VMware Workstation - No Experience Necessary. Get started from scratch with Vmware Workstation using this essential guide. Taking you from installation on Windows or Linux through to advanced virtual machine features, you'll be setting up a test environment in no time

Sander van Vugt

VMware Workstation runs on Linux as well as Windows hosts and handles different virtual machine formats, which allows you to share your work with users of other virtualization platforms, including VirtualBox, VMware Player, and VMware vSphere environments.VMware Workstation - No Experience Necessary helps you in getting started with VMware Workstation. You'll learn how to install VMware Workstation in any circumstance, and how to create virtual machines and keep different configurations for each virtual machine, which helps in setting up extensive test environments. You'll also learn how to share these virtual machines with users of other virtualization products as well as the cloud.In VMware Workstation - No Experience Necessary you'll start learning about different virtualization solutions. In this introduction you'll learn how VMware Workstation differs from other workstation virtualization platforms such as Oracle Virtual Box, and from data centre virtualization solutions such as VMware vSphere. Next, you'll learn how to install VMware Workstation on either a Windows or a Linux host and how to create virtual machines on these host platforms.After installing virtual machines, you'll learn about advanced virtual machine features, including advanced networking and storage setups, which allow you to mirror a data centre setup as closely as possible. An important part of the setup of such an environment is working with snapshots and clones, which is discussed in detail. You'll also learn how to use virtual machines that are created on other host computers.The final part of the book teaches you how to share virtual machines with others. You'll learn how to upload virtual machines to VMware vSphere, and how to share virtual machines with users of VMware Player.

Enterprise LMS with Adobe Learning Manager. Design and develop world-class learning experiences for your employees, partners, and customers

Damien Bruyndonckx, Sean Mullen

Looking to deliver scalable online learning solutions? Adobe's latest enterprise Learning Manager is a powerful learning management system (LMS) that enables organizations to deliver, manage, and track immersive learning experiences. This book unlocks the full potential of Learning Manager, guiding you to become an adept administrator, author, or teacher, experimenting with Learning Manager from different perspectives.You'll gain an in-depth understanding of the features and their impact on your business. From platform setup to course administration, you’ll be able to create blended learning experiences, deploy your content to different devices, and explore Learning Manager's features for monitoring your students' progress on a daily basis. Finally, you'll discover techniques for organizing and maintaining your course catalog while elevating the learner experience.By the end of the book, you’ll be able to implement your organization’s training strategy, deliver engaging learning experiences, and generate meaningful reports to monitor their effectiveness.

IPython Notebook Essentials. Compute scientific data and execute code interactively with NumPy and SciPy

Luiz Felipe Martins

Creating Actionable Insights Using CRM Analytics. Learn how to build insightful and actionable data analytics dashboards

Mark Tossell

CRM Analytics, formerly known as Tableau CRM and Einstein Analytics, is a powerful and versatile data analytics platform that enables organizations to extract, combine, transform, and visualize their data to create valuable business insights.Creating Actionable Insights Using CRM Analytics provides a hands-on approach to CRM Analytics implementation and associated methodologies that will have you up and running and productive in no time. The book provides you with detailed explanations of essential concepts to help you to gain confidence and become competent in using the CRM Analytics platform for data extraction, combination, transformation, visualization, and action. As you make progress, you'll understand what CRM Analytics is and where it provides business value. You'll also learn how to bring your data together in CRM Analytics, build datasets and lenses for data analysis, create effective analytics dashboards for visualization and consumption by end users, and build dashboard actions that take the user from data to insight to action with ease.By the end of this book, you'll be able to solve business problems using CRM Analytics and design, build, test, and deploy analytics dashboards efficiently.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 AI for Business Insights. Transform your business processes with the practical implementation of Dynamics 365 AI modules

Dmitry Shargorodsky

If there is one hot topic being discussed in every boardroom meeting today, it’s AI. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 AI proving to be a game-changer, it’s essential for business professionals to master this tool. Microsoft Dynamics 365 AI for Business Insights will help you harness AI across key business functions to streamline processes and enhance customer experiences.Written by a seasoned professional with 15+ years of experience, this book guides you through Dynamics 365 AI’s practical applications across sales, customer service, marketing, and finance departments. You'll learn how to enhance customer experiences, streamline sales processes, optimize marketing strategies, and improve financial forecasting. This book also explores the integration of generative AI tools such as OpenAI Service, Azure Open AI, language models, and Microsoft Copilot within the Dynamics 365 ecosystem. With real-world examples, case studies, and expert insights, you’ll discover the transformative potential of this powerful toolkit. As well as driving sales insights and implementing fraud protection, you’ll explore emerging AI trends, Microsoft's roadmap for Dynamics 365 AI, and the upcoming features.By the end, you’ll be all set to unlock new growth opportunities using Dynamics 365 AI.

Machine Learning with PyTorch and Scikit-Learn. Develop machine learning and deep learning models with Python

Sebastian Raschka, Yuxi (Hayden) Liu, Vahid Mirjalili, Dmytro Dzhulgakov

Machine Learning with PyTorch and Scikit-Learn is a comprehensive guide to machine learning and deep learning with PyTorch. It acts as both a step-by-step tutorial and a reference you'll keep coming back to as you build your machine learning systems.Packed with clear explanations, visualizations, and examples, the book covers all the essential machine learning techniques in depth. While some books teach you only to follow instructions, with this machine learning book, we teach the principles allowing you to build models and applications for yourself.Why PyTorch?PyTorch is the Pythonic way to learn machine learning, making it easier to learn and simpler to code with. This book explains the essential parts of PyTorch and how to create models using popular libraries, such as PyTorch Lightning and PyTorch Geometric.You will also learn about generative adversarial networks (GANs) for generating new data and training intelligent agents with reinforcement learning. Finally, this new edition is expanded to cover the latest trends in deep learning, including graph neural networks and large-scale transformers used for natural language processing (NLP).This PyTorch book is your companion to machine learning with Python, whether you're a Python developer new to machine learning or want to deepen your knowledge of the latest developments.

Building Single-page Web Apps with Meteor. Build real-time single page apps at lightning speed using the most powerful full-stack JavaScript framework around

Fabian Vogelsteller

CUPS Administrative Guide. A practical tutorial to installing, managing, and securing this powerful printing system

Ankur Shah

Tools and Skills for .NET 8. Get the career you want with good practices and patterns to design, debug, and test your solutions 

Mark J. Price

Unlock the full potential of .NET development with Tools and Skills for .NET 8.Dive into source code management using Git and learn how to navigate projects while ensuring version control. Discover advanced debugging techniques and troubleshooting strategies to identify and resolve issues, and gain practical insights on documenting your code, APIs, and services, fostering project clarity and maintainability. Delve into the world of cryptography, ensuring confidentiality and integrity throughout your development lifecycle.Elevate your skills as you explore cutting-edge topics such as building intelligent apps using custom LLM-based chat services, mastering dependency injection, optimizing performance through testing, and Docker containerization. Harness the power of cloud-native development with .NET Aspire, unlocking the benefits of modern cloud platforms. With guidance on software architecture best practices, this book empowers you to build robust, scalable and maintainable applications.Advance your career with invaluable insights on job readiness and interview preparation, positioning yourself as a top-tier candidate in today's competitive job market.Whether you're a seasoned .NET professional or an aspiring developer looking to enhance your skills, this book is your ultimate companion on the journey to .NET mastery.

Web API Development with ASP.NET Core 8. Learn techniques, patterns, and tools for building high-performance, robust, and scalable web APIs

Xiaodi Yan

Web API applications have become increasingly significant in recent years, fueled by the ever-accelerating pace of technological advancements. However, with this rapid evolution comes the need to create web API apps that are not only functional but also adaptable, maintainable, and scalable to meet the demands of users and businesses alike. This book draws from the author’s immense technical expertise and decades of experience in software development to help you address this challenge head-on, equipping you with the knowledge and skills required to develop web API apps from scratch.By providing a deeper understanding of the various protocols implemented by ASP.NET Core, including RESTful, SignalR (WebSocket), gRPC, and GraphQL, supplemented by practical examples and optimization techniques, such as using middleware, testing, caching, and logging, this book offers invaluable insights for both newcomers as well as seasoned developers to meet modern web development requirements. Additionally, you’ll discover how to use cloud platforms such as Azure and Azure DevOps to enhance the development and operational aspects of your application.By the end of this book, you’ll be fully prepared to undertake enterprise-grade web API projects with confidence, harnessing the latest advancements in ASP.NET Core 8 to drive innovation.

Procedural Content Generation with Unreal Engine 5. Harness the PCG framework to take your environment design and art skills to the next level

Paul Martin Eliasz

In the ever-evolving world of games and virtual production, mastering procedural content generator (PCG) opens the door to endless creative possibilities. This book takes you deeper into the realm of procedurally generated environments and assets by showing you how to use the PCG framework integrated into Unreal Engine 5.4 and helping you build the skills to surpass traditional methods and create cutting-edge projects with unparalleled efficiency.This book guides you through the complete level design and tools production pipeline using open-source software. Whether you’re an aspiring technical artist or level designer in real-time visualization and game production, you’ll benefit from following the step-by-step, beginner-friendly approach to crafting custom levels, from jungles to cities, and incorporating 3D assets from libraries such as Quixel or Sketchfab. Next, you’ll get to grips with data preparation, construct a PCG graph to populate assets in your environment, and apply these methods to optimize your projects. You’ll understand how this process enhances your PCG tools, elevating their capacity to improve the quality of your levels.By the end of this book, you’ll be able to seamlessly integrate different elements in Unreal Engine 5, empowering you to create your own PCG tools and transform your game development experience.

Extending Creativity with Adobe Firefly. Create striking visuals, add text effects, and edit design elements faster with text prompts

Rollan Banez

Creating conceptual art and design assets is a slow and laborious process, especially for those unfamiliar with complex design tools. With Adobe Firefly, you can say goodbye to your design challenges and start creating attractive visuals faster than ever before. Written by an Adobe expert with over two decades of experience, Extending Creativity With Adobe Firefly teaches you how to use Generative AI for art and design with easy-to-follow steps. You’ll learn how to create images, add text effects, edit photos, and explore colors faster with Adobe Firefly. You'll discover Firefly’s capabilities for tasks like generating text-to-image samples, styling text effects, and editing photos quickly. You’ll also find how to integrate Firefly with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps to streamline your workflow. If you're just starting out, this book will acquaint you with the basics of design, enabling you to create images easily. If you are a professional, you’ll learn how to improve collaboration and visual communication, and if you are a teacher, you’ll be able to enhance your teaching methods with visual thinking. By the end, you’ll master every function of Adobe Firefly and create outputs for website and desktop applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Express, and Adobe Stock.

The Kubernetes Book. A Comprehensive Guide to Container Orchestration and Cloud-Native Deployment - Third Edition

Nigel Poulton, Pushkar Joglekar

Kubernetes is a powerful container orchestration platform that enables efficient application deployment, scaling, and management. This book begins with foundational concepts, explaining Kubernetes architecture, control planes, worker nodes, and the declarative model. Readers will learn how to set up a Kubernetes environment using tools like Docker Desktop and cloud-based solutions.The book then covers core operational topics, including Pods, Deployments, Namespaces, and Services, providing hands-on exercises to reinforce learning. Networking, storage, and security are explored in depth, with real-world examples of managing applications, configuring RBAC, and using ConfigMaps and Secrets. Advanced topics such as StatefulSets, the Kubernetes API, and service discovery offer insights into optimizing and securing Kubernetes workloads.Security is a key focus, with chapters dedicated to API security, threat modeling, and real-world Kubernetes security practices. Readers will gain practical knowledge on securing clusters, managing access controls, and mitigating common threats. By the end, they will be equipped with the skills to deploy, scale, and secure Kubernetes environments effectively.

AWS Cloud Projects. Strengthen your AWS skills through practical projects, from websites to advanced AI applications

Ivo Pinto, Pedro Santos

Tired of resumes getting lost in the pile? This book is your roadmap to building an in-demand AWS portfolio that grabs attention and gets you hired.This comprehensive guide unlocks AWS’s full potential through eight real-world projects designed for developers of all levels. Inside, you'll find invaluable guidance for crafting stunning websites with S3, CloudFront, and Route53. You’ll build robust and scalable applications, such as recipe-sharing platforms, using DynamoDB and Elastic Load Balancing. For streamlined efficiency, the book will teach you how to develop serverless architectures with AWS Lambda and Cognito. Gradually, you’ll infuse your projects with artificial intelligence by creating a photo analyzer powered by Amazon Rekognition. You’ll also automate complex workflows for seamless content translation using Translate, CodePipeline, and CodeBuild. Later, you’ll construct intelligent virtual assistants with Amazon Lex and Bedrock to answer web development queries. The book will also show you how to visualize your data with insightful dashboards built using Athena, Glue, and QuickSight.By the end of this book, you’ll have a portfolio of AWS projects to showcase your cloud skills, making you stand out in today’s competitive job market.

Python Made Easy. A First Course in Computer Programming Using Python

Kevin Wilson

Python Made Easy is designed to transform beginners into proficient Python programmers. The journey begins with an introduction to Python, covering basic concepts and syntax that lay the foundation for your coding skills. As you progress, you'll dive into essential programming constructs like data structures, functions, and file handling.In the second phase of the course, you'll explore more complex topics such as object-oriented programming, modules, and libraries. These sections will give you the tools to write efficient, reusable, and modular code. You'll also learn how to handle exceptions, ensuring your programs are robust and error-resistant. Special attention is given to graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and game development, making your Python skills applicable to a wide range of projects.The final part of the course covers advanced topics like debugging, testing, and deploying Python applications. You'll also delve into web development, where you'll learn to build and deploy web applications using Python. The course concludes with valuable video resources to reinforce your learning and provide additional insights. By the end of this course, you'll have a solid understanding of Python and be ready to tackle real-world programming challenges.

Software Architecture for Web Developers. An introductory guide for developers striving to take the first steps toward software architecture or just looking to grow as professionals

Mihaela Roxana Ghidersa

Large-scale web applications require you to write code efficiently following business and architectural considerations. They require web developers to understand the impact of their work on the system and how they can evolve the product.With this audiobook, every developer will find something to take away. This audiobook will help web developers looking to change projects or work on a new project in understanding the context of the application, along with how some design decisions or patterns fit better in their application’s architecture. It acts as a guide, taking you through different levels of professional growth with a focus on best practices, coding guidelines, business considerations, and soft skills that will help you gain the knowledge to craft a career in web development. Finally, you’ll work with examples and ways of applying the discussed concepts in practical situations.By the end of this book, you’ll have gained valuable insights into what it means to be a web architect, as well as the impact architecture has on a web application.

Building Agentic AI Systems. Create intelligent, autonomous AI agents that can reason, plan, and adapt

Anjanava Biswas, Wrick Talukdar, Matthew R. Scott, Dr. Alex Acero

Gain unparalleled insights into the future of AI autonomy with this comprehensive guide to designing and deploying autonomous AI agents that leverage generative AI (GenAI) to plan, reason, and act. Written by industry-leading AI architects and recognized experts shaping global AI standards and building real-world enterprise AI solutions, it explores the fundamentals of agentic systems, detailing how AI agents operate independently, make decisions, and leverage tools to accomplish complex tasks.Starting with the foundations of GenAI and agentic architectures, you’ll explore decision-making frameworks, self-improvement mechanisms, and adaptability. The book covers advanced design techniques, such as multi-step planning, tool integration, and the coordinator, worker, and delegator approach for scalable AI agents.Beyond design, it addresses critical aspects of trust, safety, and ethics, ensuring AI systems align with human values and operate transparently. Real-world applications illustrate how agentic AI transforms industries such as automation, finance, and healthcare. With deep insights into AI frameworks, prompt engineering, and multi-agent collaboration, this book equips you to build next-generation adaptive, scalable AI agents that go beyond simple task execution and act with minimal human intervention.

Mastering Transformers. The Journey from BERT to Large Language Models and Stable Diffusion - Second Edition

Savaş Yildirim, Meysam Asgari- Chenaghlu

Transformer-based language models such as BERT, T5, GPT, DALL-E, and ChatGPT have dominated NLP studies and become a new paradigm. Thanks to their accurate and fast fine-tuning capabilities, transformer-based language models have been able to outperform traditional machine learning-based approaches for many challenging natural language understanding (NLU) problems.Aside from NLP, a fast-growing area in multimodal learning and generative AI has recently been established, showing promising results. Mastering Transformers will help you understand and implement multimodal solutions, including text-to-image. Computer vision solutions that are based on transformers are also explained in the book. You’ll get started by understanding various transformer models before learning how to train different autoregressive language models such as GPT and XLNet. The book will also get you up to speed with boosting model performance, as well as tracking model training using the TensorBoard toolkit. In the later chapters, you’ll focus on using vision transformers to solve computer vision problems. Finally, you’ll discover how to harness the power of transformers to model time series data and for predicting.By the end of this transformers book, you’ll have an understanding of transformer models and how to use them to solve challenges in NLP and CV.

Unlocking Data with Generative AI and RAG. Enhance generative AI systems by integrating internal data with large language models using RAG

Keith Bourne, Shahul Es

Generative AI is helping organizations tap into their data in new ways, with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) combining the strengths of large language models (LLMs) with internal data for more intelligent and relevant AI applications. The author harnesses his decade of ML experience in this book to equip you with the strategic insights and technical expertise needed when using RAG to drive transformative outcomes.The book explores RAG’s role in enhancing organizational operations by blending theoretical foundations with practical techniques. You’ll work with detailed coding examples using tools such as LangChain and Chroma’s vector database to gain hands-on experience in integrating RAG into AI systems. The chapters contain real-world case studies and sample applications that highlight RAG’s diverse use cases, from search engines to chatbots. You’ll learn proven methods for managing vector databases, optimizing data retrieval, effective prompt engineering, and quantitatively evaluating performance. The book also takes you through advanced integrations of RAG with cutting-edge AI agents and emerging non-LLM technologies.By the end of this book, you’ll be able to successfully deploy RAG in business settings, address common challenges, and push the boundaries of what’s possible with this revolutionary AI technique.

Building CLI Applications with C# and .NET. A step-by-step guide to developing cross-platform CLI apps—from coding and testing to deployment

Tidjani Belmansour, Damian Brady

Developers and system administrators often face challenges like inefficient workflows, complex system operations, and the growing demand for robust automation tools. CLI applications provide a powerful solution by enhancing flexibility, efficiency, and productivity in various environments. This book will guide you through mastering the development of robust command-line tools using .NET.Written by a Microsoft Azure MVP, the book’s hands-on approach ensures practical experience with real-world projects. You’ll start with an overview of foundational principles, essential concepts, and best practices for CLI application development. From there, you’ll advance to creating interactive interfaces, integrating with external APIs and services, and implementing security measures to safeguard your applications. Each chapter will build progressively from basic to advanced topics.Beyond development, you’ll learn how to enhance application quality through testing, package for efficient distribution, and deploy effectively. The book also teaches strategies to optimize performance to ensure your applications run efficiently under heavy usage.By the end of this book, you’ll have gained a deep understanding of CLI application development with .NET to build modular, extensible, and easy-to-maintain applications.

Mastering QuickBooks(R) 2025. Bookkeeping for small businesses with US QuickBooks® Online - Sixth Edition

Crystalynn Shelton

Mastering QuickBooks® 2025 is the definitive guide for small-business owners, bookkeepers, and accounting students. This new edition covers both the fundamentals, like setting up the US version of QuickBooks Online, as well as advanced features, like integrating with e-commerce platforms. You'll grasp core business transactions such as sales, expenses, and payroll while ensuring compliance with tax regulations. You'll gain complete mastery of the US-based QuickBooks Online features—from setting up the platform to fi ling taxes like a professional.Updated for the latest QuickBooks 2025, this book introduces advanced topics like time tracking for hourly billing, inventory management techniques, and real-time financial reporting. Detailed guidance on payroll processing and 1099 contractor tracking is also included to help manage your financial operations. With the purchase of the book, you'll gain access to bonus chapters and video tutorials by the author, off erring deeper insights on how to navigate key reports, reconcile bank transactions, sharpen bookkeeping fundamentals, and generate detailed sales and expense reports.By the end of this book, you'll know how to effectively leverage QuickBooks Online for the fi nancial management of your business.

Learn Computer Forensics. Your one-stop guide to searching, analyzing, acquiring, and securing digital evidence

William Oettinger

Computer Forensics, being a broad topic, involves a variety of skills which will involve seizing electronic evidence, acquiring data from electronic evidence, data analysis, and finally developing a forensic report.This book will help you to build up the skills you need to work in a highly technical environment. This book's ideal goal is to get you up and running with forensics tools and techniques to successfully investigate crime and corporate misconduct. You will discover ways to collect personal information about an individual from online sources. You will also learn how criminal investigations are performed online while preserving data such as e-mails, images, and videos that may be important to a case. You will further explore networking and understand Network Topologies, IP Addressing, and Network Devices. Finally, you will how to write a proper forensic report, the most exciting portion of the forensic exam process.By the end of this book, you will have developed a clear understanding of how to acquire, analyze, and present digital evidence, like a proficient computer forensics investigator.

Realizing 3D Animation in Blender. Master the fundamentals of 3D animation in Blender, from keyframing to character movement

Sam Brubaker

Completely free and open source, Blender, with its supportive community and powerful feature set, is an indispensable tool for creating 3D animations. However, learning the software can be a challenge given the complexity of its interface and the intricacies of animation theory.If you want to venture into 3D animation but don’t know where to start, Realizing 3D Animation in Blender is for you. Adopting a practical approach, this guide simplifies the theory of 3D animation and the many animation workflows specific to Blender. Through detailed exercises and a sharp focus on the animation process, this book equips you with everything you need to set out on your path to becoming a 3D animator. It’s much more than just an introduction; this book covers complex concepts such as F-Curve modifiers, rigid-body physics simulation, and animating with multiple cameras, presented in an easy-to-follow manner to avoid common pitfalls encountered by novice animators.By the end of this Blender 3D animation book, you’ll have gained the knowledge, experience, and inspiration to start creating impressive 3D animations on your own.

PowerShell for Penetration Testing. Explore the capabilities of PowerShell for pentesters across multiple platforms

Dr. Andrew Blyth, Campbell Murray

PowerShell for Penetration Testing is a comprehensive guide designed to equip you with the essential skills you need for conducting effective penetration tests using PowerShell.You'll start by laying a solid foundation by familiarizing yourself with the core concepts of penetration testing and PowerShell scripting. In this part, you'll get up to speed with the fundamental scripting principles and their applications across various platforms. You’ll then explore network enumeration, port scanning, exploitation of web services, databases, and more using PowerShell tools. Hands-on exercises throughout the book will solidify your understanding of concepts and techniques. Extending the scope to cloud computing environments, particularly MS Azure and AWS, this book will guide you through conducting penetration tests in cloud settings, covering governance, reconnaissance, and networking intricacies. In the final part, post-exploitation techniques, including command-and-control structures and privilege escalation using PowerShell, will be explored. This section encompasses post-exploitation activities on both Microsoft Windows and Linux systems.By the end of this book, you’ll have covered concise explanations, real-world examples, and exercises that will help you seamlessly perform penetration testing techniques using PowerShell.