Compression Algorithms. For Real Programmers

Plenty of books provide exhaustive, A-Z documentation of current compression standards. Compression Algorithms for Real Programmers offers something far more difficult to find: practical, focused advice on using these standards to meet specific programming needs. Inside, the author examines all of today's leading compression techniques, emphasizing strengths and limitations while explaining how each works and the real-world challenges it's most suited to meet. You'll learn not only to choose the optimal compression strategy for your project, but also to apply it in a way that guarantees the best possible results. Features: • Covers the most important algorithms in use today, including dictionary, arithmetic, grammar, and adaptive techniques, quantization, wavelet transforms, JPEG, video and audio compression, fractals, and steganography. • Stresses the trade-offs entailed by each algorithm, helping you adopt a realistic view of what you can accomplish. • Offers in-depth coverage of techniques for compressing-and hiding-source code. • Details compression strategies suited especially for Web applications. • Helps you determine whether a programmatic solution makes sense and, if so, how you should approach its design and implementation.