Game Analytics
Developing a successful game in today's market is a challenging endeavor. Thousands of titles are published yearly, all competing for players' time and attention. Game analytics has emerged in the past few years as one of the main resources for ensuring game quality, maximizing success, understanding player behavior and enhancing the quality of the player experience. It has led to a paradigm shift in the development and design strategies of digital games, bringing data-driven intelligence practices into the fray for informing decision making at operational, tactical and strategic levels. Game Analytics - is the first book on the topic of game analytics; the process of discovering and communicating patterns in data towards evaluating and driving action, improving performance and solving problems in game development and game research. ...
Developing a successful game in today's market is a challenging endeavor. Thousands of titles are published yearly, all competing for players' time and attention. Game analytics has emerged in the past few years as one of the main resources for ensuring game quality, maximizing success, understanding player behavior and enhancing the quality of the player experience. It has led to a paradigm shift in the development and design strategies of digital games, bringing data-driven intelligence practices into the fray for informing decision making at operational, tactical and strategic levels. Game Analytics - is the first book on the topic of game analytics; the process of discovering and communicating patterns in data towards evaluating and driving action, improving performance and solving problems in game development and game research. ...
Mastering Puppet 5
Puppet is a configuration management system and a language written for and by system administrators to manage a large number of systems efficiently and prevent configuration drift. The core topics this book addresses are Puppet's latest features and mastering Puppet Enterprise. You will begin by writing a new Puppet module, gaining an understanding of the guidelines and style of the Puppet community. Following on from this, you will take advantage of the roles and profiles pattern, and you will learn how to structure your code. Next, you will learn how to extend Puppet and write custom facts, functions, types, and providers in Ruby, and also use the new features of Hiera 5. You will also learn how to configure the new Code Manager component, and how to ensure code is automatically deployed to (multiple) Puppet servers. Next, you will learn how to integrate Puppet with Jenkins and Git to build an effective workflow for multiple teams, and use the new Puppet Tasks feature and the late ...
Puppet is a configuration management system and a language written for and by system administrators to manage a large number of systems efficiently and prevent configuration drift. The core topics this book addresses are Puppet's latest features and mastering Puppet Enterprise. You will begin by writing a new Puppet module, gaining an understanding of the guidelines and style of the Puppet community. Following on from this, you will take advantage of the roles and profiles pattern, and you will learn how to structure your code. Next, you will learn how to extend Puppet and write custom facts, functions, types, and providers in Ruby, and also use the new features of Hiera 5. You will also learn how to configure the new Code Manager component, and how to ensure code is automatically deployed to (multiple) Puppet servers. Next, you will learn how to integrate Puppet with Jenkins and Git to build an effective workflow for multiple teams, and use the new Puppet Tasks feature and the late ...
Hands-On Neural Network Programming with C#
Neural networks have made a surprise comeback in the last few years and have brought tremendous innovation in the world of artificial intelligence. The goal of this book is to provide C# programmers with practical guidance in solving complex computational challenges using neural networks and C# libraries such as CNTK, and TensorFlowSharp. This book will take you on a step-by-step practical journey, covering everything from the mathematical and theoretical aspects of neural networks, to building your own deep neural networks into your applications with the C# and .NET frameworks. This book begins by giving you a quick refresher of neural networks. You will learn how to build a neural network from scratch using packages such as Encog, Aforge, and Accord. You will learn about various concepts and techniques, such as deep networks, perceptrons, optimization algorithms, convolutional networks, and autoencoders. You will learn ways to add intelligent features to your .NET apps, such as ...
Neural networks have made a surprise comeback in the last few years and have brought tremendous innovation in the world of artificial intelligence. The goal of this book is to provide C# programmers with practical guidance in solving complex computational challenges using neural networks and C# libraries such as CNTK, and TensorFlowSharp. This book will take you on a step-by-step practical journey, covering everything from the mathematical and theoretical aspects of neural networks, to building your own deep neural networks into your applications with the C# and .NET frameworks. This book begins by giving you a quick refresher of neural networks. You will learn how to build a neural network from scratch using packages such as Encog, Aforge, and Accord. You will learn about various concepts and techniques, such as deep networks, perceptrons, optimization algorithms, convolutional networks, and autoencoders. You will learn ways to add intelligent features to your .NET apps, such as ...
Impractical Python Projects
Impractical Python Projects picks up where the complete beginner books leave off, expanding on existing concepts and introducing new tools that you'll use every day. And to keep things interesting, each project includes a zany twist featuring historical incidents, pop culture references, and literary allusions. You'll flex your problem-solving skills and employ Python's many useful libraries to do things like: Help James Bond crack a high-tech safe with a hill-climbing algorithm; Write haiku poems using Markov Chain Analysis; Use genetic algorithms to breed a race of gigantic rats; Crack the world's most successful military cipher using cryptanalysis; Foil corporate security with invisible electronic ink; Derive the anagram, "I am Lord Voldemort" using linguistical sieves; Plan your parents secure retirement with Monte Carlo simulation; Save the sorceress Zatanna from a stabby death using palingrams; Model the Milky Way and calculate our odds of detecting alien civilizations; Help t ...
Impractical Python Projects picks up where the complete beginner books leave off, expanding on existing concepts and introducing new tools that you'll use every day. And to keep things interesting, each project includes a zany twist featuring historical incidents, pop culture references, and literary allusions. You'll flex your problem-solving skills and employ Python's many useful libraries to do things like: Help James Bond crack a high-tech safe with a hill-climbing algorithm; Write haiku poems using Markov Chain Analysis; Use genetic algorithms to breed a race of gigantic rats; Crack the world's most successful military cipher using cryptanalysis; Foil corporate security with invisible electronic ink; Derive the anagram, "I am Lord Voldemort" using linguistical sieves; Plan your parents secure retirement with Monte Carlo simulation; Save the sorceress Zatanna from a stabby death using palingrams; Model the Milky Way and calculate our odds of detecting alien civilizations; Help t ...
Migrating to Azure
Design an enterprise solution from scratch that allows the migration of a legacy application. Begin with the planning and design phase and be guided through all the stages of selecting the architecture framework that fits your enterprise. Join Microsoft MVP Josh Garverick as he addresses all major areas of design and implementation - application, infrastructure, data, security, and deployment - while leveraging the power and tools of Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) to bring DevOps to the forefront. With an emphasis on principles and best practices of enterprise design, you will discover how to recognize existing patterns within the legacy platform and to identify potential risks, bottlenecks, and candidates for automation. Accurately and completely capture baseline information about a legacy system; Leverage enterprise patterns for constructing next-generation platforms in the cloud; Design, plan, and implement deployment pipelines to enable continuous delivery; Identify an ...
Design an enterprise solution from scratch that allows the migration of a legacy application. Begin with the planning and design phase and be guided through all the stages of selecting the architecture framework that fits your enterprise. Join Microsoft MVP Josh Garverick as he addresses all major areas of design and implementation - application, infrastructure, data, security, and deployment - while leveraging the power and tools of Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) to bring DevOps to the forefront. With an emphasis on principles and best practices of enterprise design, you will discover how to recognize existing patterns within the legacy platform and to identify potential risks, bottlenecks, and candidates for automation. Accurately and completely capture baseline information about a legacy system; Leverage enterprise patterns for constructing next-generation platforms in the cloud; Design, plan, and implement deployment pipelines to enable continuous delivery; Identify an ...
Practical Apache Spark
Work with Apache Spark using Scala to deploy and set up single-node, multi-node, and high-availability clusters. This book discusses various components of Spark such as Spark Core, DataFrames, Datasets and SQL, Spark Streaming, Spark MLib, and R on Spark with the help of practical code snippets for each topic. Practical Apache Spark also covers the integration of Apache Spark with Kafka with examples. You'll follow a learn-to-do-by-yourself approach to learning - learn the concepts, practice the code snippets in Scala, and complete the assignments given to get an overall exposure. On completion, you'll have knowledge of the functional programming aspects of Scala, and hands-on expertise in various Spark components. You'll also become familiar with machine learning algorithms with real-time usage. Discover the functional programming features of Scala; Understand the complete architecture of Spark and its components; Integrate Apache Spark with Hive and Kafka; Use Spark SQL, DataF ...
Work with Apache Spark using Scala to deploy and set up single-node, multi-node, and high-availability clusters. This book discusses various components of Spark such as Spark Core, DataFrames, Datasets and SQL, Spark Streaming, Spark MLib, and R on Spark with the help of practical code snippets for each topic. Practical Apache Spark also covers the integration of Apache Spark with Kafka with examples. You'll follow a learn-to-do-by-yourself approach to learning - learn the concepts, practice the code snippets in Scala, and complete the assignments given to get an overall exposure. On completion, you'll have knowledge of the functional programming aspects of Scala, and hands-on expertise in various Spark components. You'll also become familiar with machine learning algorithms with real-time usage. Discover the functional programming features of Scala; Understand the complete architecture of Spark and its components; Integrate Apache Spark with Hive and Kafka; Use Spark SQL, DataF ...
Functional Programming in C++
Functional Programming in C++ teaches developers the practical side of functional programming and the tools that C++ provides to develop software in the functional style. This in-depth guide is full of useful diagrams that help you understand FP concepts and begin to think functionally. Well-written code is easier to test and reuse, simpler to parallelize, and less error prone. Mastering the functional style of programming can help you tackle the demands of modern apps and will lead to simpler expression of complex program logic, graceful error handling, and elegant concurrency. C++ supports FP with templates, lambdas, and other core language features, along with many parts of the STL. Functional Programming in C++ helps you unleash the functional side of your brain, as you gain a powerful new perspective on C++ coding. You'll discover dozens of examples, diagrams, and illustrations that break down the functional concepts you can apply in C++, including lazy evaluation, function ...
Functional Programming in C++ teaches developers the practical side of functional programming and the tools that C++ provides to develop software in the functional style. This in-depth guide is full of useful diagrams that help you understand FP concepts and begin to think functionally. Well-written code is easier to test and reuse, simpler to parallelize, and less error prone. Mastering the functional style of programming can help you tackle the demands of modern apps and will lead to simpler expression of complex program logic, graceful error handling, and elegant concurrency. C++ supports FP with templates, lambdas, and other core language features, along with many parts of the STL. Functional Programming in C++ helps you unleash the functional side of your brain, as you gain a powerful new perspective on C++ coding. You'll discover dozens of examples, diagrams, and illustrations that break down the functional concepts you can apply in C++, including lazy evaluation, function ...
PMP in Depth
Use this study guide to prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The revised third edition of the best-selling PMP in Depth, updated to the sixth edition of PMBOK, has a laser-sharp focus on the exam objectives for project managers and others who want to pass the PMP exam. No prior knowledge of project management is assumed. The chapters and the sections within each chapter are presented in a logical learning sequence. The concepts and topics, both simple and complex, are clearly explained when they appear for the first time. This facilitates step-wise learning, prevents confusion, and makes this book useful for those who want to get up to speed quickly to pass the PMP exam, even if you are new to the discipline of project management. This book tells the story of project management in a cohesive, concise, yet comprehensive fashion. Unlike most PMP exam books, PMP in Depth covers the material in the order ...
Use this study guide to prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The revised third edition of the best-selling PMP in Depth, updated to the sixth edition of PMBOK, has a laser-sharp focus on the exam objectives for project managers and others who want to pass the PMP exam. No prior knowledge of project management is assumed. The chapters and the sections within each chapter are presented in a logical learning sequence. The concepts and topics, both simple and complex, are clearly explained when they appear for the first time. This facilitates step-wise learning, prevents confusion, and makes this book useful for those who want to get up to speed quickly to pass the PMP exam, even if you are new to the discipline of project management. This book tells the story of project management in a cohesive, concise, yet comprehensive fashion. Unlike most PMP exam books, PMP in Depth covers the material in the order ...
Foundations of PyGTK Development, 2nd Edition
Learn how to develop portable GUI programs to run on multiple operating systems. Revised and updated from the popular original, with a full set of new examples in Python and using PyGTK, this book provides all the information you'll need to write easy or complex GUI applications, offering one source of knowledge and best practices for user interface creation. Foundations of PyGTK Development presents numerous real-life examples that you can immediately put to use in your own applications. It begins with an overview of key topics such as widget choice, placement, and behavior, before moving on to more advanced issues. Building on your familiarity with Python, the book delves into new topics such as object inheritance early on to allow for a complete understanding of code examples later. Work with layout containers including boxes, tables, grid, and panes; Use the Application and ApplicationWindow classes as the base for your PyGTK application; Manage dialogs to give general infor ...
Learn how to develop portable GUI programs to run on multiple operating systems. Revised and updated from the popular original, with a full set of new examples in Python and using PyGTK, this book provides all the information you'll need to write easy or complex GUI applications, offering one source of knowledge and best practices for user interface creation. Foundations of PyGTK Development presents numerous real-life examples that you can immediately put to use in your own applications. It begins with an overview of key topics such as widget choice, placement, and behavior, before moving on to more advanced issues. Building on your familiarity with Python, the book delves into new topics such as object inheritance early on to allow for a complete understanding of code examples later. Work with layout containers including boxes, tables, grid, and panes; Use the Application and ApplicationWindow classes as the base for your PyGTK application; Manage dialogs to give general infor ...
The Joy of Kotlin
Maintaining poor legacy code, interpreting cryptic comments, and writing the same boilerplate over and over can suck the joy out of your life as a Java developer. Fear not! There's hope! Kotlin is an elegant JVM language with modern features and easy integration with Java. The Joy of Kotlin teaches you practical techniques to improve abstraction and design, to write comprehensible code, and to build maintainable bug-free applications. Your programming language should be expressive, safe, flexible, and intuitive, and Kotlin checks all the boxes! This elegant JVM language integrates seamlessly with Java, and makes it a breeze to switch between OO and functional styles of programming. It's also fully supported by Google as a first-class Android language. Master the powerful techniques in this unique book, and you'll be able to take on new challenges with increased confidence and skill. The Joy of Kotlin teaches you to write comprehensible, easy-to-maintain, safe programs with Kotlin ...
Maintaining poor legacy code, interpreting cryptic comments, and writing the same boilerplate over and over can suck the joy out of your life as a Java developer. Fear not! There's hope! Kotlin is an elegant JVM language with modern features and easy integration with Java. The Joy of Kotlin teaches you practical techniques to improve abstraction and design, to write comprehensible code, and to build maintainable bug-free applications. Your programming language should be expressive, safe, flexible, and intuitive, and Kotlin checks all the boxes! This elegant JVM language integrates seamlessly with Java, and makes it a breeze to switch between OO and functional styles of programming. It's also fully supported by Google as a first-class Android language. Master the powerful techniques in this unique book, and you'll be able to take on new challenges with increased confidence and skill. The Joy of Kotlin teaches you to write comprehensible, easy-to-maintain, safe programs with Kotlin ...