Acknowledgments

A technical book has more than what first meets the eye. A significant number of skills are required to make sure not only that it is technically correct, but that it reads well, looks good, and is approachable by the intended audience. Thus, we thank the entire Manning staff, without whom this book would not exist in its present form. They did more than just correct our errors and polish our words; they also helped make integral decisions about the organization and the contents of the book—decisions that improved it dramatically.

At Manning Publications, we’d like to thank Emily Macel who helped us at an early stage to shape and focus our writing style. Thanks also to Troy Mott, our acquisitions editor, who initially approached us to develop the book and who stayed with us every step of the way. And thanks to Amos Bannister for expertly tech editing the final manuscript during production and for testing the code.