Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

An excellent introduction to the programming language C for the reader who has already had experience with another programming language. The authors, (computer studies, Lancaster, UK) have produced a well-organized book. The chapter titles indicate an unusual approach: program structure, functions, output and input, decisions, loops, operators, arrays, and programming practice and style. Stress is on well-designed functions and programming style. One of the more useful sections of the book is Appendix 6 where an attempt is made to describe a useful syntax for C. After definitions in English of identifier, constant, and string, the authors give 76 syntactic elements in the form of syntax diagrams, followed by two lists of these syntactic elements, one in order of definition and one in alphabetic order. The book is clearly written; the index is adequate, and there is a short list of well-selected references. The print, however, is too small for comfortable reading. A useful supplement to the fundamental book on C by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie, The C Programming Language (1978). Strongly recommended for academic libraries.-M.I. Frye, Northern Michigan University