Pocket Guide to TCP/IP Socket Programming in C

I can say without exaggerating that this is one of the best (if not the best) programming books I have ever read for four reasons: 1) Explanations are clear and very easy to understand 2) There is plenty of code and at the same time there isn't too much code. Some programming books have unnecessarily long code examples that only slow down the reader. 3) All code examples are explained line by line. 4) There is a handy reference section at the end of the book for all the functions that were discussed.My only complaint is that it is a bit short - 108 pages if you don't count the api reference section and index. However, it is also very cheap. Don't be fooled by the small size though, you will learn a lot about sockets and even a little about signals, processes and pthreads. I think it is safe to say (or write) that this book is written primarily for Unix/Linux users.

Compared to other network programming books, this IS pocket sized. However, you shouldn't judge a book based on its size (like a previous reviewer). It's a great introduction to sockets programming. Very clear and concise, with no wasted pages. I had never worked with sockets before reading this book, and now I understand enough to build non-trivial applications. It's essential for the beginning sockets programmer. Also, if you're new to sockets and looking to jump into the Stevens book, this might make that book a little easier to read.

With this price and relatively small number of pages, this book clearly explained the socket programming. And its way of explaining things is just amazingly good.

I didn't even know what a socket was before I got this book. Less than a week later I have successfully completed several programs for my employer that use sockets to communicate. This book is written for Unix, but with the supplemental Windows programs at the MKP website I was able to write programs in a Windows environment with ease. This book is clear and concise and contains all the information you need at a price that is at least three times less than that of other books I have seen. I would certainly recommend it to anyone trying to learn sockets.

I own several books on sockets programming for TCP/IP. Most are quite large and pricey, address a specific environment such as UNIX (BSD sockets) or Windows (WinSock), and get bogged down in user interface details.The Pocket Guide to TCP/IP Socket Programming in C is both small in size (130 pages) and price yet provides a great deal of quality information. Within the book, you will find C source code (appears to be ANSI/ISO C) for small functional clients and servers using both the TCP and UDP transports. The C code examples used in the book are traditional in that they favor the UNIX environment. However, all is not lost. If you visit the publishers website you will find WinSock adaptations for nearly all (17 of 22) of the examples in the book.To avoid unnecessary distractions, the applications in this book use a text rather than a GUI interface; if you are programming for the PC under Windows use the Win32 Console Application project type.Besides the source code examples, there are sufficient diagrams and text explanations to give an application programmer enough information to write well-behaved network applications. This book would be perfect for teaching network application programming at a school or as part of a corporate training program.The book deals with an exciting topic at a nice price.