Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge that it was I who ate the last cupcake. It was not, in fact, the dog.

I want to thank the fine people at Apress, who continue to support and encourage me, as well as other smart authors. The people at Apress are professional and enthusiastic and make the writing process easy.

However, my wife would not like to thank the Apress marketing department, who thought it would be a good idea for the third edition to include a chapter on 3D printing. It was exactly the excuse I needed to rush out and buy a printer and to fill the living room with spools of plastic filament.

If you have collected every edition of this book, then you will notice four familiar names: Stacey, Trung, Rim, and Nasser. I have had the privilege of working alongside them for 15 years or so. They still put on a brave face when I corner them at lunch or in the office to monologue about my latest experiment or tool. Thank you for your friendship.

Hi to everyone at Microsystems, particularly my crew: Stew, Andrew, Jacek, Jason, Jay, Josh, John, Phil, Kim, Nkem, Isaiah, Cody, Dave, Ernie, Ed, another Dave, Scott, Anam, Miranda, Melody, Mike, Mark, Matt, and especially Michael. If I left anyone out, you can write your name in here: __________.

I have saved the best for last: my wonderful sons, James and Sam, and my wonderful wife, Rachel. You’re home to me.