Linux Programmer's Reference [Paperback]

Linux Programmer's Reference, Second Edition is a difficult book type to carry off successfully. If complete, it will run to thousands of pages. If it isn't complete, what information should be included?

For this relatively small book (400 pages in a small format), author Richard Peterson has pruned his topic ruthlessly. The first three chapters cover shell programming in Bash, TCSH and Z. (These could have done with a little more pruning: there's too much repetition, and Bash would have been enough). Chapter four covers the gcc compiler, libraries, debuggers and packagers--all in 50 pages. It's assumed you're already competent in C and C++. In effect, you get an overview of the built-in programming tools of Gnu/Linux. Chapter five introduces higher-level programming utilities including make and the revision control system. Chapter six provides an overview of Gnome programming with GTK+, Glib and GDK so naturally chapter seven does the same for KDE and Qt. The appendices cover Perl, TCl/Tk and TeX/LaTeX. (Why not Python? The selection here seems somewhat arbitrary.)

Linux Programmer's Reference, Second Edition is aimed at programmers who need a quick reminder or pointer to areas outside their normal work. On balance, despite good, accurate information, this book is overly ambitious. For example, although the publisher claims on the cover that readers will "Master the features of kernel 2.2", the word "kernel" doesn't appear in the index. While it may be useful to have around, Linux Programmer's Reference, Second Edition isn't a kernel programmer's reference.--Steve Patient

The new Linux kernel 2.2 became available earlier this year. The two main distributors of Linux: Red Hat and Caldera Open Systems released their updated distributions of Linux, based on the 2.2 Kernel this Spring. We have a logical opportunity to update this existing Programmer's Reference based on the new kernel 2.2 and maximize sales opportunities
-- Everyone is aware of how popular Linux has become in the past year. There were 12 million Linux users in 1998, 7.5 million users in 1997, and it is estimated that there will be more than 15 million users by the end of 1999. With the increase in popularity, more programmers will need a quick reference where they can look up information based on the latest version of the Linux kernel.
-- We have sold 10,000 units of the first edition of the book since it published in June 1998. Other books in the series such as SQL, HTML, VB6, and C++ have sold an average of 20,000 units each. We are adding over 100 pages to this edition and raising the series price to $19.99. We are launching three revisions for the January/February timeframe: Java, Linux, and SQL.

All the essential information you need at your fingertips!

Learn all the core features of Linux, including the BASH, TCSH, and Z shells, using this hands-on resource. Paced with precise syntax, Linux Programmer's Reference, Second Edition covers the latest Linux kernel, 2.2, and captures all the nuances of the various shells. You'll get programming examples for each command and expert advice on how, when, and why to use each command, helping you choose the one that best suits your particular task. With this accessible guide on hand, you'll be able to implement quick solutions to all of your programming challenges in no time.

Use it and you will:

- Learn all about the elements of Linux and exactly how and when to use them
- Master the features of Linux kernel 2.2
- Find essential Linux keywords, commands, and functions quickly
- Learn to develop Gnome and KDE applications

Richard Petersen (Alameda, CA) has a M.L.I.S. in library and information studies and teaches UNIX and C/C++ courses at the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of Linux: The Complete Reference and The Linux Programmer's Reference.