Beginning Linux Programming

Who Is This Book For?

You've installed Linux, or have access to a version of UNIX. You're happywith your environment and its configuration, and you're not (too) scared of using the system. But you know the basics of C (or have a handy reference), and you want to program for UNIX. What else do you need'

This book takes off where most Linux books stop, showing you how tomake the most of the tools UNIX offers to program UNIX for real.

What Does It Cover?

This book concentrates on programming in C, as this is the main UNIXlanguage with a C compiler and C libraries always available on UNIX systems.

Starting with basic tools: the GNU C compiler, libraries and help pages,the book progresses by teaching you how to use the UNIX C libraries towork with files, get information about the UNIX environment, handleinput and output, program with curses and manage data. In a secondphase of development tool description, you'll learn how to use debuggingtools, makefiles and source code control software.

The multi-user, multi-tasking UNIX environment and its processes and signals is then described. This sets the seal on your program's self-identity, so it's time to look at talking with other programs, using pipes and System V inter-process communication. You will then be able to program client/server applications. Networking programs using socketsis the logical conclusion to this section.

A concise but detailed survey of HTML allows you, finally, to use your Linux box as a CGI server.

Your Linux distribution almost spoilt you for choice of programming tools,all suited to different types of application, so the authors also cover theuse of two rapid development tools: the shell and Tcl.

X Windows is a huge subject which swallows multi-volume book series whole, so we just introduce the basic concepts and show you, briefly, how to use two languages that make front-end programming for X quickand easy: the Tk extensions to Tcl, and Java.

A real-world CD database application is developed and extendedthroughout the book as new topics are covered, allowing you to see how the theory you've learnt can be applied in practice.

What's Special About the Book?

The book is unique in that it teaches UNIX programming in a simple and structured way, using Linux and its associated and freely availabledevelopment tools as the main platform. Assuming familiarity with the UNIX environment and a basic knowledge of C, the book teaches youhow to put together UNIX applications that make the most of your time, your OS and your machine's capabilities.

Rick Stones and Neil Matthew have taken their extensive hands-on experience with software development in general and UNIX in particular,and used it as the basis for a clear, authoritative and practical book on UNIX programming, which contains a wealth of up-to-date information.

All the source code from the book is available under the terms of the GNU Public License from the Wrox Web site. The book aims to discuss UNIX programming as described in the relevant POSIX and X/Open specifications, and the code is tested with that in mind.