Apress Access Books

You will start off learning basic concepts and get a bird's-eye view of the enabling technologies to ensure that you feel comfortable with the tools and terminology. From there, you will learn about some of the more popular options in the .NET ecosystem, understand their attributes and shortcomings, and learn why the Uno Platform is ideal for building a cross-platform application that targets Android, iOS, Windows, WASM (Web Assembly), Linux, and MacOS.

Then, you will follow a product release timeline that takes you through building an application, introducing key concepts at every step of the way. Each section of the book is chock full of tips and edge case documentations for the different platforms.

What You Will Learn

• Manage multi-targeting solutions: specifically, how to handle the different project heads
• Effectively write cross-platform software and handle the edge cases of the different platforms
• Understand the fundamentals of working with Uno Platform WinUI apps
• Explore enterprise-grade application architecture using MVVM
• Understand Dependency Injection and how it applies to application architecture

Who This Book Is For

Developers who understand some basics of C# and object-oriented programming

Use this practical guide to analyze and troubleshoot SQL Server performance using wait statistics. You'll learn to identify precisely why your queries are running slowly. And you'll know how to measure the amount of time consumed by each bottleneck so you can focus attention on making the largest improvements first. This edition is updated to cover analysis of wait statistics current with SQL Server 2022. Whether you are new to wait statistics, or already familiar with them, this book provides a deeper understanding on how wait statistics are generated and what they mean for your SQL Server instance’s performance. 

The book goes beyond the most common wait types into the more complex and performance-threatening wait types. You’ll learn about per-query wait statistics and session-based wait statistics, and the types of problems they can help you solve. The different wait types are categorized by their area of impact, including CPU, IO, Latching, Locking, and many more.

Clear examples are included to help you gain practical knowledge of why and how specific wait times increase or decrease, how they impact your SQL Server’s performance, and what you can do to improve performance. After reading this book, you won’t want to be without the valuable information that wait statistics provide regarding where you should be spending your limited tuning time to maximize performance and value to your business. 

What You'll Learn

• Understand how the SQL Server engine processes requests
• Identify resource bottlenecks in a running SQL Server instance
• Locate wait statistics information inside DMVs and Query Store
• Analyze the root cause of sub-optimal performance
• Diagnose I/O contention and locking contention
• Benchmark SQL Server performance
• Improve database performance by lowering overall wait time 

Who This Book Is For

Database administrators who want to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, those who want to learn more about how the SQL Server engine accesses and uses resources inside SQL Server, and administrators concerned with achieving—and knowing they have achieved—optimal performance

• Monitor and resolve production issues in your Kafka clusters
• Provision Kafka clusters with the lowest costs and still handle the required loads
• Perform root cause analyses of issues affecting your Kafka clusters
• Know the ways in which your Kafka cluster can affect its consumers and producers
• Prevent or minimize data loss and delays in data streaming
• Forestall production issues through an understanding of common failure points
• Create checklists for troubleshooting your Kafka clusters when problems occur

Take a high-level tour of SAP oDATA integrations with frontend technologies like Angular using the SAP Mobile Services Platform. This book will give you a different perspective on executing SAP transactions on iOS using Angular instead of SAP-provided Fiori-based applications.

You’ll start by learning about SAP supply chain processes such as Goods Receipt, Transfer Posting, Goods Issue, and Inventory Search. You’ll then move on to understanding the thought process involved in integrating SAP's backend (SAP ECC) with Angular iOS app using SAP Mobile Services running on SAP BTP. All this will serve as a guide tailored to SAP functional and technical consultants actively engaged in client-facing roles. You’ll follow a roadmap for modernizing and streamlining supply chain operations by leveraging Angular iOS apps.

Digital Transformation of SAP Supply Chain Processes provides the essential tools for businesses looking to stay competitive in today's technology-driven landscape.

What You Will Learn

• Study the fundamental procedures to set up the Authorization Endpoint, Token Endpoint, and base URL within SAP Mobile Services.
• Manage attachments in mobile applications and store them in an external content repository.
• Gain proficiency in testing OData services using the POSTMAN API client with OAuth protocol.
• Acquire knowledge about the JSON messages, CORS protocol, and X-CSRF token exchange.
• Link Zebra Printers through the Zebra Native Printing app on iOS App to print SAP forms on mobile printers.

Who This Book Is For

SAP Consultants with an interest in the Digital Transformation of SAP Supply Chain Processes to iOS-based SAP transactions.

Discover a groundbreaking approach to introducing DevSecOps. DevSecOps Adventures uses three innovative games to help you to maximize engagement in your training and transform learners’ mindsets, turning even reluctant sceptics into supporters and advocates of the DevOps culture.

The book’s first coaching game uses LEGO, Chocolate, and role cards to explore the roles and interdependencies of Dev, Ops, and Security. Readers will experience Aha! moments, expand their individual roles, develop T-shaped skills, and experiment with changing organizational culture. The simulations depict an end-to-end product delivery process, highlighting bottlenecks in the value delivery flow. Additionally, the book is updated with two new games, "Fear in the Workplace" and "Safety in the Workplace" which provide insights into safety culture, drawing inspiration from the works of Ron Westrum, William Kahn, Amy C. Edmondson, and Dr. David Rock. Through open conversations, participants learn to identify signs of a fear-ridden culture and apply safety-enhancing practices to foster a culture of experimentation and learning.

This Second Edition is enhanced with real-life examples and includes the insights from important State of DevOps reports. The updated “Key Takeaway” chapter and the new FAQ chapter prepare trainers to deliver an impactful learning experience. It serves as a facilitation guide for gamified experiential learning, provides ideas for effective debriefing, and helps readers relate the issues highlighted in the coaching games to similar challenges they may face in their organizations.  

What You Will Learn: 

• Gain fundamental understanding of DevOps, DevSecOps, and Safety Culture.
• Develop the capability to prepare, facilitate, and effectively debrief these coaching games with your teams.
•  Showcase how playfulness can help teams bring down a "wall of confusion" between the different functional silos. 

Who This Book Is For

Programmers or system admins/project managers who are new to DevOps.

DevOps trainers and Agile Coaches who are interested in offering a collaborative and engaging learning experience to their teams.

Does getting online seem overwhelmingly difficult?  Are you paying too much for your hosting solution? Have you always wanted to have a blog but don’t know where to start? Do you settle for a Facebook page for your business website but know you need more?  The solution to these problems is choosing the right tools. This book will guide you through the process of setting up a Publii-based publishing platform and hosting your site for free on GitHub. 

Publii is a free, open source, desktop application that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and makes building the website or blog you dream of is a simple process.   This book walks you through the process of installing and using Publii, setting up accounts on GitHub and hosting a static blog or website there.  You will gain background insights on here to get no-cost imagery for website, how to leverage AI to generate ideas, outlines, and images. You’ll also review search engine optimization (SEO) best practices to ensure your site is searchable. 

Designing Websites with Publii and GitHub Pages is your roadmap to creating a website and understanding how the publishing workflow works.

What You Will Learn 

• Use text editors such as WYSIWYG, Block, and Markdown
• Make a page from a post.
• Work on advanced processes such as installing themes and plugins
• Manage and back up your data
• Explore GDRP and cooking banner considerations

Who This Book Is For 

Those with limited or no programming or compute skills who want to learn how to set up a website.

This books helps you embark on the journey to master the art of Appium automation, from installation all the way to building a Plugin and Driver. It covers the Appium 3.0 version which is the latest version which involves a complete re-architecture. 

You'll begin by following step-by-step instructions on installing Appium, configuring Node packages, and creating a simple test. In these initial chapters, you'll gain an understanding of Appium Architecture and the command lifecycle. Once you understand the basics, the book will then guide you in testing automation for Android and iOS, both for real devices and for emulators. These chapters also provide instructions on how to run tests in parallel, native shell commands, and how to prepare iOS real devices for test automation. Chapters also cover low-level technical implementations, which will enable you to contribute to Appium and open a way to open-source software contributions.

Following this, you'll discuss the intricacies of configuring and developing robust method wrappers, a crucial skill for supporting multiple test suites with both native commands. The book goes beyond the basics, exploring techniques to make test suites faster when running tests in CI like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, as well as cloud environments like Lambda Test, BrowserStack. It will also help you understand advanced topics such as gestures, plugin development, and continuous testing in CI environments.

By the end of this book, you'll have developed the expertise to debug Appium command failures and construct a sophisticated test automation framework, as well as excel in your Appium test automation endeavours and deliver reliable, efficient testing solutions.

What You'll Learn:

• Master advanced techniques in Appium Mobile Test Automation.
• Solve common challenges encountered in real-world projects and strategize to overcome them.
• Test automation for various platforms like TV apps, Roku, Raspberry Pi, and more.
• Contribute to the Appium project and engage in open-source contributions.

Who is this book for:

Software Testers, software architects, QA engineers, and DevOps engineers

Leverage Generative AI within the R programming environment and prepare for future directions and how new innovations can be applied in the R ecosystem. This pioneering book is designed to bridge the gap between the advanced realms of Generative AI and the practical, statistical computing power of R.

You’ll begin with an introduction to Generative AI principles and its significance in the current data-driven landscape. You’ll then dive into the practicalities of implementing generative models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) in R. See how R, most known for its statistical analysis, can also be used for creative synthetic data, improving model robustness, and generating innovative insights from data.

Additionally, this book addresses the demand for ethical AI by emphasizing the use of synthetic data to tackle privacy and data scarcity issues—concerns particularly relevant in healthcare, finance, and social research. We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI and data science. With AI's growing importance, the book's focus on R makes advanced techniques more accessible, promoting ethical and innovative data science practice, preparing readers for upcoming trends.

What You Will Learn

• Grasp the core concepts of Generative AI and its significance in the broader AI landscape.
• Implement various generative models in R, such as GANS and VAEs.
• Generate high-quality synthetic data.
• Apply advanced techniques for improving efficiency and effectiveness of models for different applications.
• Understand Gen AI ethical considerations.

Who This Book Is For

Data scientists and statisticians with intermediate R programming skills who want to expand into Generative AI for data analysis and problem-solving. AI enthusiasts and data analysts looking to apply Generative AI techniques in R to enhance their analytical capabilities.

AI will fundamentally change the way business is conducted across most industries. Organizations that excel at leveraging secure, responsible AI to advance their strategic objectives will have a distinct advantage. Those that do not may see their market share erode.

This book provides a guide for organizations to integrate AI in alignment with the organization's strategic goals. The framework provides a roadmap for adopting secure, responsible, and resilient AI, from initial strategy development to ongoing operations that will help advance market leadership.

Part one of the book discusses laying a solid foundation to ensure successful AI integration, beginning with developing an AI strategy aligned with strategic business objectives, such as product and service differentiation, market expansion, and process optimization.

Part Two takes a deep dive into ensuring secure and safe AI adoption. It proposes a secure-by-design approach to AI development that considers AI-specific attack vectors and associated security practices throughout the AI lifecycle.

Developing and deploying secure, responsible, and resilient AI is not a one-time effort. Therefore, Part Three discusses operationalizing AI and integrating it throughout the enterprise to ensure continued success. This section focuses on scaling AI applications and continuous improvement, including establishing metrics and conducting a post-deployment ROI evaluation. Finally, it discusses how to foster a culture of AI innovation and excellence, ensuring that AI becomes a way of doing business.

What You Will Learn:

• Develop an AI integration strategy aligned with the organization's strategic goals and objectives.
• Incorporate a secure-by-design approach to AI integration that considers AI-specific attack vectors and applies traditional and AI-specific defense methods, such as adversarial development, model behavior monitoring, drift analysis, input validation and filtering, and output filtering.
• Establish an AI governance and risk management framework to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable legislation, industry standards, organizational policies, and responsible AI principles.
• Operationalize and scale AI applications to ensure resilient production usage and facilitate continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of AI innovation and excellence, ensuring that AI becomes a way of doing business.

Who This Book is for:

The primary audience includes business leaders, AI practitioners, AI executives, AI governance professionals, and cybersecurity leaders looking to integrate AI as a strategic differentiator and to enhance business operations. Higher education would be a secondary audience.