Many colleagues and friends have contributed directly, or indirectly, to the writing of this book. I would like to extend special thanks to Oren Beit-Arie, Udi Arad, Carl Grant, Dino Eliopulos, Frank Torbey, Robert Albrecht-Mallinger, Dennis Connolly, Jirka Kende, Helena Porczak, Loren Baxter, Jerry Smith, Tim Robb, Marco Mastrapasqua, Vince Torres, Jim Hobart, and Victor Hsu, for their support and encouragement over the years.
I am tremendously grateful to my colleagues Elizabeth Srail, Michael Blakely, Jeff Harrison, and Mark Johnston for their work on my drafts and their detailed, honest, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and generous comments.
My sincere gratitude to the editors and staff at Packt Publishing, Susmita Panda, Jovita Pinto, Azharuddin Sheikh, and Wilson D'souza for their guidance, patience, and continuous encouragement throughout this project.
To my family and friends, Julia, Hillel and Eitan Gauchman, Eda and Hedva Schwartz, Ruth and Doron Blatt, Christine and Scott Marriott, Ayelet and Alon Fishbach, Galila Spharim and Yigal Bronner, thanks for cheerleading, and a special thanks to Lisa Comforty for her counsel, and to Barbara Drapchow whose clarinet lessons provided much-needed creative breaks.
Finally, a big hug to Orit, Ben, and Yoav, who waited patiently for me to resurface and resume normal family life.