Product DescriptionThe UNIX operating system has become a key part of the technology landscape as we move into the 21st century. There are now a huge number of large-scale data management and transaction-processing systems built on UNIX platforms, and UNIX is at the core of the server backbone of the Internet. 'The new edition of this highly successful book for professional programmers provides a lucid and well structured guide to developing UNIX software in the C language, and has been updated to reflect the more distributed environments typical of current IT solutions.
UNIX System Programming concentrates on a detailed study of the UNIX system call interface - the programming interface between the UNIX kernel and application software running in the UNIX environment - and additionally covers some of the more important subroutine libraries.
Features fundamental techniques are developed in depth and are fully supported with program examples highly relevant to the two important standards - the X/OPEN portability guide and the IEEE POSIX standard strong emphasis on exercises and examples throughout
New to this edition more on signals and signal handling more on interprocess communication using pipes more on advanced interprocess communications and the terminal whole section on sockets
From a wealth of experience of developing system and application software, and a real appreciation of the needs of UNIX system programmers, the authors fully appreciate that computing is not a spectator sport. By exploring both system calls and subroutine libraries they give the reader a practical appreciation of when not to reinvent the wheel, as well as a better understanding of the internal workings of this still elegant operating system.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Don't Be So Lazy
What can I say? If someone would even consider returning a book (and jumping to a two-star review) because the authors didn't make the source code available and feels it a waste of time to type and debug the code then perhaps this individual should consider a different career than programming -- one that requires less typing.
Rating: - A second look
After reading more I decided to keep the book. I changed my rating from two to four stars. I want to be fair to the book; It is much better than initially stated. In terms of the source code... it is not too much of an issue; the code is compact and to the point (still better if they provided the code).
I did buy Practical UNIX Programming and are using both books. Along with UNIX System V Network Programming by Rago, I have the necessary stepping-stones into the Steven's Books ... Read More
Rating: - Good book
A good technical book; A stepping-stone into Advanced UNIX Programming by Steven's.
As an alternative... I purchased Practical UNIX Programming by Kay A. Robbins, Steven Robbins, Kay, Ret Robbins. It is better priced and hardcover. The Contents are compatible to the above book and full source-code is on the Web.
Rating: - it's not bad
it's a good book,clearly explained. if you are new to unix system programming, this is a book for you. but it's might be better if source code is included.
Rating: - Terrific introductory text
If you're looking for a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) and pedagogical introductory text on system programming, and find yourself intimidated by other books, such as Stevens' Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment, then this would be a wise choice. The explanations are clear and it has lots of simple examples to illustrate the concepts. After you work through this book, you'll be ready for the more serious and exhaustive texts (like Stevens).
