This book presents a collection of full source code for the following useful software tools written in C: file catenation, file comparison, printer output formatting, word counting, file compression, text editing, ROFF-like text formatting, telecommunications (with XMODEM file transfer protocol), sorting (internally and externally), and “Othello” game-playing. In addition, there is a very complete listing of information sources on C: books, newsletters, compiler vendors, public-domain software, and articles. (This is the most complete listing that I have seen, and C language fans will likely find it very useful.)

Besides all this, there is a thorough discussion of the factors in choosing a language for project implementation, indicating the pros and cons of BASIC, APL, FORTRAN, PASCAL, PL/I, and C. The context, however, is limited to CP/M-based microprocessors, and the eventual recommendation is to use BDS C. The programs are all presented in the BDS dialect of C, including use of various library functions not present in other compilers. The programs could be adapted to a more standard variety of C by anyone who is well-versed in the differences; however, a novice might have some confusions.

I have one other quibble about the book: The programs were originally written by several other (well-credited) authors, each of whom wrote in a unique and sometimes inconsistent style. This inconsistency, along with the BDS dialect, targets the book more toward readers interested in the functionality of the tools than toward those interested in learning C from examples.