[Home Page] - [Reviews Main]

Advanced C Struct Programming by John W.L. Ogilvie Highly Recommended

ISBN: 0-471-51943-X       Publisher: Wiley       Pages: 405pp       Price: £22.95

Categories:   advanced c     data structures

Reviewed by Francis Glassborow in C Vu 3-2 (Jan 1991)

When you have mastered the foothills of programming in C, have a good runtime library reference on your shelf and, perhaps, have invested in a book on data structures and another on programming algorithms or techniques what do you get to help you develop good medium size programs (all right large ones if you must)?

If you had asked my advice a month ago, I would have hummed and hawed and come up with a couple of titles and then suggested that what you really wanted was a book on program/data design rather than one on C.

Advanced C Struct Programming tackles this need. The author's declared intent is to present a practical method for designing and implementing complex (complicated) data structures in C. In doing so he leads you through experience (sometimes of false trails) in tackling a number of different programming problems.

The book does not include complete applications or libraries of source code. It is a book to be worked through. By the time you have finished it you should be a much better programmer. Let me warn you that it is not a book to dip into in that odd spare moment. If that is all you have time for then go and do something else.

On the other hand it is not like some of the books above that will take you years to fully grasp (if ever). Buy this book, set aside a regular time to work at it, stick to your routine and find yourself becoming far more professional in your programming.

Yes, I like it and it is not machine dependant. For once I am glad that the supporting discs are relatively expensive ($39.95 in IBM and Apple Mac formats) as I think that you will only get the full benefit by grafting at the keyboard yourself.