Linux Application Development (2nd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent C language introduction
Review: This is a well written introduction to C development on Linux starting with the very basics of process and file I/O, going all the way through networking, regular expressions and lightweight databases. The first few chapters go over the differences between Linux and unix. Then cover development tool basics.

This is a high end reference that is light on screenshots (almost none), that has well written and annotated example code. It's reminiscent of the classic Advanced Unix Programming. With the exception that this book is larger and has better exposition. In particular this book will answer almost any question you have about file I/O, process management, and networking.

This is an excellent book. It gets my full recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: How to talk to the Operating System
Review: This is an almost beginners book on programming at the Linux operating system level. It is not a book on C itself, but you could probably use it as one. It's real emphasis is on the system call, shared library, file handling level. That is, how to interface directly to the operating system itself to get it to perform what you need it to do.

The bookis aimed at three audiences: C programmers who need to know how to get to the Linux operating system, Unix programmers who need to make the transition to Linux (no they're not the same), Linux programmers who need to move upwards in their understanding of the operating system. It does these jobs very well. The authors each spent years at Red Hat developing their releases, have a throrough understanding of Linux and the ability to convey that information to the reader in a clear and understandable manner.

Rating:
Summary: easy migration from any Unix
Review: [A review of the SECOND EDITION, Dec 2004.]

Are you a C programmer working on a unix box? And you have to port your application to linux? There can be understandable trepidation about migration. Because the biggest issue may not be the free linux versus a proprietary operating system. For application development, the cost of an operating system isn't usually a big deal. More important are the compiler and types of native library support you get. Hence the authors fill in a lot of practical details about linux. The book's title doesn't say so, but the language covered is C. Not Java or C++. Though in fact much of the book's remarks will also apply to C++. And there is no fancy GUI. The book goes back to the basics of C development.

Unix veterans will catch on quickly. The book's description of file handling, general I/O handling, sockets, directory operations and other issues is really no different than going to a given unix. Daresay that you'll be pleased to know that over 90% of your unix knowledge is eminently reusable. And the GNU C compiler used in the book should already be a close friend.

Granted that if you're porting an application specific to a unix, there might be low level unpleasantries. But hopefully, good design and having this book will mitigate the migration.