Unix Network Programming
by W. Richard Stevens, Bill Fenner, Andrew M. Rudoff, Richard W. Stevens · first published 1990
78% recommend22% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Authoritative reference on the BSD sockets API and low-level network code, with Volume 2 covering IPC designs. Suited to engineers writing client/server software who want to understand how Unix networking works.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
V.1 Networking APIs: sockets and XTI V.2 Interprocess communications.
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People that have been around know such things. At one point, Richard Stevens (RIP) was god. Every programmer had a copy of TCP/IP illustrated, Advanced Unix Programming and Unix Network Programming. If you wanted to do anything network, you had to write your own servers, you had to understand the details. The breath of knowledge was wide and the depth was just as deep. Ask around on HN, and…
on “Google's “Director of Engineering” Hiring Test” ↗…http://www.amazon.com/Operating-System-Concepts-Abraham-Silb... 34- http://www.amazon.com/Performance-Preemptive-Multitasking-Mi... 35- http://www.amazon.com/Design-Operating-System-Prentice-Hall-... 36- http://www.amazon.com/Unix-Network-Programming-Sockets-Netwo... 37- http://www.amazon.com/TCP-Illustrated-Volume-Addison-Wesley-... 38- http://www.amazon.com/TCP-IP-Illustrated-Vol-Implementation/... 39- http://www.amazon.com/TCP-Illustrated-Vol-Transactions-Proto...…
on “I’m writing my own OS” ↗…(varied slightly from linux/solaris/hpux) you can't tell if the other side is listening or got the message. multicast requires use of certain ip ranges which people seem to forget frequently. I had the UNIX Network Programming by W. Richard Stevens tome I borrowed from my boss. Good for networking.
on “Game servers: UDP vs TCP” ↗…people who are allergic to parenthesis. After reading this book, I was able to back to The Little Schemer and The Seasoned Schemer and get a lot more out of them. All of the Stevens books, but probably UNIX Network Programming to start. I had the TCP/IP state diagram (from TCP/IP Illustrated) taped on my on cubicle wall for a decade or more. Mastering Regular Expressions by Jeffrey E. F. Friedl. You get what's on the tin with…
on “Ask HN: Which books do you consider real gems in your field of work/study?” ↗…writing 900 page programming books when this can do nearly the same in 200. Once you're done with that, pick up one of the W. Richard Stevens (RIP) books — Advanced Programming in the Unix environment, or Unix Network Programming (Vol i/ii) if you're into networks. They'll teach you the basics of so much operating system stuff (it'll be Unix, but the core concepts will apply to any modern OS) you'll be growing a long unkempt…
on “Ask HN: An Advanced C Tutorial” ↗…http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=584557 While a few of the details have shifted over time, it's still a good overview, IMHO. The Richard Stevens books (_Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment_, 2nd ed. ('APUE'), _Unix Network Programming_ vols. 1 & 2) get much deeper into the details, when you need them, but Beej's guides will definitely give you a running start.
on “Beejs Guide to Unix IPC” ↗it's a shortcut to learn basic network programming with sockets, without spending too much time on it. Anyone more than casually serious about it should consider looking at Richard Stevens books, Unix network programming and TCP/IP illustrated (esp. volume 2).
on “Beej's Guide to Network Programming” ↗Hi, I am a bit familiar with Unix socket programming. I have read "Richard stevens unix network programming". It is too good but I think it is not updated in recent times. Can you suggest me a good book which is updated with the latest internal workings. Thanks in advance.
on “Good socket programming book? ” ↗Another relevant / extensive source is Unix Network Programming by W. Richard Stevens. Mostly relevant to Linux / Unix systems, but still worth a read. Edit: Matter of fact he lists it as the first reference under "More References"
on “Beej's Guide to Network Programming (2012)” ↗…to actually get things done. I didn't find it good to learn with, and I was already proficient in a couple of scripting languages. I also recommend Richard Stevens books. Advanced Unix Programming and Unix Network Programming are excellent. I'm not sure what you want to work on, so that might not be relevant. For studying how non-trivial things are implemented I like TCP/IP Illustrated Volume 2, and The Design and Implementation…
on “Ask HN: What are some good resources for learning C?” ↗…"Code", Kernighan and Pike's "Practise of Programming", "The Pragmatic Programmer", Abelson and Sussman "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" (with video lectures on youtube), Richard Stevens "Unix Network Programming" or maybe "Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment" - Which betray my OS accent. I'm not sure it's better than Ana Bell's. You can decide for yourself on that point.
on “MIT lecturer Ana Bell discusses books to learn CS and programming” ↗The late Richard W. Stevens wrote the classic texts. TCP/IP illustrated and Unix Network Programming. I have old editions and haven't seen recent ones. There's murmourings that the updated editions are not as good, the writers emplyed to updated them don't have Steven's talents, can't confirm. Advanced…
on “Understand a little about TCP (2015)” ↗…solid footing (or refresher course) in these will help make you a better programmer. After that, you can probably read code with the best of them. If you're still looking for more, I'd suggest maybe "UNIX Network Programming" by Stevens, Fenner, and Rudoff (a good introduction to the sockets API); or "Modern Operating Systems" by Tanenbaum … really, it just depends on what you're interested in. -sq
on “Ask HN: Best way to learn C” ↗My savior was W. Richard Stevens book, "UNIX Network Programming".
on “Beej's Guide to Network Programming” ↗…https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0201633469/wrichards... (updates on author's site at http://www.kohala.com/start/tcpipiv1.html) The TCP/IP Guide: https://www.amazon.com/TCP-Guide-Comprehensive-Illustrated-P... UNIX Network Programming: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0131411551 Beej's Guide to Network Programming: http://beej.us/guide/bgnet/ Operating Systems: Operating Systems Concepts: https://www.amazon.com/Operating-System-Concepts-Abraham-Sil...…
on “My £4 a month server can handle 4.2M requests a day” ↗