Applied Software Engineering Using Apache Jakarta Commons (Programming Series)

ISBN: 1584502460
Author: Christian Gross
Publisher: Delmar Thomson Learning
URL: /http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=songstech-20&path=ASIN%2F1584502460
Summary:
Applied Software Engineering with Apache Jakarta Commons is a software engineering based guide to the Apache Jakarta Commons components (e.g., Betwixt, Digester, Discovery, Collections), other Apache projects such as Ant, the Axis Web Service toolkit, and the popular JUnit framework. The book emphasis focuses on solutions to complex problems using a simple task-driven approach. In this task-driven approach, the idea is to define a generic problem, for example Java class instantiation, and then provide solutions in multiple contexts, such as Collections-based factories, the Discovery package, or even the Launcher package. The book includes a companion CD-ROM with samples and source code.
Key Features
* Utilizes Apache Jakarta and Open Source technologies to create commercial-quality business applications
* The solutions are based on components from the Jakarta Commons toolkits and provide realistic, proven, robust solutions already used by other applications
* Source code is available using a liberal license, meaning that components can be tweaked and integrated into other projects
* Components are self contained and can be integrated into other Java projects such as J2EE without major integration problems
On the CD
* Projects and Source Code
* Complete files and source code for the examples and projects contained in the book

Easy Office 2003

ISBN: 0789729628
Author: Nancy Lewis
Publisher: Que
URL: /http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=songstech-20&path=ASIN%2F0789729628
Summary:

Easy Microsoft Office 2003 takes the work out of learning this new software application by using short, easy-to-follow lessons that show you how to accomplish basic tasks quickly and efficiently! It is the perfect book for beginners who want to learn the Office 2003 applications through a visual, full-color approach. More than 100 hands-on lessons are designed to teach the easiest, fastest, or most direct way to accomplish common Office tasks. The book is suited for new Office users, as well as those upgrading from an earlier version.

The Microsoft DirectX 9 Programmable Graphics Pipeline

The Microsoft DirectX 9 Programmable Graphics Pipeline

Summary:
Learn to write high-performance graphics applications using DirectX 9 with information straight from the Microsoft DirectX development team. Detailed technical guidance plus code samples and applications.


Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; Bk&CD-Rom edition (July 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735616531
• ISBN-13: 978-0735616530
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches

As of this writing, there doesn't seem to be a real reference manual for HLSL and the shader assembly language. This book makes a good effort at filling that role, however.

The graphics programmer is likely to find this very useful. It integrates C application code with shader examples. It also discusses on-the fly compilation, use of resources for shader source code, the relationships between vertex and pixel shaders, texture samplers, and 'techniques' for pulling all the pieces together. Performance programming gets some discussion, but isn't a central topic. Appendices specify the shader language in dryly formal terms, but the descriptive chapters make most language features very clear.

The shader programming model is decidedly non-standard. A rendering program does not work at all like a C program. Yes, a C/C++ programmer will be able to follow a shader's internals easily enough. The problem, though, is that a C program is in charge of what data gets handled when. Everything in a rendering program is silently a callback, however. It's invoked by some execution engine that sequences the input and output data, and even synchronizes multiple (and almost invisible) threads of execution. The hardware rendering program also interacts strongly with the application running in the main processor, partly through "semantics", reflective "annotations", and various parameter-setting mechanisms. There is a huge amount of mechanism at work, and it gives the real meaning to the interacting programs on the host and graphics engine. That mechanism is described in a black-box way, what it does rather than how it works. I think I've reverse engineered the workings, enough for my purposes, but this book did not address my needs directly.

Still, it's the best I've found. Real graphics programs, like games and scientific visualization, are much more than lines and circles. This book, with its examples, will surely help the beginner acquire a working knowledge.

IPSec VPN Design

Publisher: Cisco Press; 2Rev Ed edition (March 29, 2005)

Pages: 384

ISBN: 1587051117

The definitive design and deployment guide for secure virtual private networks

* Learn about IPSec protocols and Cisco IOS IPSec packet processing
* Understand the differences between IPSec tunnel mode and transport mode
* Evaluate the IPSec features that improve VPN scalability and fault tolerance, such as dead peer detection and control plane keepalives
* Overcome the challenges of working with NAT and PMTUD
* Explore IPSec remote-access features, including extended authentication, mode-configuration, and digital certificates
* Examine the pros and cons of various IPSec connection models such as native IPSec, GRE, and remote access
* Apply fault tolerance methods to IPSec VPN designs
* Employ mechanisms to alleviate the configuration complexity of a large- scale IPSec VPN, including Tunnel End-Point Discovery (TED) and Dynamic Multipoint VPNs (DMVPN)
* Add services to IPSec VPNs, including voice and multicast
* Understand how network-based VPNs operate and how to integrate IPSec VPNs with MPLS VPNs

Among the many functions that networking technologies permit is the ability for organizations to easily and securely communicate with branch offices, mobile users, telecommuters, and business partners. Such connectivity is now vital to maintaining a competitive level of business productivity. Although several technologies exist that can enable interconnectivity among business sites, Internet-based virtual private networks (VPNs) have evolved as the most effective means to link corporate network resources to remote employees, offices, and mobile workers. VPNs provide productivity enhancements, efficient and convenient remote access to network resources, site-to-site connectivity, a high level of security, and tremendous cost savings.

IPSec VPN Design is the first book to present a detailed examination of the design aspects of IPSec protocols that enable secure VPN communication. Divided into three parts, the book provides a solid understanding of design and architectural issues of large-scale, secure VPN solutions. Part I includes a comprehensive introduction to the general architecture of IPSec, including its protocols and Cisco IOS® IPSec implementation details. Part II examines IPSec VPN design principles covering hub-and-spoke, full-mesh, and fault-tolerant designs. This part of the book also covers dynamic configuration models used to simplify IPSec VPN designs. Part III addresses design issues in adding services to an IPSec VPN such as voice and multicast. This part of the book also shows you how to effectively integrate IPSec VPNs with MPLS VPNs.

IPSec VPN Design provides you with the field-tested design and configuration advice to help you deploy an effective and secure VPN solution in any environment.

This security book is part of the Cisco Press® Networking Technology Series. Security titles from Cisco Press help networking professionals secure critical data and resources, prevent and mitigate network attacks, and build end-to-end self-defending networks.