About the Author
John Shovic has been working with software and electronics since he talked his
school into letting him use their IBM 1130 computer for the whole summer of 1973.
That really launched him into his lifelong love affair with software. Dr. Shovic
has founded multiple companies: Advance Hardware Architectures; TriGeo Net-
work Security; Blue Water Technologies; InstiComm, LLC; and bankCDA. He has
also served as a professor of computer science at Eastern Washington University,
Washington State University, and the University of Idaho. Dr. Shovic has given
over 70 invited talks and has published over 50 papers on a variety of topics on
Arduinos, Raspberry Pis, iBeacons, HIPAA, GLB, computer security, computer
forensics, embedded systems, and others. Currently John is proud to be serving as
a computer science faculty member, specializing in robotics and artificial intel-
ligence, at the University of Idaho, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and is surrounded by a
bunch of students that are as excited about technology and computers as he is.
Alan Simpson is the author of over 100 computer books on database, program-
ming, and web development. His books have been published throughout the world
in over a dozen languages, and have sold millions of copies. Alan left the writing
world a few years ago to get out of the ivory tower and into the real working world,
first as a developer, and now as a manager, of the Apps and DBA team in his county
government’s IT department. Alan has been called a “master communicator”
throughout his extensive career, and his online courses and YouTube videos con-
tinue to get rave reviews from his many students and followers.
Author’s Acknowledgments
John Shovic: I would like thank the wonderful staff at Wiley and give full credit
to my co-author, Alan. Thanks to my literary agent Carol Jelen for encouraging
me to pursue writing this book. I would like to specifically thank the University
of Idaho for their support and suggestions, especially to Dr. Bob Rinker and Dean
Larry Stauffer. Great people, great university. Also, no book like this would be
complete without my thanking my fabulous students, especially Amanda, Adrian,
and Doug, who inspire me every day and who had to listen to the chapters of this
book as I wrote them. And of course, my cat Panther, who spent most of this book
curled up on my lap.
Alan Simpson: Many thanks to Steve Hayes and everyone else at Wiley for offer-
ing me this great opportunity. Thanks to Christopher Morris, my intrepid editor.
Thanks to my literary agents Carol Jelen and Margot Maley Hutchinson of Water-
side Productions. And thanks to my wife Susan for her patience while I was work-
ing at all kinds of crazy hours.
Dedication
John Shovic: To my wife, Laurie. She has supported me in so many ways including
making sure my socks match in the morning. Thank you!
Alan Simpson: To Susan, Ashley, and Alec.
Publisher’s Acknowledgments Technical Editor: Russ Mullen
Production Editor: Vasanth Koilraj
Executive Editor: Steve Hayes Cover Image: © matejmo/iStock.com
Project Editor: Christopher Morris
Copy Editor: Christopher Morris