Customer Reviews

The C/Unix Programmer's Guide

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The C Unix Programmer's Guide was the only book I could find that provided useful background information as well as thoughtful, applicable coding examples. What impressed me most is the fact that all the information found in the man pages on C as well as further insight was combined into an easily readable and searchable format. As a student of computer science, I was familiar with Borland/Microsoft C++, but I had no previous experience with C or Unix. This book helped me get an A (one of three) in Operating Systems! While my classmates struggled on assignments, I was able to find exactly what I needed to complete the assignments on time. I truly believe that without this book I would not have performed nearly as well. Thank you Mr. Bacon for writing such a great book!

Finally someone wrote the book that can be understood (even by foreigners like me). I may say that out of all programming books in my home library this one was the only one that presents concepts so clearly and in understandable language, that I didn't need to read paragraphs twice to get their meanings.

Existing examples are just great! They are so useful and common that the reader will have a lot of use for them. For sure, I could have used them in my projects. Especially useful are the Pitfalls throughout the book.

Seriously, it was pleasure reading this book and I am already finding it very useful in everyday situations.

This is a well written book by an author who isobivoulsy an experienced teacher. The choice of topics and the presentation make the book easilyaccessible as reference by professionals as wellas begining students in computing. I will highlyrecommend it to anyone who is interested in learning Unix and programming in C.

This book provides an excellent tutorial of C and UNIX along with many insights into programming. The book is written in a very accessible style: it provides clear and concise explanations of background concepts such as computer architecture, binary arithmetic, and file systems. The book should be appropriate for novice and intermediate programmers or those new to programming under UNIX. The major topics of the book:

Fundamentals of Unix,

Unix Programming Tools,

The C Programming Language, and

Unix Libraries and System Calls.

I have seen good C programming tutorials, and this is not one. It isn't very descriptive. It will introduce you to new library functions and not give a good explanation on it, and then it rarely describes the code snipets. The C Primer Plus by SAMS is far superior to this for learning C. Having said that, this book is decent in its coverage for UNIX system calls with C, in that it is easier for a beginner to understand the code snipets in this book as compared to other books I have seen. Other books I have seen require you to at least already be an intermediate C programmer, and use examples that require you to study the complex code snipets before you can begin to understand what is being accomplished with the system calls.

The author/publisher hasn't updated this book with regard to hardware, and it talks about 286's, 386's, 486's and Pentium processors. It considers 16 bit and 32 bit processing, and it puts too much emphasis on 16 bit, when every compiler I have seen for C is 32 bit. It even gives suggestions based on 16 bit technology. It references DOS, and if anyone is still running DOS, they shouldn't be reading a book about programming. They should be reading about survival skills and moving to Montana and building a bomb shelter.

So, to learn C, this isn't a good book. If you are dealing with the C/UNIX environment and are a beginner, the end of this book is decent for understanding system calls, as long as you already understand C from some better, more up to date source.

Overall a VERY nice book, this is NOT hard reading. I am definitely impressed. The text is very readable, and the concepts come across crystal clear. The number and content of the examples are very appropriate, and the performance tips, tips of the trade, pitfalls, etc. are VERY insightful...

I would recommend this book to ANYONE who is or is thinking about programming C and/or running UNIX!

I enjoyed it, I have read some of the largest advanced books out there on the subject, and this book still taught me things I hadn't thought of.

Learning C and Unix at the same time is the best way to learn both.

I wish this had been my First C programming book. It teaches all the basics required for you to start some worthful programming under *nix. It doesn't go into as many details for e.g., as given in 'C programming: A modern Approach by King but it still gives many details on what things are. It starts with basics of Unix and provides a lot of information on the C development tools in *nix. A very good starting point for learning programming in C under *nix.

This book did an amazing job of introducing many important concepts about C, and C in UNIX.

The description of the material is very clear, and the examples are well thought out.

If you're looking for a beginner/intermediate text on C and UNIX, this is THE book to get.