Choice Review

Chesley, a consultant who has developed several large-scale PC software products, and Waite, president of the Waite Group, and coauthor with D. Martin and S. Prata of The C Primer Plus (rev. ed., 1987) and UNIX Primer Plus (1983) have produced an excellent book on optimization of C programs for the IBM PC through use of hardware knowledge and assembly language routines. Their approach is conservative and sensible, showing their thorough experience with software development. The advice on software design and development is as valuable as the program examples. The book is an outstanding way for a high-level language programmer to learn about the way the C language is compiled and to get an insight into the direct use of the IBM PC hardware. Every technique is illustrated by a complete code example, mixing C and assembly language. Each hardware aspect that is used is carefully explained, and is illustrated in use by a program. Highly recommended as a reference for advanced undergraduate computer science.-H.D. Warner, Western New England College