While documenting a comprehensive serialization and RPC framework that operates across more than 20 programming languages was no small task, imagine what it took to create such a thing! My most profound thanks must first and foremost go to the Apache Thrift developers.
I must also thank my family for putting up with me writing chapters and committing patches in the middle of family gatherings and holidays over the course of several years. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays turned into chapter-production activities, and no one yelled at me for staring at my laptop for hours while the family played Risk, Settlers of Catan, or what have you.
I owe a special thanks to the folks at Manning. I have to be the biggest laggard they have ever dealt with. No matter how late I was, they were as professional and supportive as a firm could be. In particular I’d like to thank Jenny Stout, who is not only a wonderful person but a great editor; Akon Dey, for his fantastic technical insights; and Kevin Sullivan, for driving the book to completion and helping me with all the final issues necessary to button up the book.