Acknowledgments

This book could not have been written without the fine folks at Apress.

Steve Anglin, who started everything rolling by contacting me and offering this great opportunity. Thanks, Steve. Adam Heath, who managed the project, and Kelly Moritz, who organized my schedule and deadlines. The development editor, Matthew Moodie, and the technical reviewer, Daniel Paterson, who drew on their experience to show me how to turn something good into something great.

A very special thanks to Carl Willat and Clay Andres.

Carl Willat worked with me on the project from day one. Carl read and reviewed everything I wrote in this book and helped me to explain all my ideas in more elegant and correct form.

Clay Andres's unique combination of charisma, deep knowledge, and professionalism inspires everyone around him. Clay is able to look beyond ordinary ways of thinking and see the shortest path for bringing a project to success. I can't image a better editorial director for any author.

Finally, thanks to my parents, Gianni and Carla, for their endless support and to my fiancée, Simona, for faithfully supporting me in all the bad and good moments and for being the center of everything that has value in my life.

–Andrea Picchi