16-03-2012, 01:53 PM
Advanced Linux Programming
Advanced-Linux-Programming.pdf (Size: 3.69 MB / Downloads: 26)
Trademarks
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be
trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized.
New Riders Publishing cannot attest to the accuracy of
this information. Use of a term in this book should not be
regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service
mark.
PostScript is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc.
Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Warning and Disclaimer
This book is designed to provide information about
Advanced Linux Programming. Every effort has been made to
make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but
no warranty or fitness is implied.
The information is provided on an as-is basis.The authors
and New Riders Publishing shall have neither liability nor
responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss
or damages arising from the information contained in this
book or from the use of the discs or programs that may
accompany it.
Introduction
GNU/Linux has taken the world of computers by storm.At one time, personal computer
users were forced to choose among proprietary operating environments and
applications. Users had no way of fixing or improving these programs, could not look
“under the hood,” and were often forced to accept restrictive licenses. GNU/Linux
and other open source systems have changed that—now PC users, administrators, and
developers can choose a free operating environment complete with tools, applications,
and full source code.
A great deal of the success of GNU/Linux is owed to its open source nature.
Because the source code for programs is publicly available, everyone can take part in
development, whether by fixing a small bug or by developing and distributing a complete
major application.This opportunity has enticed thousands of capable developers
worldwide to contribute new components and improvements to GNU/Linux, to the
point that modern GNU/Linux systems rival the features of any proprietary system,
and distributions include thousands of programs and applications spanning many CDROMs
or DVDs.
GNU and Linux
Where did the name GNU/Liux come from? You’ve certainly heard of Linux before,
and you may have heard of the GNU Project.You may not have heard the name
GNU/Linux, although you’re probably familiar with the system it refers to.
Linux is named after Linus Torvalds, the creator and original author of the kernel
that runs a GNU/Linux system.The kernel is the program that performs the most
basic functions of an operating system: It controls and interfaces with the computer’s
hardware, handles allocation of memory and other resources, allows multiple programs
to run at the same time, manages the file system, and so on.
Who Should Read This Book?
This book is intended for three types of readers:
n You might be a developer already experienced with programming for the
GNU/Linux system, and you want to learn about some of its advanced features
and capabilities.You might be interested in writing more sophisticated programs
with features such as multiprocessing, multithreading, interprocess communication,
and interaction with hardware devices.You might want to improve your
programs by making them run faster, more reliably, and more securely, or by
designing them to interact better with the rest of the GNU/Linux system.