Professional and Applied Computing

• Master the fundamentals of the Java programming language
• Use different data structures like arrays, lists, stacks, and queues
• Understand game programming basics including the main game loop
• Gain experience working with three different game projects via the book’s coding challenges
• Work with the 2D game engine that powers the book's included games and learn to create your own new game projects
• Understand advanced Java topics like classes, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism
• Work with exceptions and how to use debugging techniques to trace through code
• Sharpen your skills with over a dozen coding challenges that test your abilities with a development task on a real game project

• Compose libraries and manage boilerplate code using idiomatic and powerful Kotlin
• Manage and query SQL databases without ORMs and mapping layers
• Write resilient and change-proof tests in support of test-driven development practices
• Create traditional, HTML-based web apps, APIs for JavaScript-based single-page web apps and native mobile apps
• Manage parallelism and external service calls using Kotlin co-routines
• Deploy to production using embedded servers, WAR files, and serverless approaches
• Bridge the gap between custom-built apps and enterprise, using Spring Context and Spring Security

The book is a comprehensive end-to-end guide on creating, building, and distributing .NET MAUI applications. As you walk through each new concept, .NET MAUI expert and Microsoft MVP Shaun Lawrence will show the concept's value and uses, and then have you apply it in a build-along application. You will work with this build-along application right up until you are ready to ship it to the relevant stores (e.g., App Store, etc.).

The underlying theme through the book is to explain a key concept, show how to implement it directly in order to reinforce your understanding, and then show potential simplifications (e.g., alternative libraries) that can help you reduce the complexities of an applications code base.

• Create a .NET MAUI application
• Apply commonly required techniques
• Apply more advanced techniques to make applications stand out
• Know what to consider when distributing applications to the relevant stores
• Take an application from concept through to production

Who This Book Is For

Developers who are new to .NET MAUI and cross-platform development. A basic knowledge of C# is required, but no prior knowledge using .NET MAUI is required. Experienced developers also will find the book useful as it covers topics key to modern day development (such as accessibility, performance, and distribution). Xamarin Forms developers will find the book useful as key features new to .NET MAUI that will aid in the migration from Xamarin Forms to .NET MAUI are explained.

Transform your JavaScript expertise through the power of Open AI API models using “Creating ChatGPT Apps with JavaScript.” This book will guide JavaScript developers to build smart applications while providing tangible knowledge of OpenAI’s API for text summarization, creating transcripts from audio files, generating images, and running models locally on your machine.

Through hands-on projects and code examples, readers will discover how to build AI-powered apps from scratch, such as using embeddings to train a Discord bot to answer customers’ questions in multiple languages. Readers will also learn to dictate text for writing articles or blogs with a localized integration of Whisper and generate hero images with Dall-E.

From seasoned developers to newcomers, this book offers something for everyone. Not only will readers learn to build apps with ChatGPT and JavaScript, but they will also learn best practices for prompt engineering. They’ll understand how AI models can enhance workplace efficiency and utilize natural language processing (NLP) to make interactions with applications feel…well, natural. The end result is expert knowledge in leveraging ChatGPT programmatically and incorporating the technology into diverse applications.

What You Will Learn:

• Gain a deeper understanding of ChatGPT and how OpenAI’s models work, and different ways to implement each of their various features.
• Authenticate with ChatGPT and OpenAI’s API and learn to send prompts with best practices with prompt engineering.
• Streamline productivity and content creation by leveraging transcription generation for dictation and image generation for creating hero images.
• Stay ahead of the game by incorporating different new features of OpenAI’s API and understanding more complex concepts like using GPT-4 to train a Discord bot with an FAQ to assist with multilingual tech support.

Who This Book is for:

This book is written for JavaScript developers and hobbyists that want to use OpenAI and ChatGPT to create intelligent applications and streamline productivity. No prior experience with ChatGPT or OpenAI APIs is required.

This book is a comprehensive guide designed to introduce newcomers to Go (Golang). It covers the essential topics that you would need to build a solid foundation in Golang, including basic syntax, data types, control structures, functions, and packages. Along with the basics of the language, you will also learn how to set up a development environment, integrate Visual Studio Code, and use Git and GitHub for version control.

Learn the language through practical, hands-on interactive exercises using Go Playground and real-world projects. In the book you can work through detailed, step-by-step instructions from environment setup to project deployment, and easily follow along without prior experience. Each chapter builds progressively, guiding you from writing simple programs to developing a useful CLI tool and a basic web service. By treating each example as a GitHub project, the book ensures you gain experience in project management and collaborative development.

Topics such as error handling, testing, and concurrency are covered in depth, providing you with the skills needed to write efficient and reliable Go code. The appendix includes valuable resources like quick reference guides and best practices for Go programming. 

This book is an indispensable resource for you in Go due to its highly practical, hands-on approach with detailed, step-by-step instructions, comprehensive integration with modern development tools, and real-world project examples.

 What You'll Learn:

• Basic Go Programming Concepts like variables, data types, control structures, functions, and packages
• Setting up a Go development environment and configuring Visual Studio Code for Go projects
• Building, deploying, and maintaining a useful Command-Line Interface (CLI) tool in Go
• Applying Go programming concepts through hands-on projects and real-world examples

Who this book is for:

Software architects and engineers, students, hobbyists, educators and trainers

Understand and implement superconducting Qubit Design using Qiskit Metal in the Quantum Computing environment. This book provides practical knowledge and step-by-step guidance on designing, analyzing, and fabricating quantum chips.

The book begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of quantum computing, covering essential terms, concepts, and the history of quantum computers. It explores the differences between quantum and classical computers and provides an overview of superconducting qubits. Next, you will learn the theory and practical aspects of superconducting qubits. Detailed mathematical and computational analyses of different qubit types and circuits are provided, along with a comprehensive guide to creating quantum circuits using Qiskit and Qiskit Metal. You will learn to design quantum chips and analyze components such as Josephson junctions and qubit couplers, using advanced methods such as the Lumped Oscillator Model, Quasi-Lumped Oscillator Model, and Energy Participation Ratio Method. Finally, the book covers the fabrication of superconducting qubits, detailing the manufacturing process, requirements, and methods to address fabrication issues.

After reading this book, you will be able to advance your understanding and skills in this cutting-edge field, making complex concepts accessible and providing a roadmap for practical application.

What You Will Learn

• Install the Qiskit framework for creating basic quantum computing circuits
• Create your first superconducting qubit chip from scratch
• Formulate the back-end mathematical and computational model for the generated superconducting chips
• Understand the Quasi-LOM (lumped oscillator model) and how it differs from the LOM

Who This Book Is For

Quantum computing professionals working with superconducting qubits

In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, the need for robust and proactive threat intelligence has never been more critical. This book is designed to arm you with the essential knowledge and tools required to establish a world-class cyber threat intelligence (CTI) capability. Authored by Crawford Thomas, a seasoned expert with over two decades of frontline experience in military intelligence and cyber threat intelligence within the financial sector, this guide is not just theoretical—it's a distillation of hard-earned, practical wisdom.

This book is not a typical consultation manual filled with checkboxes and generic advice. Instead, it draws from the real-world experiences of a practitioner who has navigated the complexities of regulatory pressures and excelled in environments that demand nothing less than excellence. Notably, during a recent CBEST testing, Thomas’s leadership and the performance of his CTI team were described as "formidable." This recognition underscores the level of expertise and effectiveness you can expect to learn from.

You are invited on a comprehensive journey through the critical stages of building a CTI function: from developing a strategic vision, formulating prioritized intelligence requirements, and selecting the right vendors, to mastering the nuances of intelligence reporting. This book is designed to guide you in creating a CTI capability that not only protects your business, but also enhances its efficacy and fosters an environment of reliability and trust—both internally and externally.

The necessity for this book stems from the current cybersecurity landscape where businesses face an increasing barrage of threats. They require impeccable IT security across all platforms, often taking on risks that stretch beyond their risk appetite. Email systems, provided ubiquitously by major vendors, remain a prime target despite advanced security measures. Meanwhile, the rise of Ransomware as a Service has given a new edge to this already formidable threat, turning organizations into unwitting participants in attacks aimed at third-party applications.

What You Will Learn:

• How to build a world leading cyber threat intelligence capability that is threat vector focused.
• Estimate the size of the cyber threat intelligence team you require,
• How to build the prioritized intelligence requirements (PIRs) and collection plan.
• How to select the correct cyber security vendor—in line with the PIRs.
• How to develop ‘pull intelligence’ production and reporting writing.

Who This Book is for:

This book is for all levels of cyber analyst capability. From the beginner, with a hunger to find a definitive answer to ‘what is a cyber threat intelligence capability’? To the expert, who is keen to learn of a better way to do their tradecraft. this book is also for the frustrated and burnt out in-house cyber specialist, who has grown cautious of the vendor market, the costs, the lack of integrations. The 10 year cyber expert who is aware of the changing threat landscape and the need to be more dynamic, responsive and efficient.

Welcome to "Evolune," a far-reaching adventure set in the year 11000, where the frontiers of Virtual Reality (VR), AI, Blockchain technology, and the Metaverse converge. In this advanced future, we explore the profound capabilities of a metaverse platform known as Evolune, which enables you to jump between universes. This realm is ruled by the powerful King Duncan and his corporate empire, The Gnos. This narrative intertwines with a mission to secure the potent Evolune energy, navigate diverse planetary systems, and resist the tyranny of The Gnos.

As you step into the role of an astronaut, warrior, and scientist, this book serves as both a guide and a companion. Each chapter, depicted as a unique planet within the Evolune universe, delves into the intricacies of cutting-edge technologies. With a focus on Generative AI solutions, the revolutionary potential of blockchain, and the transformative capabilities of computational graphics, we embark on a journey to unravel these complex domains. Through a blend of immersive storytelling, detailed technical descriptions, and practical insights, the narrative is designed to demystify these technologies while integrating the lore of Evolune.

Part fiction, part field guide, The Evolune Metaverse caters to a diverse audience—from Metaverse and spatial computing visionaries and blockchain developers to Generative AI  engineers and technology enthusiasts and is tailored to broaden your horizons and deepen your comprehension of these rapidly evolving fields. We discuss practical applications, ethical considerations, and visionary future directions of AI, Blockchain, and the Metaverse to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to innovate and excel.

You Will:

•  Explore key developments in, virtual reality (VR) and digital twins business applications
• Learn about the revolution of spatial computing with a focus on VR glasses and consumer headsets
•  Learn the latest in hyper-realistic graphic design
•   Explore Machine Learning/Generative AI solutions
•  Understand Blockchain technologies, the use of smart contracts and its applications
•   Understand the legal, ethical and security implications

This is for:

Metaverse, VR and spatial computing developers, game designers, blockchain developers and other tech enthusiasts who are interested in the latest developments of VR, metaverse and the decentralised web. 

Generative AI and Agentic AI together are revolutionizing the technology landscape, with profound and far-reaching impacts across industries. Organizations are increasingly adopting these technologies to drive innovation, enhance unstructured content management, and improve problem-solving capabilities. With Agentic AI, enterprises are moving towards the development of intelligent systems that can plan, reason, and act with autonomy. While early proof-of-concepts (POCs) demonstrated the potential of these technologies, the current shift is toward responsible and scalable production implementations that leverage both generative and agentic capabilities.
This book begins by guiding you through the technological evolution of AI, from early machine learning to today’s large language models (LLMs) and agentic systems. It then explores a wide range of use cases across industries, highlighting how LLMs can support decision-making, and how Agentic AI enables dynamic, collaborative systems that act with autonomy and intent. This is followed by Design Patterns across the lifecycle of AI solution development, deployment and monitoring. Readers will then gain insights into the methodologies for developing and deploying Generative and Agentic AI solutions at an enterprise level. A featured implementation demonstrates how Agentic AI can be effectively put into action.
The book also introduces essential concepts such as MLOps, LLMOps, and Responsible AI principles which are critical for transitioning the AI solutions from experimentation to production. These principles ensure that AI deployments are scalable, secure, ethical and compliant. The book concludes with key takeaways and best practices for developing, evaluating, deploying and scaling AI applications responsibly and effectively within enterprise settings.

You Will:

• Understand key design patterns to develop, deploy and monitor a Generative AI solution effectively.
• Learn how to develop and implement a production-ready Agentic AI use case.
• Discover best practices for building scalable, secure, and enterprise-grade AI solutions.
• Understand how to assess and mitigate risks using Responsible AI principles and LLMOps best practices.

This book is for : Enterprise Software Engineers and Architects