, you will learn to optimize MySQL performance using indexes and advanced data query techniques for large queries. You will also discover MySQL Server 8.0 settings and work with the MySQL data dictionary to boost the performance of your database. In the concluding chapters, you will cover MySQL 8.0 Group Replication, which will enable you to create elastic, highly available, and fault-tolerant replication topologies. You will also explore backup and recovery techniques for your databases and understand important tips and tricks to help your critical data reach its full potential. By the end of this book, you’ll have learned about new MySQL 8.0 security features that allow a database administrator (DBA) to simplify user management and increase the security of their multi-user environments. What you will learn * Explore new and exciting features of MySQL 8.0 * Analyze and optimize large MySQL queries * Understand MySQL Server 8.0 settings * Master the deployment of Group Replication and use it in an InnoDB cluster * Monitor large distributed databases * Discover different types of backups and recovery methods for your databases * Explore tips to help your critical data reach its full potential Who this book is for Advanced MySQL 8 is for database administrators, data architects, and database developers who want to dive deeper into building advanced database applications in the MySQL environment.

Learn how to apply a test-driven development process by building ready C# 7 and .NET Core applications. About This Book ? Create tests to quickly detect and resolve issues when writing portable code ? Uncover code integration issues that improve code quality using continuous integration ? Set up and use data-driven unit testing to verify your code Who This Book Is For This book is for .NET developers who would like to build efficient applications by implementing principles of test-driven development. C# programming and working knowledge of VS is assumed. What You Will Learn ? Write flexible, maintainable, and verifiable code for .NET Core ? Write testable code using SOLID principles and dependency injections ? Recognize the characteristics of a good unit test ? Structure and group your unit test ? Use mock objects to handle dependencies ? Set up an end-to-end continuous integration process In Detail This book guides developers to create robust, production-ready C# 7 and .NET Core applications through the practice of test-driven development process. In C# and .NET Core Test-Driven Development, you will learn the different stages of the TDD life cycle, basics of TDD, best practices, and anti-patterns. It will teach you how to create an ASP.NET Core MVC sample application, write testable code with SOLID principles and set up a dependency injection for your sample application. Next, you will learn the xUnit testing framework and learn how to use its attributes and assertions. You’ll see how to create data-driven unit tests and mock dependencies in your code. You will understand the difference between running and debugging your tests on .NET Core on LINUX versus Windows and Visual Studio. As you move forward, you will be able to create a healthy continuous integration process for your sample application using GitHub, TeamCity, Cake, and Microsoft VSTS. By the end of this book, you will have learned how to write clean and robust code through the effective practice of TDD, set up CI build steps to test and build applications as well as how to package application for deployment on NuGet. Style and approach The book explores the concepts of test driven development in depth so readers can apply these proven techniques to build sophisticated software with C# and .NET.

Start building your very own mobile apps with this comprehensive introduction to Swift and object-oriented programming About This Book ? A complete beginner's guide to Swift programming language ? Understand core Swift programming concepts and techniques for creating popular iOS apps ? Start your journey toward building mobile app development with this practical guide Who This Book Is For This book is for beginners who are new to Swift or may have some preliminary knowledge of Objective-C. If you are interested in learning and mastering Swift in Apple’s ecosystem, namely mobile development, then this book is for you. What You Will Learn ? Become a pro at iOS development by creating simple-to-complex iOS mobile applications ? Master Playgrounds, a unique and intuitive approach to teaching Xcode ? Tackle the basics, including variables, if clauses, functions, loops and structures, classes, and inheritance ? Model real-world objects in Swift and have an in-depth understanding of the data structures used, along with OOP concepts and protocols ? Use CocoaPods, an open source Swift package manager to ease your everyday developer requirements ? Develop a wide range of apps, from a simple weather app to an Instagram-like social app ? Get ahead in the industry by learning how to use third-party libraries efficiently in your apps In Detail Swift Language is now more powerful than ever; it has introduced new ways to solve old problems and has gone on to become one of the fastest growing popular languages. It is now a de-facto choice for iOS developers and it powers most of the newly released and popular apps. This practical guide will help you to begin your journey with Swift programming through learning how to build iOS apps. You will learn all about basic variables, if clauses, functions, loops, and other core concepts; then structures, classes, and inheritance will be discussed. Next, you’ll dive into developing a weather app that consumes data from the internet and presents information to the user. The final project is more complex, involving creating an Instagram like app that integrates different external libraries. The app also uses CocoaPods as its package dependency manager, to give you a cutting-edge tool to add to your skillset. By the end of the book, you will have learned how to model real-world apps in Swift. Style and approach This book has a very practical and hands-on approach towards teaching the user the new and advanced features of Swift.