Zen of Code Optimization: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Software That Pushes PCs to the Limit [Paperback]

Michael Abrash (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 8, 1994

Provides unique coverage of Intel's Pentium chip. Explores hardware programming aspects that affect code performance. Features innovative optimization techniques not found in any other book. Includes the useful Zen timer-a hands-on software tool for measuring code performance. Presents creative "right-brain" Zen approaches to the art of writing PC software.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Abrash (Plano, TX) is a key software engineer for a major software corporation in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of the best-selling and highly acclaimed Zen of Assembly Language, Zen of Graphics Programming, and numerous articles on graphics programming and code optimization for major publications including Dr. Dobb's Journal and PC TECHNIQUES (now Visual Developer Magazine).

Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: Coriolis Group; Pap/Dis edition (December 8, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883577039
• ISBN-13: 978-1883577032
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #591,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very good book. Very friendly easy to read writing style, May 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Zen of Code Optimization: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Software That Pushes PCs to the Limit (Paperback)

Excellent book. He's starts off each chapter with a weird story. Very easy to understand and covers all aspects of optimization on all x86 processors up to pentium. He shows you programs in C then optimizes the hell out of them in later chapters.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book but a bit outdated..., June 18, 2002

By 

P. Trahan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zen of Code Optimization: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Software That Pushes PCs to the Limit (Paperback)

You can still learn a lot on optimization but there is almost nothing on the Pentium generation. Covers mostly 16 bit assembly.
Would be nice to have a book like that for 32 bit optimization.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, insightful, clear, entertaining, February 1, 2007

By 

K. Gregg (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zen of Code Optimization: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Software That Pushes PCs to the Limit (Paperback)

It's rare that an author can take an esoteric topic like instruction cycle optimization and accomplish three key goals: explain the concepts with great clarity, make the book fun to read, and change the way the reader thinks about programming and optimization in general. Abrash has that rare combination of excellent communication skills, breadth and depth of technical knowledge, and a passion for helping you understand the hows, whys, and whens of code optimization. While some of the material seems a little dated now (covering Pentium I and prior CPUs), the concepts, methodologies, and ways of thinking about optimization still apply today.