The animal on the cover of Programming Google App Engine is a waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), a type of antelope found in western, eastern, and southern Africa. Waterbucks stand at about five feet at the shoulder and have reddish-brown coats that become darker in color as the animals age. Long, sinuous horns distinguish male waterbucks, while a ring of white hair around the tail distinguishes both genders from other antelopes.

Waterbucks live in savannas and other vegetative areas, where they graze on rough grass and leaves from trees and bushes. Contrary to its name, the waterbuck spends most of its time on land, but it will often take refuge in a body of water to avoid predators.

African myth claims that the meat of the waterbuck is inedible, but this isn't so. Although the waterbuck's sweat glands produce a strong odor reminiscent of turpentine in order to better protect itself from predators, the animal's meat-while not especially flavorful-is safe to consume.

Male waterbucks frequently use their horns as a means of defense against their enemies. As the males are polygamous and highly possessive of their mates, they are especially prone to fatally goring other male waterbucks who enter their territories and try to steal members of their harems.

The cover image is from Wood's Animate Creations. The cover font is Adobe ITC Garamond. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSansMonoCondensed.