Essentials

Take Flash to the next dimension by creating detailed, animated, and interactive 3D worlds with Away3D

• Create stunning 3D environments with highly detailed textures
• Animate and transform all types of 3D objects, including 3D Text
• Eliminate the need for expensive hardware with proven Away3D optimization techniques, without compromising on visual appeal
• Written in a practical and illustrative style, which will appeal to Away3D beginners and Flash developers alike

In Detail

Away3D is one of the most popular real-time 3D engines for Flash. Besides creating various detailed 3D environments you can also create animated 3D scenes, use various special effects, integrate third-party libraries, and much more. The possibilities of using this engine are endless. But will you be able take full advantage of all these features and make a 3D application that is picture perfect?.

This is the best book for guiding you through Away3D, and the possibilities it opens up for the Flash platform. You'll be able to create basic 3D objects, display lifelike animated characters, construct complex 3D scenes in stunning detail, and much more with this practical hands-on guide.

Starting with the very basics, this book will walk you through creating your first Away3D application, and then move on to describe and demonstrate the many features that are available within Away3D such as lighting, shading, animation, 3D text, model loading and more. With the help of this comprehensive guide to all the information you ever needed to use Away3D, you'll find yourself creating incredibly detailed 3D environments in no time.

You begin with an overview of downloading the Away3D source code and configuring various authoring tools like Flex Builder, Flash Builder, FlashDevelop, and Flash CS4. Next you ease your way through creating your first primitive 3D object from scratch, then move on to creating stunning 3D environments with incredibly detailed textures and animations. You will make applications react to mouse events, with the click of a mouse - literally, learn ways to focus your camera and perfect your creation by viewing it from all angles, and take your Away3D application to the next level by overcoming the limitations in default Away3D algorithms. You will also learn optimization techniques to obtain the best performance from Away3D, without compromising on visual appeal.

Create stunning real-world 3D Flash applications, right from displaying your first sphere to creating entire 3D cities, with plenty of tips to help you avoid common pitfalls.

What you will learn from this book

• Draw primitive shapes such as cubes, cones, spheres, and planes without having to manually construct them from their basic elements
• Add eye-catching special effects to your Away3D application
• Warp, curve, modify, and bend 3D text to your will
• Focus the Camera and view 3D objects from all angles
• Improve mouse interactivity in your 3D application
• Integrate third-party libraries such as TweenLite and Stardust with Away3D to animate 3D objects and create particle effects
• Use sprites and sprite classes
• Utilize the power of Pixel Bender for image processing
• Export 3D models from 3D modeling applications such as 3ds Max, Blender, MilkShape, and Sketch-Up
• Get practical tips on achieving maximum performance in your 3D applications

Approach

Away3D is an impressive technology, and this book is focused on showing you how to create practical and fun 3D Flash applications with plenty of step-by-step examples, tips to help you avoid common mistakes, plain English explanations of the concepts and techniques used by Away3D, and honest advice to help you understand some of the inconsistencies in the Away3D code base.

Who this book is written for

This book is meant for beginners as well as experienced Flash developers who are looking to create 3D applications in Flash using the Away3D engine. Whether you are using Away3D for the first time or are a seasoned developer, this book will provide you with a solid foundation in taking Flash to the next dimension. It can also be used as a reference guide by Flash developers who are already familiar with Away3D.

Thousands of IT organizations have adopted clustering to improve the availability of mission-critical software services. Today, with the rapid growth of cloud computing environments, clustering is even more crucial.

Oracle^®Solaris Cluster Essentials is a comprehensive, authoritative guide to the industry’s most stable, robust clustering platform: Oracle Solaris Cluster. This book covers both Oracle Solaris Cluster 3.2 and Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition in thorough detail, offering start-to-finish lifecycle guidance for planning, implementation, management, and troubleshooting.

Written by Oracle Solaris Cluster expert Tim Read, this book covers both high availability and disaster recovery features, and offers in-depth guidance for both Oracle and non-Oracle database environments. It also presents several example implementations that can be used to quickly construct effective proofs-of-concept.

Whether you’re new to clustering or upgrading from older solutions, this book brings together all the information you’ll need to maximize the value, reliability, and performance of any Oracle Solaris Cluster environment. You’ll learn how to

• Understand Oracle Solaris Cluster’s product features and architecture, and their implications for design and performance
• Establish requirements and design clustered systems that meet them
• Master best practices for integrating clustering with virtualization technologies
• Implement proven disaster recovery planning techniques
• Efficiently maintain Oracle Solaris Cluster environments

Part of the Oracle Solaris System Administration Series, Oracle^®Solaris Cluster Essentials combines a complete technology introduction and hands-on guide for every architect, administrator, and IT manager responsible for high availability and business continuity.

Virtualization and related technologies like hypervisors, which create virtual machines on a single hardware machine, and containers (also known as zones), which create virtual operating systems running on a single operating system, are a totally new area for many system administrators.

Oracle^® Solaris™ 10 System Virtualization Essentials provides an accessible introduction to computer virtualization, specifically the system virtualization technologies that use the Oracle Solaris or OpenSolaris operating systems. This accessible guide covers the key concepts system administrators need to understand and explains how to

• Use Dynamic Domains to maximize workload isolation on Sun SPARC systems
• Use Oracle VM Server for SPARC to deploy different Oracle Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris environments on SPARC CMT (chip multithreading) systems
• Use Oracle VM Server for x86 or xVM hypervisor to deploy a server with heterogeneous operating systems
• Use Oracle VM VirtualBox to develop and test software in heterogeneous environments
• Use Oracle Solaris Containers to maximize efficiency and scalability of workloads
• Use Oracle Solaris Containers to migrate Solaris 8 and Solaris 9 workloads to new hardware systems
• Mix virtualization technologies to maximize workload density

Starting with a discussion of system virtualization in general terms—the needs of consolidation, the benefits of virtualization, and a description of the most common types of computer virtualization—this book also covers many of the concepts, features, and methods shared by many implementations of system virtualization.

Oracle’s computer virtualization technologies that are directly related to the Oracle Solaris OS are described in detail along with a discussion of the factors that should be considered when choosing a virtualization technology. Finally, several examples of these technologies and an overview of virtualization management software are provided, as well as a history of virtualization.

* Describes mobile and wireless design techniques from the developer's perspective, offering in-depth analysis of the complete range of network technologies
* Details development options for building Smart Client, Thin Client, and messaging applications as well as PIM (personal information management) and location-based services
* The author is an experienced trainer who leads seminars and workshops worldwide for iAnywhere Solutions, a subsidiary of Sybase

Create exciting real-time multiplayer games using Flash

• A complete end-to-end guide for creating fully featured multiplayer games
• The author's experience in the gaming industry enables him to share insights on multiplayer game development
• Walk-though several real-time multiplayer game implementations
• Packed with illustrations and code snippets with supporting explanations for ease of understanding

In Detail

Multiplayer web-based games are more popular than any others, and developing your own is an exciting challenge. But developing multiplayer games is a complex task. There are few resources that explain how to build multiplayer games from the ground up.

This comprehensive guide is packed with practical examples and insights into basic and fundamental knowledge for developing real-time multiplayer games in Flash.

This book starts with the essential ingredients to develop Flash games using Flash Builder 4 and AS3, followed by the basic Flash programming that you need to know in order to write any Flash game. You will learn the basic features that a developer must implement for any multiplayer game. The chapters discuss the challenges you will face when developing a multiplayer game. You will learn to leverage the PulseUI framework to quickly develop a multiplayer game along with all the required screen management. The simple, but powerful, Pulse API model required for multiplayer game development is thoroughly explained as well. As you go through these concepts, you will learn to implement them using code examples.

The last section takes you through four multiplayer game implementations of increasing complexity: first a simple turn-based TicTacToe, followed by a multi-player Jigsaw, a card-based racing game, and finally a complex space racing game.

A development guide for all your multiplayer games

What you will learn from this book

• Explore the essential functionalities of a Game Server
• Exchange information between the players using game state actions
• Customize parts of the game screens--login, new game screen, players, friends display, and more
• Prototype your multiplayer games rapidly using PulseUI
• Walk through the code that manages the graphics of a game
• Model complex game environments using XML game schema
• Design the schema needed to implement a game using game states
• Delve into the basics of screen management and the Pulse game state APIs
• Deploy the game design schema required for multiplayer games

Approach

The book provides all the essentials needed to implement a fully featured multiplayer game in Flash. It begins by dissecting a basic hello-world example providing its code and an insight into each feature that is required. Following the book is easy because of the excellent illustrations and working code samples. Four complete game implementations with increasing complexity are discussed; each example is presented with detailed design, implementation code, and screenshots.

Who this book is written for

This book discusses essentials for beginner to intermediate Flash Developers who have perhaps created a game or two in Flash and want to take the next step, and create something that can be played by two or more players over the internet. This book will appeal to professional and amateur developers with an inclination to build synchronous multiplayer games with Flash. No prior knowledge of networking or server-side programming is required.

The traditional project management rules do not apply in the software world. While not all software projects operate in a state of crisis, it is certainly true that most do. Accordingly this book approaches software project management from two directions: (1) how to plan and manage a software project; and (2) how to regain control of a project that has been overwhelmed by events.

Essentials of Software Project Management provides real-world strategies to make every software project more organized and less frantic.

Data Modeling Essentials, Third Edition provides expert tutelage for data modelers, business analysts and systems designers at all levels. Beginning with the basics, this book provides a thorough grounding in theory before guiding the reader through the various stages of applied data modeling and database design. Later chapters address advanced subjects, including business rules, data warehousing, enterprise-wide modeling and data management.

The third edition of this popular book retains its distinctive hallmarks of readability and usefulness, but has been given significantly expanded coverage and reorganized for greater reader comprehension. Authored by two leaders in the field, Data Modeling Essentials, Third Edition is the ideal reference for professionals and students looking for a real-world perspective.

· Thorough coverage of the fundamentals and relevant theory.
· Recognition and support for the creative side of the process.
· Expanded coverage of applied data modeling includes new chapters on logical and physical database design.
· New material describing a powerful technique for model verification.
· Unique coverage of the practical and human aspects of modeling, such as working with business specialists, managing change, and resolving conflict.
· Extensive online component including course notes and other teaching aids (www.mkp.com).

UML diagrams now available! Visit the companion site for more details.

Click here to view a book review by Steve Hoberman!

Fully updated for version 1.1 of the .NET Framework, .NET Framework Essentials, 3rd Edition is an objective, concise, no-nonsense overview of the Microsoft .NET Framework for developing web applications and services. Written for intermediate to advanced VB, C/C++, Java, and Delphi developers, .NET Framework Essentials, 3rd Edition is also useful to system architects and leaders who are assessing tools for future projects. .NET Framework Essentials touches all the bases-- from the Common Language Run-Time (CLR) and key class libraries to the specialized packages for ASP.NET, Windows Forms, XML Web Services, and data access (ADO.NET). The authors survey each major .NET language, including VB.NET, C#, J#, and Managed C++, as well as MSIL, clearing away the noise and hype, and presenting a clear, practical look at the underlying technologies. .NET Framework Essentials also provides a handy reference to the most commonly used features of .NET Framework

A practical tutorial to enhancing the user experience of your ASP.NET web applications with the final release of the Microsoft AJAX Library

• A rapid and practical guide to including AJAX features in your .NET applications
• Learn practical development strategies and techniques
  
• Go through a case study that demonstrates the theory you learned throughout the book.
  

In Detail

Microsoft AJAX Library Essentials is a practical reference for the client-side library of the ASP.NET AJAX Framework 1.0, and a tutorial for the underlying technologies and techniques required to use the library at its full potential. The main goal of this book is to get you comfortable with the Microsoft AJAX Library, a huge set of functions that can be used for developing powerful client-side functionality.

Beginning with a hands-on tour of the basic technologies associated with AJAX, JavaScript, XMLHttpRequest, JSON, and the DOM, you'll move on to a crash course in the Microsoft AJAX tools. You will learn, through numerous step-by-step exercises, how to create basic AJAX applications, how the object-based programming model of JavaScript works, and how Microsoft AJAX Library extends this model. You'll understand the architecture of the Microsoft AJAX components, how they all fit together, and exactly what they can do for you. Then you will learn how to use the Microsoft AJAX Library in your web projects, and a detailed case study will walk you through creating your own customized client components.

At every stage of your journey, you'll be able to try out examples to illuminate the theory, and consolidate your understanding. In addition to learning about the client and server controls, you'll also see how to handle errors and debug your AJAX applications.

To complement your new found skills, the book ends with a visual reference of the Microsoft AJAX Library namespaces and classes, including diagrams and quick explanations for all the classes mentioned in the book, providing an invaluable reference you will turn to again and again.

What you will learn from this book?

This book teaches you, through step-by-step exercises, the following essential topics:

• How to create basic AJAX applications using JavaScript, CSS, DOM, and the XMLHttpRequest object.
• Understand the object-oriented model of JavaScript.
• Learn what the Microsoft AJAX Library is made of.
• Understand how the Microsoft AJAX Library extends the object-oriented capabilities of JavaScript by adding support for namespaces, interfaces, events, properties, and an improved set of base classes.
• Implement JavaScript classes and interfaces based on Visual Studio class diagrams
• Create client components, controls and behaviors, by extending existing elements of the page, registering events, and utilizing the page life cycle.
• Go through a case study that demonstrates the theory you learned throughout the book.

Approach

This book is a practical tutorial to get you confident and comfortable working with the Microsoft AJAX suite. Packed with step-by-step examples and detailed explanations of how the examples work, this book is the ideal first step into the exciting world of AJAX in ASP.NET

Who this book is written for?

This book has been written for ASP.NET developers entering the world of the ASP.NET AJAX Framework, and for existing ASP.NET AJAX developers looking for a more detailed tutorial on the client-side of the framework: the Microsoft AJAX Library.