Professional Linux Programming [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Neil Matthew and Richard Stones (Author), Brad Clements (Author), Andrew Froggatt (Author), David J. Goodger (Author), Ivan Griffin (Author), Jeff Licquia (Author), Ronald van Loon (Author), Harish Rawat (Author), Udaya Ranawake (Author), Marius Sundbakken (Author), Deepak Thomas (Author), Stephen J. Turnbull (Author), David Woodhouse (Author), Richard Stones (Author), Christopher Browne (Author)

Book Description

Series: Linux Programming | Publication Date: September 2000

As Linux increases its presence throughout the world as a target platform for professional application development, its growth as a powerful, flexible system offering many free development tools assures its place in the future. By giving you easy access to this comprehensive range of tools, supporting new and nascent technologies, at little or no cost, developing with Linux allows you to apply the solution that's right for you.

In this follow-up to the best-selling Beginning Linux Programming, you will learn from the authors' real-world knowledge and experience of developing software for Linux; you'll be taken through the development of a sample 'DVD Store' application, with 'theme' chapters addressing different aspects of its implementation. Meanwhile, individual 'take-a-break' chapters cover important topics that go beyond the bounds of the central theme. All focus on the practical aspects of programming, showing how crucial it is to choose the right tools for the job, use them as they should be used, and get things right first time.

Who is this book for?

Experienced Linux programmers and aspiring developers alike will find a great deal of practical information in this book on libraries, techniques, tools and applications. You should be familiar with a simple Linux system, have a good working knowledge of programming in C, and a basic understanding of object-oriented programming with C++ for the Qt/KDE chapters.

What does this book cover?

Data storage in Linux - including coverage of PostgreSQL, MySQL and XML

Implementation of Linux GUIs - covering both KDE and GNOME

Web-based interfaces - using the PHP module for Apache

Python - including extending and embedding the language

Using RPC and CORBA to construct distributed object-based applications

Versioning (with CVS), documentation, internationalization and project distribution

Distributed hardware solutions such as diskless Linux and Beowulf clustering

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

By tapping the strengths of the open-source movement, developers can write custom Linux software without spending a dime on licensing fees. Aimed at the experienced C/C++ programmer, Professional Linux Programming provides a wide-ranging and hands-on guide to the different pieces of the puzzle that are required to program successfully on this exciting new platform.

The book is framed as a case study for building a custom database program in Linux for a video rental store. After a tour of the requirements and a brief look at project management for creating this software, the various Linux packages that are needed to implement this system are described, along with sample code, most of which is written in C. Some packages, such as the CVS version-control package, come with most distributions of Linux; others will require downloading additional software over the Internet. In every case, you're provided with the actual command-line arguments that are needed to install, configure, and run each package.

Besides a great exploration of CVS for version control, this title offers excellent coverage of the free PostgreSQL and MySQL databases, which are two very popular choices for Linux databases. The book also does a good job of explaining UI design under both the GTK+/GNOME and KDE (two popular Linux desktops), and how to extend the reach of the sample database application by using Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) and CORBA. Of course, the finished application doesn't use every Linux API that's covered here, but the book does cast a wide net, and introduces features and tools that are available.

Two prominent chapters take you on a tour of the essentials of other programming languages. There's PHP for Web development and an appealing, enthusiastic introduction to Python (which probably will turn you into a Python convert). Later chapters provide practical tips for testing and debugging applications, including how to profile your code. The book closes with a useful guide to creating Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) packages for deploying applications, as well as an overview of your options for internationalization.

By covering so many APIs, languages, and tools effectively, Professional Linux Programming gives experienced C/C++ programmers all that they need to get started with Linux development. With its remarkably clear presentation style and abundance of practical tips, the book is an admirably useful blueprint for building custom software. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Introduction to open-source software and Linux requirements
• Use cases and sample C objects for sample video rental store
• Version control and CVS (command-line options, revisions, branches, and multiuser version control)
• Open-source freeware packages compared (mSQL, MySQL, and PostgreSQL)
• Introduction to databases
• Installing and using PostgreSQL
• Tutorial on psql SQL
• PostgreSQL C database APIs using libcq and embedded SQL calls with ECPG
• Installing and using MySQL (command-line utilities and C database APIs)
• Debugging with gdb
• Introduction and tutorial to UI programming with glib
• GTK+ and GNOME
• Source trees and GNOME
• UI design with Glade
• Testing strategies (including regression testing, profiling, and memory bounds checking)
• KDE/Qt UI programming
• Introduction and quick tutorial to Python (keywords and basic syntax)
• PHP for Web programming
• Introduction to Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) and CORBA
• XML basics (document structure, parsing, and libxml)
• Strategies for documentation (including custom man pages)
• Distributing Linux applications with Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) packages
• Code patches

From the Publisher

This book is for people who have Linux installed, are comfortable with it and have some knowledge of programming. They may well have bought BLP and now want to delve deeper. Advocating the "right tool for the job", but with different tools in mind, this volume shows the reader how to program databases, next-generation GUIs, and controlling devices.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1200 pages
• Publisher: Peer Information Inc.; 1st edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861003013
• ISBN-13: 978-1861003010
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,043,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Specific Databases

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice followup, October 30, 2000

By 

Donovan Rebbechi (Wynnewood, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Professional Linux Programming (Paperback)

This book is a solid followup to their first edition. What I like about it is its breadth. It covers several topics (CVS, PHP, XML, CORBA, MySQL/Postgresql ) that would often have a whole book devoted to them. This book targets the developer who just needs a concise primer on the given topics, and doesn't have the time to read 1000 pages of fluff on every topic in the book.

I only gave it four stars, because I felt that "Beginning Linux Programming" was more essential than this book. However, this is a very strong book and some of the topics here are not covered elsewhere ( for example, ORBit ). And there's certainly no other book that covers *all* the topics this book covers.

Get this, but get "Beginning Linux Programming" first.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for developing real-world linux solutions, December 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Professional Linux Programming (Paperback)

This book is the sequel to the excellent' Beginning Linux Programming'. It isn't a book for kernel hackers, and it doesn't pretend to be. (There is a book being written by kernel developers called' Professional Linux Kernel Programming' - make sure that you order the correct one!). Instead, this heavyweight book is a very useful guide for those wishing to develop real world applications. It covers the tools used for developing serious web applications, such as the databases MySQL and PostgreSQL, and the excellent PHP language. When it comes to desktop and client server you are spoilt for choice - just about everything is covered. It is especially nice to see Python content - one of the areas missing from their first book as Python is very easy to learn and both powerful and flexible. If anything else was covered I'm not sure how the publishers would bind it! The level of detail is such that the reader will be able to achieve useful results based on the book alone, and any further detail is usually available as part of the documentation supplied when installing the software tools. Single subject books often just duplicate this, and quickly become dated. Where there are references to other books, it is nice to see that it is not just Wrox books which are recommended. The book is written in a style which is both readable and serves as a useful reference work, spending more time next to my computer than it does collecting dust on a shelf. I'd have no hesitation recommending this book to anyone wishing to develop Linux solutions for today and for the future - throw away those VB books now!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reference, September 7, 2001

By 

ART SEDIGHI (Old Bethpage, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Professional Linux Programming (Paperback)

I bought the Beginners Guide to Linux Programming and I really liked that book. This book is a very good follow-up, but it doesn't give the reader more programming tips.
It covers many topics which makes this book a great reference for anyone who deals with Linux and even other flavors of Unix on a day to day basic. Buy this book if you are looking for a reference book on developing software on Linux that covers advanced topics.