Product Description
You know that UNIX is the standard operating system of the Internet, and you want--no, you need-- to get on board. You're no moron. It's something you can figure out. You would like a little lift, though. The Complete Idiot's Guide to UNIX is what you need to get up to speed quickly, and in good humor. This book gives you the straightforward scoop with the most real-world impact. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Excelent Book for Dummies
For someone who always feared learing UNIX, this made me look like an idiot for delaying that for so long!

excellent treatment. The book is a resourceguide
This book is amazing. not only is it a good reference book for beginners to experts, it contains valuable references to sources outside of the book. McMullen makes no attempt at completing a thorough "UNIX bible." Rather he usese this book to illustrate the basics and use references and tools to find more information in addition to this book. I think that that aspect is what makes this book indispensible. The "UNIX for Dummies" is not as good as this one

Not a kid's review
This is a great review for any beginner who really knows nothing about UNIX.It's not boring and "text-bookish", but it's also not stupid and sappy, which is something that sometimes with books for beginners.Highly reccomended!

It is the ways to learn UNIX
Everybody likes easy to read books and I also assume that learning UNIX is not necessarily has to be a struggle. This book stood up to my expectations almost perfectly: it is very well written and clearly expressed work. It does not overwhelm with technical details and does not press too much. It is VERY descriptive and takes you snoothly from subject to subject. I also followed an advise in someone's review and purchased "UNIX Essentials" DVD that is complete unix course recorded. These two nicely complement one another. You watch it and you read it. If you didn't catch it from the first try you watch it again and read it again. In two months I found myself confident to that extend that gave advises to our system administrator and he accepted them because there were subjects that he wasn't completely sure. What I can say, in three month I passed my first interview and got a job! Sure it is a way to start and there are much more advanced reading, however these two provide you with the background !
I can't overstate how much I have learned from them. Don't be naive, though. You will have to learn and memorize many things. The fact of owning neither book nor DVD will not make you knowledgeable, but if you will work it trough, trust me, you will surprise many people around!

The best first Unix book
I have formidable experience with different books on UNIX and related subjects and this one would be in the list of my favorites. It is very well written, very articulate; it goes into many subjects with great attention to details and so on. For a first time UNIX user, it may be used with Linux and UNIX for a beginner training suite, 4DVDs + 2CDs includes 4 Unix Academy Certifications ed.2008.
Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Not even the nerdiest of wireheads could memorize all the commands, operators, switches, and other cryptic items that make up the UNIX operating system. Fortunately, no one has to. UNIX For Dummies Quick Reference, 3rd Edition, now completely updated, offers fast access to the UNIX language's many powerful features, along with ready-to-use tips on everything from customizing your shell environment to using such Internet applications as Pine and Netscape 4.Lose your fear of vi and emacs, find your way around the Internet, and use the most popular Windows managers -- all without having to slog through a manual. Plus, because UNIX For Dummies Quick Reference, 3rd Edition, has a comb binding, you won't have to struggle to hold the book open while typing and moving your mouse! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Handy book, but you might need help if you are not technical
When I review Unix books, I come from a totally non-techical perspective. I always look at it from a lay-person's perspective, as someone who has to learn to use Unix because that is the only operating system available to use.

This is a handy referene book, if you have a basic knowledge of Unix, and are comfortable with using the OS. Sometimes, the explanations tend to be a bit lengthy, and that is something you will find in almost all Unix-related books. So, don't despair if you are unable to follow through completely, reach out to a live person to help you. At least that person will know that you tried to solve the issue, before asking for their help.

the Decent book!
Ok guys this book isn't bad. It is very descriptive and well written. The problem is there's much of water, long blah-blah-blah and so on. It takes too long to start and then looOOoong leaps from one real problem to another. But it is "for dummy" book it supposed to be like that with all explanations back to the beginning.
I have found here on Amazon training Linux and UNIX for a beginner training suite, 4DVDs + 2CDs includes 4 Unix Academy Certifications ed.2008. It is very cool one, straight to the subject, very useful. I coupled this book with DVD and I believe I learned more then my friend who attended $2000 class.
This book is good , but DVD is DVD, it is like you have class at home. This book is very useful though. When you start with UNIX it is like starting with violin:you have to practice every day and this book paired with the DVD gives much of what you will ever need.

Quick Reference is the strong point
The Quick Reference guide is exactly that. A quick reference to allow you to get specific information about the aspect in UNIX you are having a problem with. I have a couple UNIX books and I find myself coming to this one, because it keeps it in a nutshell. If you are looking for something to "learn" UNIX, I would keep looking, but if you have read the UNIX books and now you need "one" guide to keep at your fingertips, this would be it. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Good, but not excellent
It's a nice book if you already know DB2 9 pretty well and just need to refresh some details to pass the IBM exam 731.

It's not so nice for a DB2 beginner, because you cannot read it 'linearly': from the very first chapters you get references to material described much later in the book.

The introduction is 90% taken from the book on exam 730 by the same author. Maybe there's nothing wrong with it, but there are numerous references to exam 730 in the text of Chapter 1. Copy+paste, I think...

Regular
Fast shippin'...
Book was very dirty, and it seems like used :(
Book has recycled sheets... which I hate!

Just what you need
This is Just what you need to get thru exam 731. Easy to read. Covers all the topics you face in the exam

Great Book for 731 Exam
Review for DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration: Certification Study Guide

This is the best book for preparing for Exam 731. I have used Roger Sanders' books in the past (viz. for v8 exams - 700 and 701). This book, like the other ones, is lucidly written and easy to understand. Also, since this is an exam preparation book; he has sample questions after every chapter. There is a 150 question set at the end of the book for practice that goes through all the main concepts (with answers too !!). If you preparing to get DB2 v9, buy this. (Also, for reference purposes you can check this out: Understanding DB2(R): Learning Visually with Examples (2nd Edition) )

Great book for V9 UNIX/Linux/Windows Certification
I just received the book & started through it and already know it will be a great resource.Thanks! ... Read more

Product Description

This handbook uses straightforward examples to introduce the UNIX operating system, including its historical development, major versions, and important features. It covers the topics necessary for users to function independently and handle routine tasks, giving readers a foundation for exploring more advanced UNIX topics. Builds knowledge with a general explanation of concepts and topics, followed by more detailed and complex commands and examples as the chapter progresses. Explains the importance of the operating system and explores its primary functions. Includes a new chapter on the Emacs editor as an alternative to the vi editor. For those interested in learning more about the UNIX operating system.

Customer Reviews (11)

great student book for beginner
Yes it has some typos, but get real, some of these reviews are ridiculous.

This is a great Book to learn UNIX, even the best I'd say.
It really starts from scratch and even gets into some Shell programming and scripts. I was impressed with the content, and being a Programmer analyst I will say it is an excellent book for those people starting out. I also like the Oreilly UNIX in a nutshell for a good reference.

IF those Unix "gurus" complaining could just shed some light on what is the best book then??? typical

A very good textbook for UNIX biginners.
I think this is a very good textbook for UNIX beginners. It is very easy to understand.

Too Many Typos
Overall a good introduction to the Unix Operating System, but thetypographical errors are unforgiveable. The command line orientation ofUnix is cumbersome enough without mistyped examples. Potentiallyfrustrating for first time users, this book is in dire need of revision.

UNIX Unbounded:A Beginning Approach
Frustrating and exhausting reading.If you want to decipher the author's poor English, inconsistencies, incomplete examples and incorrect examples, then have at it.Seems like an attempted translation into English.Totally worthless for technical training.Author's good intention toprovide tutorial sessions failed miserably with typos and syntax errors. If your professor is using this so-called textbook:Buy Another UnixTextbook.You'll be better off.Waste of my time and $.

A very good and useful book
This book is very useful for beginner. The whole book contents many examples which make Unix more understandable. ... Read more

Product Description
Thorough and authoritative, this book contains comprehensive coverage of the sockets API, the defacto standard for network programming. Once the basics are covered, the author moves on to advanced sockets topics, including IPv4 and IPv6 interoperability, UNIX domain protocols, nonblocking I/O, broadcasting, multicasting, threads and routing sockets. Client/server design alternatives are also fully examined.Amazon.com Review
The classic programming text Unix NetworkProgramming has been updated by author W. Richard Stevens toencompass three new volumes. There have been a few changes in thecomputing world since 1990 (the year the original was published), andStevens has taken the opportunity to create a complete set ofreference manuals for programmers of all skill levels.

The firstvolume, Networking APIs: Sockets and XTI, covers everything youneed to know to make your programs communicate over networks. Stevenscovers everything from writing your programs to be compatible withboth Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and IPv6, to raw sockets,routing sockets, User Datagram Protocol (UDP),broadcasting/multicasting, routing sockets, server internals, andmore, plus a section covering Posix threads.

Stevens also notescompatibility issues with different operating systems so that readerscan create code that is more portable, and he offers plenty of adviceon how to make code more robust. --Doug Beaver ... Read more

Customer Reviews (48)

awesome book! definitely is helping me relearn(for good) unix networking
been programming for close to 15 years, dabbled in this stuff when I was 17-19 but never really learned it well -- relearning it now for good -- very solid technical book and none of that crap you'll find in other tech books -- if you want to learn how to scale your website properly read this

Richard Steven Rocks.
The Best series of books to learn Network programming from. The BEST in the world. Nothing comes close. Richard Steven rocks always !

It's simply good!
If I want a dog, I won't buy a cat.
The good thing of a cat is, it won't bark.

Boring Dictionary of N/W Programming
Though book is preety straight forward.
It rarely talks about tricks,code is highly redundant in the sense that everywhere error checking is being done.
Which makes it highly boring is thatif you are dealing with some kind of N/W installation or S/W trobuleshooting.
Talks much more on code,

A good reference
The coding examples weren't so hot in my opinion but this book
provided exactly what I needed to jump on the UNIX network programming bandwagon and remains a reference tool. ... Read more

Product Description
Ideal for students with little or no computer experience, this essential learning tool is filled with fundamental skill-building exercises, hands-on tutorials, and clear explanations.And, it's written by a leading UNIX and Linux curriculum developer and instructor, making it perfect for both learning -- and teaching -- the basics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great book of instruction.
If you are a person who likes to understand the reasoning behind certain command line executions - because it helps with your rentention - then this is the book for you. This book is what my local College uses and I can see why. The class is an "online" class and this book is all I need to understand. The book gives you the basics of why things work the way they do. What it is NOT is a reference book. It is a book on how to learn (and understand) Linux and what the commands are and why they are in a particular order. If you already know a little about Linux, this will help to connect the dots. If you are a Linux pro, don't bother. But I just wanted to learn the OS for the fun of it and I am learning much with this book.
Also, this book is very "hands on" so the CD that comes with it will reinforce what you're reading. I love this about the book. You actually DO what your learn. And visa versa. :o)
One other comment. You will find as you read that the author has a sneaky (and sometimes not-so-sneaky) way of restating the material that he just stated. It helps you to learn although you might say to yourself "you pretty much just said that...". But I understand the reasoning and it works. :o)

Excellent Linux/Unix command line guide
For the those wanting a thorough introduction to learn the Linux command line environment, this is the best book to buy. It has many self-test exercises that reinforce what you are learning and help you develop command line skills.

The best textbook I have ever read!!
If you want to learn linux command line syntax, this book is for you! Each chapter builds on the previous and enforces your learning. Of course, there is a lot of typing on the command line. I wish this author would write some more books. . . maybe an Advanced Linux and Unix book. I developed more linux skills from this book than any other source! I really enjoyed this book and hope others would find it useful as well! I am not selling my copy.

Should be Introduction to Unix and Linux file systems
This is nothing more but learning the file systems.Not for newbies who want to learn on how to configure and install other programs for Unix/Linux.but this book is good for the one who want to study more on the file systems which goes pretty indepth the lab manual is pretty good too.be prepare to do alot of typing there is no GUI but only the terminal.

Well Thought Out Text and Support Materials
Reference books do not provide the teaching that new people to the UNIX or Linux world need to quickly come up to speed. This text has saved me a lot of time by taking students through detailed exercises that work and explaining to them what is going on as they proceed. The mix of lab, explanation, review, and problems to solve matches the needs of our students. Each command is clearly identified, the type is large enough to read while at the terminal and students do not get lost or frustrated.

Instead of teaching how to accomplish the basics in class, I can help the students explore more advanced questions.They master the skills interacting with the system guided by this text. Students who were afraid of computer science are succeeding with this guide and are returning for more. Advanced students quickly master a thorough foundation.

Instructor pack is all illustrations, a way to create quizes on or off line, and support materials.Great jump start for new teachers. ... Read more

Product Description
Hands-on, practical guide that teaches the fundamentals of the UNIX operating system concepts, architecture and administration using Linux. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Great Book
Had to have this book for a class I am taking. Very concise and clear.

Decent coverage of low-level unix-like usage
The book covers the lower-level concepts of using Linux. Not much by way of practical "OK, I've installed Linux, what do I do now?" advice, but a decent reference for those wishing to become more familiar with a bare-bonesUnix-like system.

A better place to start than most
Judging by the reviews, this appears to be a book you either love or hate, depending on how you like to learn. Incidentally, my review is based on the edition that preceded this one.

Plusses:

Although you can learn UNIX by reading books or online guides, anyone who has started from "zero" realizes that the process is very confusing to someone who doesn't already know UNIX--as strange as that may sound. This is often the case when the programmers and IT professionals write the books and online guides--you know, those people who believe anyone can look at a man page and understand exactly what is being stated. They forgot how much they know and it is reflected in the way the material is presented, which cannot be easily deciphered by someone who is not already "part of the group." Therefore, "ordinary" people or beginners--even those with experience outside of UNIX--need something better that will cover all the basics in a clear way that can be understood without already being a computer science major in college or an IT professional. For these people, Guide to UNIX Using Linux provides a welcome and relatively easy introduction to UNIX. (Although understanding UNIX is not a trivial process, it is fifty times easier to get acquainted with UNIX using this book than to try to figure out what to do using man pages in my opinion.)

Negatives:

The book contains some fundamental weaknesses. Sure, not all versions of UNIX or Linux the user may encounter are going to be identical, so I did not anticipate that every command would work perfectly with every system, but some of the examples did not work as expected.

When the book refers to something that does not exist in the book text, you have a problem. For example, in the Chapter 2 review questions, it asks about a solution that simplifies things for users who must access files that have a long pathname. The answer is "Teach them to use a symbolic link." Although that is a correct answer, neither chapter 1 or 2 discusses symbolic links. Omissions like this can leave a person frustrated and confused. Further, after purchasing an $80.00 book, you would think that a reader should not have to go on the Internet to find answers to questions in their textbook.

Overall, the book is very good. If you find the price a little steep, consider getting a used copy.

Did not receive due to inventory mistake
book was unavailable for sale but was advertised as available......

More of an Extended Checklist than a Book
It seemed to me that the author collected a checklist of things to cover, added some details on each item, and sat back satisfied that the list was covered.

No topic is covered really well, in my opinion. I do not mean by this that each topic should have been covered exhaustively, as this is an introductory book. Rather, I mean that many topics are covered to such a low extent that there is nothing much to do with them. The reader is basically only made aware that such a topic exists, and then needs to find an alternative source for this topic.
I think the most striking example of this (one out of many), is a 10-page chapter explaining C++ from scratch. I don't see the point for this. A reader familiar with the language would be interested in linux-specific aspects of C++ (for example, linux programming environments), which are not covered. A reader unfamiliar with the language would find a 10-page chapter useless.

Curiously, the book, even when considered as an extended checklist, is not very good. I could not find any material on archiving and compressing, and had to search the Internet for this.

I Heartily recommend this book for people who enjoy spending time on Google.

... Read more

Product Description

In the wake of the highly successful Sams Teach Yourself Unix in 24 Hours, this book focuses on the additional Unix commands that an advanced user or beginning system administrator needs to know in order to administer and maintain a Unix system.The book includes coverage of the key Unix variations: Red Hat Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, and Apple's Mac OS X environment.The book will not be a comprehensive solution to all problems facing new system administrators, but instead is a tutorial introduction to the process of learning about and maintaining a running Unix server.

Customer Reviews (4)

Very useful and accessible.
UNIX administration is notoriously difficult and sophisticated because one has to understand many things in their complexity. This books does not provide the complete coverage but there is no book that possibly could. If you found yourself struggling and having a difficulty with reading this one it means you need more background with UNIX to deal with administration. I found here on Amazon "UNIX Essentials" DVD that is complete UNIX course recorded and it can bring you to the point you will be able to work with book like that.
It is very well written book and it is very important! I had some books on UNIX administration that I simply gave up! This one is easy to read and it makes many things simpler and it is good thing. I use this one as a cross reference volume.

The very best UNIX System Administration book.
I have seem many different UNIX SA books, but this one is the very best.It covers all the important topics and concepts, and has detailed examples for everything the author discusses.This book is very easy to read and follow.

Not an encyclopedia, but it is handy!
I'm not sure what the 1-star reviewer's problem is.Who wants to wade through MAN pages for hours?The whole reason I buy books is to compile the information in one handy place.This is a useful source to fill in general holes in your knowledge.If you already know this stuff cold, I'm not sure why you'd be interested in the book at all (either to praise or pan.)Bottom line: good, general book for those who want to bootstrap themselves.

A great introduction to thinking like a sysadmin
There are a bunch of things I like about this book. First off, I like that the author covers not only Linux, but also Solaris and Mac OS X. By discussing them all, you get a good sense of how different Unix can be on different platforms. It's also the first book I've seen that discusses command-line based Mac OS X administration at all, so that by itself was very interesting (if occasionally weird) reading. The writing style is very good too -- I have read other Unix books by Dave Taylor and he not only understands this stuff inside-out, but explains it in a way that makes this material interesting and fun. Finally, I really appreciated that he emphasizes problem solving (showing how, time and again, to use Unix tools to track down bugs, configuration problems, etc) rather than a bunch of canned solutions. If you're a Unix person, or wannabe, this book is highly recommended, even if you'll never admin your system. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (33)

Very nice introduction to the bash shell
It feels so anachronistic to be learning the bash shell in 2009, but I want to broaden my understanding of Linux and bash is a component part.

For the beginner, like myself, this is an easy introduction. It begins with the purpose and nature of the shell, moves you into basic concepts of using the shell and then takes you into the more complex area of shell programming. Unlike a number of "Learning" books from O'Reilly, this one is very well written for its target audience, which is beginners.

The approach is gradual, in small chunks, with lots of explanation. This is not a reference or tutorial for Linux, per se. It is about the bash shell and the Linux commands encountered are incidental to that goal. (The book, actually, is a survivor of the UNIX era.)

Because of the author's approach, picking up knowledge of the fundamentals of the bash shell is (thankfully) a quick process. The more advanced lessons on scripting are somewhat lost on me because I don't operate in a server environment and, as a result, don't have a real world context for some of the examples. Some of the chapter exercises, however, are quite challenging and will keep me busy for a while.

I am learning Linux and bash out of personal curiosity, so I don't know how much of this newly acquired knowledge I will use on anything resembling a regular basis, but the cool thing is that the book is obviously useful as a reference for those like me who will probably stay close to the beginner level.

Overall, a very nice way to learn the bash shell.

Jerry

So much good here
There's a lot to love about this book, the way it helps the reader / programmer navigate the differences in the the different shell scripting settings.

There's a lot to be desired, too.I too often felt the author believed I was an old hand at shell scripting, and he was offering some shortcuts.

Why not assume I was a novice?Sure, some shell scripters would have howled; so what?Better too much exposition than not enough.I'd have appreciated more explanation of some of the tasks the author was accomplishing.

Not bad, but could have been better.

Very useful
This book provided a solid resource to start writing shell scripts in bash. It is well written, and also provides understanding into some bash features that go beyond just a reference book.

Outstanding in every way
I first bought this book over 12 years ago, and I still use it as the standard by which other books are measured. It must be one of my top 5 favorite computer books, ever.

The author clearly understands the material, and makes it approachable, direct, and easy to learn without being too light or condescending. I wish the same could be said of Java books.

"Learning the bash Shell" is the right size and right price, too. Perfect in every way.

O'Reilly kind of took a turn for the worse in the late '90s / early 2000s, but this was originally published back when they were good the first time. (They've since recovered, IMO)

If you have need to learn the bash shell, you can't go wrong with this one.

Exelent Book!!
shipping fast!! =D nice comunication and information :D
sorry for later review:)
-]Raul[- ... Read more

Product Description
*Deals with powerful concepts in a simple way*Highlights important characteristics of Operating systems and other abstract entities in a new way*Explores the tenets of the UNIX operating system philosophy

Unlike so many books that focus on how to use UNIX, The UNIX Philosophy concentrates on answering the questions: `Why use UNIX in the first place?'.Readers will discover the rationale and reasons for such concepts as file system organization, user interface and other system characteristics.In an informative, non-technical fashion, The UNIX Philosophy explores the general principles for applying the UNIX philosophy to software development.This book describes complex software design principles and addresses the importance of small programs, code and data portability, early prototyping, and open user interfaces.The UNIX Philosophy is a book to be read before tackling the highly technical texts on UNIX internals and programming.Written for both the computer layperson and the experienced programmer, this book explores the tenets of the UNIX operating system in detail, dealing with powerful concepts in a comprehensive, straightforward manner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A great book for software developers.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is easy to read, concise but funny, and made me think a lot of things about how I write my own code and how make it better.

I think this book can help every software developer. The Unix Philosophy is applied in all the Unix system, but can be applied outside Unix, to any software.

I learned and reaffirmed several ideas reading this book. Highly recommended. Five stars are only for very good books. I think this book deserves it.

Strictly for programming in UNIX
The title of my review pretty much says it all.Unless you plan to program in UNIX, this book is useless.I expected to find some understanding about how UNIX is set up and why, but left empty.It could be easily reduced to a very thin pamphlet.

The must read
I'd loved this book. I'm cs student and was in the middle of my UNIX programming course, with all this shell commands, don't know what and why. Luckily I came across this book, and suddenly everything become clear. You can learn all the commands and API, but if you didn't read this book, you can't claim to
know/understand UNIX. I would recommend this book for anyone in UNIX world, especially for the beginners. Worth the price.

Why I love UNIX
There is something magical about the power and elegance of UNIX systems. I never could quite put my finger on what was so right about UNIX until I read this book.Then suddenly I understand why it is that I've never been able to be productive on non-UNIX systems.(windows or pre OS X macs)

This books is a short and sweet.The author doesn't bog you down with endless ramblings or random technical details.It is simply an eye-opening look at the "WHY" of UNIX.

Excellent Book
An excellent book, giving a rare description of "Unixness" or the qualities of Unixness. Very nicely written and extremely good layout.

A good read for any body who loves the Unix way of life. ... Read more

Product Description
This revision offers the same balanced coverage and clear writing style that distinguished the bestselling original. Sobell now includes coverage of designing and using graphical user interfaces like X Windows and Motif. The traditionally strong coverage of networking and electronic mail has also been expanded as has the coverage of UNIX system administration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

One of the best Unix books in the 1990's
I used this book many years ago. The book is good and can be used as reference. It is still relevant in today's world. It does provide you a solid background on UNIX System.

Awesome!
The book covers the most essential elements of Unix. I have been using this book (and its earlier editions) for reference for a long time. Even though I have a dozen books on unix and shell programming, I have to fall back frequently on this one for that nifty example that tells me what I need in few seconds. The layout is less confusing, and the presentation is very helpful for locating a topic - something I have found quite hard in other unix manuals/books.

Great book - for someone who knows a little about Unix...
I use this book as additional reading for my college Unix course.It is great for teaching advanced concepts, such as shell scripting and Unix administration fundamentals.However, it lacks in the introductory-level material, assuming the reader has a basic knowledge of Unix under their belt.I find this a great add-on to the "Unix System V Primer" by Waite, et al.

Mark Sobell is a god
A god is someone who can take something dense and uninviting and distill/explain it so that everyone from novice to expert benefits. Sobell does exactly that in UNIX System V: A Practical Guide. His ProgrammingTools chapter in particular provides an in-depth, clear explanation youwill be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.Two recommendations for the nextedition: Sobell needs to 1)include more examples in the vi chapter, and2)include an appendix with answers to review exercises. If you buy one bookon the UNIX OS make sure it's this one!

why nobody ever recommended this book? it is really great!!!
I got it from our library, and found it very useful! very comprehensive and clear, best of all, unlike most of other unix book out there, this one has a lot of very illustrative graphies... you will benifit from thatfeature alot! I promise you! ... Read more

Product Description
This authorized guide from Oracle Press explains how to administer Oracle9i on all of the major UNIX platforms, including Solaris, HP-UNIX and IBM-UNIX, and Linux. Inside, you'll find proven techniques and UNIX scripts that can be used to perform dozens of UNIX-related tasks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

9i unix administration
I'm new on oracle unix administration and this was the book i wanted. Simple, clear and usefull for my job. Not indicated for senior administrators.
Thanks

Many errors
I think this book has some important information, but boy the errors are annoying.Here's two blatant ones within two pages:

Page 88 - Under the heading "Counting Semaphores", the author says that "The ipcs UNIX command has a -sa option that can be used to display semaphores.The total number of semaphores is determined by summing the NSEMS column in the ipcs display.In the example that follows, you see that there are four semaphores held by the root user and 475 semaphores held by the oracle user in three database instances:

root> ipcs -as|grep oracle
IPC status from /dev/kmem as of Mon Sep 10 17:25:21 2001
TID KEYMODE OWNERGROUP CREATOR CGROUPNSEMS
s15 0x0000000 --ra-r----- oracle dba oracledba 400"

Huh? First of all, you said in the example that the option was -sa, but in the command you show -as.Then, I only see a single line showing 400 semaphores held by a single instance.

Here's another example from the bottom of page 89:

"In Oracle8i and beyond, you can use SQL*Plus to perform the same function:

root> sqlplus /nologin
SQL*Plus: Release 3.3.2.0.0 - Production on Mon Sep 10 17:27:04 2001
Copyright (c) Oracle Corporation 1979, 1994.All rights reserved.

SQL> connect system/manager as sysdba;
Connected

Since you cannot get the semaphore set number for the crippled database, you must determine the semaphore set using the process of elimination.You issue the above commands for each live database on the server, and the unclaimed semaphore set will belong to the crippled instance."

Huh?The example showed me how to log into SQL*Plus as sysdba, but I already knew how to do that!The commands he references in his last paragraph are completely missing from the book!What do I do now?

Jeez, take your time and freakin' edit the book.It feels like it was thrown together rapidly.Don Burleson is one of the names that pops up most frequently when doing searches for Oracle advice online, but my confidence in him has erroded significantly.You can find similar errors to those in his book in his online resources.

Good book for Oracle and Unix starter
Hi,

I will recommend this book for every Oracle and UNIX starter. Book is more on using and managing Oracle easily and efficiently on UNIX server. If you just looking for UNIX administration book than this might not be the book you looking for.
All in one book will be really useful for newbie to intermediate level of DBA using UNIX server.

Regards,
Nirmal

Very good for a novice Unix user
First, I would like to strongly disagree with one negative reviewer who claims this book contains many technical errors including the one comparing Unix and DOS commands. I have found the book contains virtually no technical errors.

If you are a ORACLE DBA who isn't too familiar with Unix or Linux, this is a very worthwhile book to read. Although it is not meant to make anyone a Unix\Linux guru, it is intended for the Oracle DBA who may lack fundamental competency in Unix\Linux.
This book provides:

1)Unix Architecture and basic Unix syntax
2)monitoring Unix (CPU, Disk, Memory)
3)Network management in Unix (weakest portion of the book)
4)Interaction between Oracle and Unix server(could have been more comprehensive)
5)Unix Admninistration for the Oracle DBA( file, task, and profile management etc).
6)Many useful Korn Shell scripts (and how to create them) for ORACLE DBAs.

If you already have medium to strong understanding of Unix\Linux, I recommend a book which is more focused on Unix\Linux to gain better mastery of the operating system.

A favorite
I have a whole shelf of Oracle books and I can tell by the fraying the ones that I actually use regularly to solve problems.

The book is well organized and has become a nice way for me to remember Unix commands.I also used the scripts successfully and I'm quite happy with the book. ... Read more

Product Description
This compact book provides a user-friendly tour of your Mac's Unix base. As you explore Terminal and familiarize yourself with the command line, you'll also learn about the hundreds of Unix programs that come with your Mac and begin to understand the power and flexibility of Unix.And if Unix isn't new to you, you'll discover how it translates into this new Mac incarnation.Updated to cover Jaguar (Mac OS X, 10.2), this book will keep you current with the latest features of your Mac.Learning Unix for Mac OS X, Second Edition begins with a quick but in-depth introduction to Terminal and the command line interface. After learning about launching and configuring the Terminal application, you'll find out how to manage, create, edit, and transfer files. You'll find all the common commands simply explained with accompanying examples, exercises, and opportunities for experimentation. There are even problem checklists to help you along the way if you get stuck. The book has been reviewed by Apple for technological accuracy and brandishes the Apple Development Connection (ADC) logo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Very nice and complete introduction book
Hey guys, it is not a book for gurus it is for learners and for beginners. As such this book is completely up-to the task and it is well written and easy to follow. It is never easy task to learn new things and studying UNIX isn't exception.This book is very nicely, didactically organized and facilitates the transition from subject to subject. I used this book and Linux and UNIX for a beginner training suite, 4DVDs + 2CDs includes 4 Unix Academy Certifications ed.2008 and they made the very efficient couple.
You have the smooth consistent info with the book and then you have the workflow with the DVD. This book cover basics but often the basics are the most difficult things. For those people who had never touched UNIX internals of their Apple computer this book will do and it will make good intro into completely different way to do things.

A Great Starting Point
In the vast world of Linux/UNIX, I found it hard to know where to start learning.I figured that since I knew a significant amount about OS X that this book might make for a good beginning level book.I was so right.For someone who knows absolutely nothing about UNIX commands, this book is for you.You will learn the absolute basics and nothing more.Keep that in mind: you will not learn anything beyond the basics.If you're looking for something a little more comprehensive, then look somewhere else.However, if you are looking for a short, basic introduction to the world of UNIX so you can get around, this book is definitely for you.

An excellent starting point for Unix novices
I have recently fallen in love with Macs.I had been a Windows developer for 15 years.Occasionally I have had to poke around on the Solaris command line at work, but I am a Unix newbie.This book does a great job of laying out the basics of Unix for people who have little or no Unix experience.This book does not provide a "quick start".It does not go into excessive depth on Unix.But it does provide fundamental building blocks for expanding one's Unix knowledge.My suggestion to Unix novices: read this little book from cover to cover.Then you'll be able to take advantage of all the free articles and technical documentation that explain how to do the fun, tricky stuff.

Unix for people who already know Unix...
Dave Taylor and Brian Jepson, please take a pedagogy pill and call me in the morning...Sheesh, could they have made this any more obtuse?Purchase this book if you have a lot of time on your hands and/or enjoy learning things despite the best efforts of the author.To paraphrase Churchill:"Never have two guys taken so long to explain so little."

BRUSH AND BRUSH, YET, NO SHINE!
Unless you are a complete UNIX dummy, there is not much to expect (or benefit) from this book. Its meager 158 pages only succeeded in brushing around the very basics (and simple commands). Apart from its cogent narrations on how best a novice could explore UNIX applications and use command interface, there is little that shine in this book.
Anyone who knows one or two things about UNIX is likely to be disappointed by its inept coverage. Hence, I would advise such person to opt for "Mac OS X for Unix Geeks", which provided a more palatable gist in a chronological order. Versatile enthusiasts, who are interested in advanced explorations, should consider "Mac OS X Unleashed". One of its chapters on Unix-Mac relationships did eclipse anything this book can boast of. ... Read more

Product Description
* Covers all versions of UNIX, as well as Linux, operating systems that are used by the majority of Fortune 1000 companies for their mission-critical data
* Offers more detail than other books on the file input/output aspects of UNIX programming
* Describes implementation of UNIX filesystems over a thirty year period
* Demonstrates VERITAS and other filesystem examples ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great coverage of Unix file systems architecture
This isn't the first book I have read that covers Unix file systems. All the standard Unix implementation (e.g., Bach (SVR2), McKusick et al (BSD)) and OS design books (e.g, Tanenbaum (Minux)) have something to say about file system design. But this book is different, in that it provides a broad yet focused coverage of a large number of Unix based file systems, starting back with the AT&T research edition as a foundation, and building upon the discussion with looks at Sun VFS, UFS, FFS, Minux, and Linux. The writing is detailed, and clear, and there is a good number of figures and code listings that help explain the concepts.

The best thing about the book, however, is the source code for a Linux filesystem named uxfs. Reading the text and studying the source code (in the book, or via download) really helps make the topics discussed in the book clear. The author does a decent job of describing the uxfs source code, and shares some tips on how to approach compiling a kernel, and the filesystem source, and using gdb to set breakpoints so that one can investigate how the Linux kernel is calling into the filesystem through all the major entry points. Even if you don't give a hoot about filesystem design, its a great example of how to understand a complex system that you might not otherwise have a clue how to approach -- set breakpoints on the major entry points, look at the stack, and then read the code up the stack to see what is going on. Understanding uxfs is a great start to understanding more complicated filesystems in Linux for sure, and less directly, other Unix-based file systems as well.

Along with uxfs the author provides a set of easy, and advanced exercises. The one that looks like the most fun to me is modifying uxfs to support an inode structure that uses direct, single indirect, double indirect, and triple indirect blocks (described in Maurice Bach's book and elsewhere).

In summary, if your basic operating system book's coverage of Unix filesystems is not enough, or you want a gentle and complete introduction to designing a Linux filesystem, consider reading this book.

An excellent treatise on the topic concerned!
I bought this book right before the Christmas and planned to spend some time on it during the holidays.

It turned out that I was completely absorbed in it, and spent days and nights on the book with my web-browser linked to a Linux kernel source code website. I simply couldn't stop it.

Even though the general study of UNIX file system could have been a little more comprehensive than what is provided, that information could be easily found in other resources (I recommend " UNIX Internals: The New Frontiers by Uresh Vahalia"). However, this book does stand out by the way it compares different implementations of varieties of UNIX kernels (Sys-V series, Solaris, etc. ) Given the open source of old UNIX systems which could be found on ([...]), this book adds great values when you case study the file-system architecture.

Another great perk you get from the book is the attached source code for a rather primitive but very instructive uxfs file system. By showing what interfaces a programmer needs to provide to Linux, the sample codes can be easily adapted to achieve your own goal smoothly and painlessly.

In sum, this is a very impressive book and I'm still studying it. For anyone who's fascinated with file-system or any UNIX system-level topics, this will be a very good choice.

Good overview
This is a well-written overview of various Unix disk and network-based filesytems. It doesn't go into nearly the depth of, say, Vahalia, but it covers a great deal more, and in a more readable style. The diagrams and code snippets are usually well-chosen. I would agree with the reviewers who question the appropriateness of 'Implementation' in the title: there are better resources for that. But for this system administrator the book is very useful nonetheless.

Good supplements for UNIX internals
As the author claims, this book supplements other UNIX internals books, because they lack a thorough discussion on filesystems. For example, for a long time I've been puzzled by the pseudo code for read(2) system call in Maurice Bach's book. An inode lock is taken even for read() (Design of the UNIX Operating System, p.97) That doesn't sound right. ufs_inode.h on Solaris implies that ufs uses rwlock (multi-reader/single-writer lock; forget the modern concurrent direct I/O for now). Jim Mauro's "Solaris Internals" talks about rwlocks and filesystems in separate chapters but not in the same context. Here Steve's book tells us that filesystems didn't use rwlocks almost until the time SVR4 came out, and Bach's book was written before that. This is just one example of the mysteries Steve's book solved for me. I also like Steve's examples of using Solaris crash(1M). (I even collected them in a web page: rootshell.be/~yong321/computer/SolarisMdb.txt).

Superb technical details aside, this book is also written in good pedagogical style. Hands-on exercises always help. (How many people have read Goodheart's "Magic Garden" book for longer than a week?) Some code examples, pseudo or real, also help. Steve's book has both. Lastly, it comes with a mini-filesystem. I didn't test it but I believe it would help CS students tremendously.

Since the book is just much about Solaris as about Linux, I wish he talked more about Linux debugfs() and perhaps could use gdb to debug ext2 filesystems. I hope the new edition, if there is one, can give examples of Solaris mdb since crash is deprecated, and can expand the examples to include some new FSs, riserfs, Oracle's OCFS, etc. (Both have source code available to the public.) In chapters about cluster filesystems, the technical discussion seems to be less strong. There must be ways to debug these FSes just like using crash() and adb() to follow pointers in memory to debug UFS. It's just that cluster FSes are less understood and studied in this fashion.

Good book, encourages the reader to experiment and learn
I have to disagree with the "wannabe Linux filler book" another reviewer mentioned, it's a eye catching "sound bite" but in this instance it is not valid. The text is largely neutral with respect to specific flavours of platform and file system though obviously the author's experiences, source code availability and legal restrictions with respect to commercial products all play a part. Yes you can state that some reference texts are available from the Internet but the author has yet again made the subject accessible to a much larger audience through making the subject matter approachable in much the same way as he did with his book, "UNIX Internals." The example file system is written for Linux but that is a reasonable choice as it maximises accessibility for the reader.

The author obviously wants the reader to learn through experimentation and actively encourages this with a number of step by step examples that the reader can easily both repeat on their systems and use as a starting point for their own "what if?" experimentation on the subject matter.

Perhaps including a little more information on other current filesystems would make a good book better as mentioned in another review, but only if it provided the author with a starting point for taking the reader through examples of another filesystem feature, or perhaps an opportunity to compare and contrast solutions to a given design issue.

Including UNIX filesystem history was both interesting and helpful in as much as it provides a context through which the reader can understand why the introduction of features such as page cache, Sun's vnode layer etc were necessary or useful.

In summary, I found the book an interesting read and I was not disappointed with my purchase. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great HowTo for lex/yacc beginners
This book is a great "How To" for lex/yacc beginners.It consists primarily of simple, readable examples of the Right Way to Do It.It's not going to make you into an expert compiler writer.But if you have been trying to employ lex and yacc and have been frustrated climbing up that first step or two on the learning curve, then this is a great book to begin with.Consume this book, then get a copy of O'Reilly's _Lex & Yacc_ and you'll be the office whiz at ginning up quick parsers.

definitive LEX/YACC reference
This book uses LEX and YACC to write a "realistic" language. It's approach is very practical, not much theory. If you want theory, then go read the "Dragon" book (Aho, et al.). It covers the error handling in YACC in detail and shows how to read the error output that is generated. It explains shift/reduce and reduce/reduce errors and how to recover from them. Like I said, it is very practical and far better than the Nutshell YACC/LEX book.

Useful and practical introduction to YACC/Lex
This book supplies a practictioner with useful information to get moving quickly.It also manages to do so with a minimum of disorganization and chattiness that so plagues the O'Reilly book.I own both and rarely look outside this book's useful examples and clear typography. ... Read more

Product Description
This book offers an exceptionally up-to-date, in-depth, and broad-basedexploration of the latest advances in UNIX-based operating systems. Focusing onthe design and implementation of the operating system itself — not on theapplications and tools that run on it -- this book compares and analyzes thealternatives offered by several important UNIX variants, and covers severaladvanced subjects, such as multi-processors and threads. Compares several important UNIX variants—highlighting the issuesand alternative solutions for various operating system components.Describes advanced technologies such as multiprocessor and multithreadedsystems, log- structured file systems, and modern memory architecture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

You can be a smarty too
There are those of us who would just like to use the UNIX operating system.Then there are those curious people that want to know what are the inode is, and the Super block is, and how is the directory structure made?
Most of us would be satisfied, if someone said the inode was a file.Then there are those, who say "Oh know you don't.What is its structure?"I say, "just read Unix Internals"

Learn something you did not know with UNIX Internals!!
Inspirational.Tech managers who are working with UNIX will like the easy to read, simple to understand insight in this book.Internals turns you on to core components in UNIX.

Learn something you did not know!

Best OS book
This is the best OS book i have evern seen, really deserve 5+ starts.It gives many design issues/ideas of real exist OSes which helped me greatly.If you are really interested in OS or do some creative design job, this book is a must see.It seems next edition of this book will be unleashed next February.But what i concern is next editon may be delayed, because there are really too much new things these years, Linux 2.6 ...And I hope next edition will have some introduction to Windows Kernel.I am a UNIX fan, but you see, Windows conquer the PC's desktop, it surely has some shining points.GREAT JOB, URESH VAHALIA.:)

The best operating systems book in existence
A certain small and select set of books can be found in any serious programmer's library."UNIX Internals" is one of those books.

I originally encountered "UNIX Internals" in my undergraduate operating systems class.At the time, I liked it, but I didn't really appreciate its full beauty until I re-read it with a few years of operating systems experience under my belt.I work as an operating systems programmer for a living, and whenever my knowledge needs brushing up, I go back to this book.

Uresh Vahalia does an excellent job of comparing and analyzing the approaches taken by different operating systems, rather than merely describing them.His deep understanding of the topic is what really sets this book apart.In addition, it is well written, conveniently organized, and thoroughly indexed.If you really want to understand operating systems, this is the perfect book for you.

As others have noted, this book is not for the beginner.You should probably have a minimum of three years of computer science experience before picking this book up.

Great book tolearn about diff. flavours of UNIX
If you need to learn different flavours of UNIX, this is an excellent book. This book is worth reading cover to cover. ... Read more

Product Description
Unix has a reputation for being cryptic and difficult to learn, but it doesn't need to be that way. Think Unix takes an analogous approach to that of a grammar book. Rather than teaching individual words or phrases like most books, Think Unix teaches the set of logical structures to be learned. Myriad examples help you learn individual commands, and practice problems at the end of difficult sections help you learn the practical side of Unix. Strong attention is paid to learning how to read "man pages," the standard documentation on all Unix systems, including Linux. While most books simply tell you that man pages exist and spend some time teaching how to use the man command, none spend any significant amount of space teaching how to use the content of the man pages. Even if you are lost at the Unix command prompt, you can learn subsystems that are specific to the Unix flavor.Amazon.com Review
The many variants of the Unix operating system require use of a mode of thought that's significantly different from the one that's required by simpler operating systems. Think Unix introduces readers to important fundamental and intermediate Unix commands and, in the process, inculcates them in the Unix way of thinking. It's a worthy goal in a world with more Linux users than ever, and author Jon Lasser accomplishes it. He's both a capable writer and a knowledgeable user of Unix shell commands. Lasser uses bash under Red Hat Linux in most examples--which usually apply equally well to other Unix variants--and makes asides about other shells and environments, as needed.

Like Unix itself, this book is highly literate, and rewards those who are willing to read through explanations of the command strings that pepper the paragraphs. The best strategy is to read this book from cover to cover, imagining that you're sitting through a seminar. You might know about some of the topics that are presented, but it's likely that something in every chapter will improve the depth of your Unix knowledge. A helpful pedagogical trick: Lasser has included practice problems here and there. A typical one: "Display the string 'Today's date is:,' followed by today's date." You should be able to solve these by reading the examples carefully, but you'll find solutions in the back of the book, in case you need them. This is a great book for Unix beginners. --David Wall

Topics covered: The Unix operating system and its peculiar way of allowing users to string commands together in powerful, flexible sequences. Commands and techniques are explored that have to do with files, processes, piping, shell commands, shell scripting, and the essentials of the X windowing system. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Not a bad place to start.
Clever and short. The book is quick to read and it doesn't bury the reader in a large number of esoteric commands. Admittedly there is bias: bash and ksh over tcsh, and vi over Emacs, but that's mainly due to the authors own preference and he admits that in the book. The only issue is that the book is old, but it's still a great reference for those new to UNIX. If that includes you, buy this book, you won't regret it.

great for literate *nix beginners
This book is great for someone new to unix or linux.If you have a computer science degree or any meaningful experience with *nix systems, get another book. The author is assuming that you need some basics explained.

What this book is not: It is not a reprint of then man pages.It will not tell you how to install or configure your distro. It will not prepare for all variations of a command.

But it will help you learn to navigate through directories; how to use pipes; how to background a process.It will also help you learn the basics of shell scripting (conditionals, loops, etc).

This book is not intended as a reference, but as a tutorial. You can't read through a reference, but you can read through this. So, if you don't like to read, you might not like it.

It is nine years old, but don't worry - it is still good stuff to learn.

**edit: make sure to look at the errata on the author's website.There are erros in the examples, especially single quotes (') for backticks (`) , it seems.

Quick Review
This is a great book. I can't think of any negatives except that I reserve 5 stars for items that I must have and use every day.

Cool book for beginners
It's my first UNIX book but it really very helpful. Yo'll find lots of examples there. And the guy whi wrote it has a keen sense of humor. Strongly reccomend it if you deal with UNIX for the first time.

Where is the beef?
I don't understand why this book's rating is so high. On the back of the book it says the user level is intermediate-advanced. I think this book is for new users who have never used UNIX only. Also I feel the title is misleading. The design model is not explained well throughout the book and the author does not teach you how to think UNIX. ... Read more

Product Description
The UNIX operating system has become a key part of the technologylandscape as we move into the 21st century. There are now a hugenumber of large-scale data management and transaction-processingsystems built on UNIX platforms, and UNIX is at the core of the serverbackbone of the Internet. 'The new edition of this highly successfulbook for professional programmers provides a lucid and well structuredguide to developing UNIX software in the C language, and has beenupdated to reflect the more distributed environments typical ofcurrent IT solutions.

UNIX System Programming concentrates on a detailed study of the UNIXsystem call interface - the programming interface between the UNIXkernel and application software running in the UNIX environment - andadditionally covers some of the more important subroutinelibraries.

Features fundamental techniques are developed in depth and are fullysupported with program examples highly relevant to the two importantstandards - the X/OPEN portability guide and the IEEE POSIX standardstrong 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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Every C project I do, I use this book
a college professor in college made us buy this book for his class, and i'd give him a big kiss on the lips if i saw him today, because this book has helped me a lot.that statement says a lot, because i am a dude, and i'm not a fan of kissing other dudes.

you will not find huge examples of code in this book.there are no big projects in it.what you will find is a great breakdown of a lot of UNIX functions for C, and small, detailed examples of how to use them.it has everything from how to handle time, how to use sockets, how to read/write data to files, and a lot of other things.

sometimes when you're working on a project, you forget the little things, and you will ask yourself something like "how do i make sure a file exists before i try to read it in?", or "how do i use a semaphore again?".this is the book that answers all of those little questions that you will have over the course of a project.

Thanks
Thanks for the book its helping alot in my class, great condition and i got it fast

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.

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 (TCP 1-3, Advanced UNIX, UNIX Network Programming Vol1-2, etc).

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. ... Read more

Product Description
This practical guide contains a detailed set of C standards and UNIX system comparisons for the construction of highly portable software. Professionals will learn the underlying causes of portability problems as well as the techniques for creating portable UNIX system software. It shortens the software development and test cycle and enables the user to reduce the cost of long-term support. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Clarification on authorship
Cowan's only half-right. The "E" in "J.E.Lapin" is for "Eric" (as in "Eric Raymond"). The "J" is for "Jon" (as in
"Jon Tulk").The book was actually a team effort undertaken by several software engineers working at Rabbit Software in the 80s.

This book should be far better known
In addition to being everything the previous reviewer said it was, its true author is Eric S. Raymond, rather better known in the community now than he was then. ("Lapin" is French for "rabbit", as in Rabbit Software, the publishers.)So it should really be filed along with "The Cathedral and the Bazaar" and "The New Hacker's Dictionary".

Somewhat dated now, but still very worthy ideas.
First off, the composite authors name is Lapin, not Laping.

I used this book back around 1990 to develop a large software suite.The first 5 chapters are an excellent intro to portable C coding.We used the beginning chapters to design and develop our common platform headers, libraries and Make system.We did not take their examples unchanged, but used them as starting points for a our needs, which was a somewhat more comprehensive system.My team gives the book credit for helping us get us some of our 10x improvements.Still have not seen the likes of this book even today, in terms of the quality of data to use.

The last half of the book is a summary of different API calls and /bin functions available on different Unixes of the day. Interesting now, from a historical perspective. ... Read more