C in a Nutshell - O'Reilly's Newest Release

For Immediate Release
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the authors, contact:
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An Up-to-Date Reference to C
O'Reilly Releases "C in a Nutshell"

Sebastopol, CA--The C programming language is a standardized programming
language developed for use in writing Unix. It has since spread to many
other operating systems and is one of the most widely used programming
languages. Prized for its efficiency and portability, C is probably the
most durable language in use today, more than thirty years after its
development.

As Peter Prinz and Tony Crawford, authors of "C in a Nutshell" (O'Reilly,
US $39.95), observe, "The key characteristics of the C language are the
qualities that made it suitable for implementing the Unix operating
system: source code portability, the ability to operate 'close to the
machine' and efficiency.

"Because C was expressly designed for system programming it is hardly
surprising that one of its major uses today is in programming embedded
systems," they add. "At the same time, however, many developers use C as a
portable, structured, high-level language to write programs such as
powerful word processors, databases, and graphic applications"

Their new book fills a gap in the market for volumes dedicated to C.
"Although compilers now have nearly full support for the 1999 standard,
textbooks and references have remained behind the times," Crawford notes.

"'C in a Nutshell' provides concise tips, techniques, examples, and
practical advice," adds Prinz. "This will allow advanced developers to
maximize their capabilities. Furthermore it includes a compact
introduction to the language and its key functions This makes it ideal for
less experienced C developers or those who want to start writing code
right away."

Following a format similar to the highly successful "C++ in a Nutshell,"
Prinz and Crawford's new book provides everything programmers need. The
book is divided into three parts. The first describes the C language in
the strict sense of the term; the second describes the standard library,
and the third describes the process of compiling and testing programs with
the tools in the popular GNU software collection.

Prinz says "I wanted to write a clear, well structured, and complete
exposition of the language, including the enhancements in the C99
standard."

Altogether "C in a Nutshell" is an ideal companion to Kernighan and
Ritchie's seminal "The C Programming Language" and deserves a space on
every programmer's shelf.

Early praise for "C in a Nutshell":
"'C in a Nutshell' is a well appointed package of everything you need to
work with C. The authors do a commendable job covering the language, the
standard library, and essential tools such as make  and GDB."
--Kyle Loudon, Senior Engineer, Yahoo!

"'C in a Nutshell's' well chosen example code often brings clarity faster
than a wordy description. This book won't gather dust on your shelf.
You'll be reaching for this one often."
--Matthias Kalle Dalheimer, President and CEO, Klaralvdalens Datakonsult
AB

"In 25 years of writing in C, I've never seen a clearer, more complete
exposition than this one. Everything is covered in the precise and logical
way that programmers like to see."
--Matt Crawford, Group Leader, Wide Area Systems, Fermilab

"This combination review and reference is a must-have. For those weaned on
K&R or ANSI C, this guide brings you up-to-date on the many enhancements
added in the 1999 standard."
--Dave Kitabjian, Director of Software Development, NetCarrier, Inc.

Additional Resources:
Chapter 10, "Structures, Unions, and Bit-Fields," is available online at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/cinanut/chapter/index.html
For more information about the book, including table of contents, index,
author bios, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/cinanut/
For a cover graphic in JPEG format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/0596006...

C in a Nutshell
Peter Prinz and Tony Crawford
ISBN: 0-596-10697-7, 600 pages, $39.95 US, $55.95 CA
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
http://www.oreilly.com
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