Review of new UNIX text

[glenn kapetansky]

I just finished perusing a new UNIX textbook:

	_E_x_p_l_o_r_i_n_g _t_h_e _U_N_I_X _S_y_s_t_e_m ,by
	Stephen Kochan and Patrick Wood
	  (Hayden Book Co, 1984)

It is a general overview suitable for the beginner, yet organized
well enough to be a reference for the experienced user. The Table of
Contents includes:

	Introduction
	What Is an Operating System?
	The UNIX File System
	Getting Started
	Using the UNIX System
	The Old Shell Game
	Screen Editing with _v_i
	UNIX in the Office
	Program Development
	UNIX Security
	Communications
	Administering Your System
Appendices:
	For More Information
	Overview of Commands
	Complete Command Summary
	Administrative Commands
	Comparison of _s_h and _c_s_h
	Adding New Users
Index...

which I think is pretty self-explanatory. My impressions? I'm glad you
asked (heh, heh). First, let me give my negative comments on this book.
My copy (an early edition?) was printed crooked on the pages (i.e., the
top margin is not constant). Pretty major gripe, huh? Also, the Intro
is written very casually. I'm all for conversational style, but not at
the expense of good writing (I checked my Strunk&White to make sure I'm
not being hypercritical). I only hoped the rest of the book would be
better written...

It is. Now for the positive points. The organization is superbly thought
out, and well executed. In addition, recognizing that users use UNIX
for different purposes (just getting started, word processing,
office automation, program/system development, running application
programs), the authors list a collection of chapters for each
purpose. Of course, the entire book is worth reading 8-), but the
authors realize that not everyone has the time to absorb ALL their
sterling wisdom! Conversely, the book is modular enough that reading
just the relevant chapters is not confusing. The style (bane of the
Introduction) settles down to an easy-to-read, informative norm. Lots
of pictures and examples make this one of the best learning books I've
seen. Furthermore, the use of different typefaces makes important terms
stand out. This makes scanning easy, and, along with summaries at the
end of every chapter and a good set of appendices, turns this beginner's
book into a very nice reference text.

Perhaps even better than the layout is its completeness and modernity.
The chapters on system administration and vi, the appendix comparing
csh and sh, are appreciated. And the text is aware of System V Release 2,
the very latest-and-greatest AT&T version of UNIX!

I keep calling it a "beginner's text" only because it doesn't delve into
the actual code of the operating system (like Kernighan and Pike's book).
To be truthful, by that metric I will always be a beginner; I like the
assumption that you don't need to know C to be a UNIX wiz (C intimidates
me; it reminds me of assembler with a hyperthyroid condition).

I like book. I think I'll order copies for everyone in my group at work,
and mine'll sit on my shelf right next to Kernighan & Pike.
-- 
glenn kapetansky                                                      
                                                                        
           "The time has come", the Walrus said,                       
           "To talk of many things..."                                 
                                                                        
...ihnp4!ihu1j!gek