mitch@well.UUCP (02/28/87)
BLUEBOOK OF C FUNCTION LIBRARIES PROPOSAL - FEB 17, 1987
The Waite Group, a San Francisco based computer book developer, is
looking for contributing authors for a new book on C, titled Bluebook
of C Function Libraries. If you are interested in knowing more about
the project, the following is a description of the book, a brief
outline and instructions for contacting us. Thank you.
Mitchell Waite
The Waite Group
3220 Sacramento Street
San Francisco CA 94115
Phone: (415) 929-7088
{hplabs, lll-crg, lll-lcc, ucbvax, ptsfa}!well!mitch
Title: Bluebook of C Function Libraries
Suggested List: $24.95
Author: Edited by The Waite Group
Audience: Programmers, students.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
Previous Knowledge: Comfortable using C
Length: 450 book pages.
Illustrations: Program listings and diagrams as needed.
Related Books: C Primer Plus, Waite/Prata, (UNIX specific)
Advanced C Primer ++, Prata, (IBM specific)
Microsoft C Programming for the IBM, Lafore
Description
Because the classic computer interface is maturing (witness Windows
and the Macintosh), C programmers are now expected to implement such
features as windows, menus, help structures, mouse tracking, graphics,
sound effects, scrolling, xmodem communications, database access, and
so on, in their programs. These sophisticated functions can sometimes
require hundreds of lines of C code. Programmers are therefore
interested in obtaining C compatible function libraries that implement
these features in C to save them the time required to write and debug
the code themselves. A well crafted set of C routines can indeed
support a small industry of C add-in products as the pages of any
computer magazine reveals. At the same time programmers, teachers, and
students are looking for the source code for these C libraries so that
they can learn the ways these new application features, such as
windows, communications, and so on, are implemented.
Bluebook of C Function Libraries is a modern source code library of
Microsoft C (and other compilers including Lattice and Aztec) library
functions and routines which perform powerful jobs such as windows,
complete CGA, EGA and PGA graphics, text data packages. The routines
in the Bluebook are structured as teaching devices as well as utility
routines, each contains a complete description of how the code works,
the strategy behind its design, the modules involved and examples of
how to use the code with the various compilers on the market today.
Complete C and object source is provided and a disk of the source and
compiled libraries are available from The Waite Group. The libraries
can be included with your C code to allow supercharging your programs
with these powerful new features:
o Windows Functions o Postsript Functions o Help Functions
o Graphics Functions o Device Driver Functions o Shell Functions
oJSound Functions oJCommunications Functions o Data Entry Functions
Bluebook of C Function Libraries is an intermediate to advanced level
book, which assumes previous knowledge of C. It provides a large and
well organized collection of C functions and libraries that allow the
programmer, hacker, or student to write programs with powerful
features for the IBM family (PC, XT and AT). The book is based on the
Microsoft 3.0 & 4.0 C Compiler, which is becoming the standard in the
industry and is supported by IBM.
Market
Surprisingly, the market for a book of useful C function libraries is
excellent at this time for several reasons. First, C is still a
growing course of study in the schools and in industry, and it shows
no signs of slowing. It is by far the most popular language for
program development on the IBM, because of its speed, flexibility, and
ease of documentation. Second, of three books on C functions on the
market today, none specifically address the modern features described
above. Third, the current offering of C books, including our own,
pertain to the UNIX market, while more and more students and
programmers are moving toward the IBM PC. (For a review of the
competing books, see Comparing C Function Books).
Summary
Bluebook of C Function Libraries provides the reader a comprehensive
collection of all the major functions desired in a modern PC
application today, along with a detailed analysis of how the functions
operate and how to use them in C applications. This book fills an
important niche with no current competition. The subject of this
book, the C language, has a fantastic track record in the book stores
and distributors recognize it as lucrative; this will lead to large
advanced orders for this title, and a long lifetime of high sales.
About The Waite Group
The Waite Group is a computer book developer located in the San
Francisco Bay Area. The Waite Group has produced over 70 computer
titles over the last 10 years, and is known for its high quality
titles on MS-DOS, C and UNIX. Waite Group's notable MS-DOS titles
includes: MS-DOS Bible, Discovering MS-DOS, MS-DOS Developer's Guide,
and Understanding MS-DOS. Tricks of the MS-DOS Masters, our newest
title, will be available in December.
THE BLUEBOOK OF C ROUTINE LIBRARIES OUTLINE
As you read this outline it is important to keep in mind several
facts about the planned nature of the C function and libraries in this
book. Although these libraries are intended to be practical and useful
to the C programmer, they are not designed to compete directly with
commercial C library packages. Rather the libraries in this book are
intended to be a teaching subset of the commercial packages, providing
less of the functions of a commercial packages, and perhaps not as
fast code in all cases, but balancing this with a more lucid
description of how the code is used. Further differentiating the
programs of this book from the commercial packages is that in this
book the C code's operation is easy to maintain, it is backed up by a
teaching approach so it is very well documented and it is easy to
modify because its full source is available. Commercial library
packages don't provide source, and when it is available that does not
necessarily mean you will understand it, given C's cryptic
possibilities. The commercial packages do serve as a model of what is
available in performance and complexity, and in that light this book
devotes a section at the end of each library chapter to examining at
least one of the commercial C library packages. This helps the
programmer and student to understand what to expect from these more
costly packages and how to purchase them properly.
What Compiler? Given the incompatibility of the C compiler marketplace
we decided to pick one compiler for our book. That was a difficult
decision to make, but it was the only way we can guarantee that the
code is correct and the programs run properly (yes we will test the
code) given our limited resources for this project. We have decide to
use Microsoft C 4.0 as the standard C compiler. If you have Aztec,
Datalight, etc., the solution might be to write them in your compiler
and then port them later to the Microsoft compiler, which we can
provide for you to use.
Mix of C and Assembly Code. We want to minimize the number of assembly
routines used so that the code is portable to other processors than
the 8088/86 family, but we want to use assembly occasionally to speed
up certain routines and to give clear examples of when such code is
correct to use.The rule is avoid assembly as much as possible. When
you must use it, use MASM 4.0 and prepare to REALLY document the way
the routine works since this is a book, not a commercial product.
oJWindows Functions Package
This is a set of functions that allows you to call up to eight
overlaid windows with each window holding up to 16K of text. Functions
allow windows to move, zoom in and out, close, resize, locate and be
made visible or invisible. Any window can be saved to disk with all
attributes. The text entry has protected and mandatory fields. There
are routines to figure out what display is installed and adjust the
output to fit accordingly. A simple calling program for a multi-window
text editor is provided to demo multiple windows. Review of commercial
windows package.
o Graphics Functions Package
The graphics package is compatible with the Windows library and
contains a full set of two and three dimension graphics routines in
full EGA color, including, dot plotting, line drawing, rectangles,
circles, ovals, clipping, rotation, zoom, bit map scaling, direct
screen access, patterning, and much more. Contains several differ ways
to draw lines with different speeds and documents the trade-offs of
each. Review of commercial graphics package.
oJSound Functions Package
Sound functions include all forms of business sounds: alerts, bells,
three level warnings, warbles, frequency sweeps, red, pink and white
noise, and a library of game sounds including: laser beams,
explosions, animal roars, buzzers, and much more. Music package
contains functions for all notes on the piano keyboard, and a two
voice tone generator.
o Postscript Functions Package
This is a set of functions that performs Postscript special effects
and shows how to call and control Postscript from C. Talks to Apple
and HP laser printer. Does gray fills, fountains, binds text to a
path, polygons, gratings, bezier curves, PICT, ESF, starburst, and
other 2nd generation special effects. Teaches postscript.
o Data Entry Functions Package
Straightforward package of data entry routines, is compatible with
the windows library and includes full validation of each keystroke,
range checking, security, scrollable data entry forms, multi and
single field mode, strings, dates, and fixed decimal numbers with
cursor positioning, full attribute control, display boxes and tables.
Review of commercial data entry package.
oJCommunications Functions Package
Provides a complete function package for doing interrupt driven,
buffered serial telecommunications at 300 to 9600 baud, including I/O
buffers up to 64K, xon-xoff, 1/4 and 1K byte xmodem transfer.Review of
commercial communications package. Compatible with Windows and other
packages.
o Help Functions Package
A simple collection of functions for displaying pop-up help screens
on the monochrome display. Compatible with or without windows.
Function key as well as mouse activated windows can be called that
display your own text based help windows. Help windows can be made
with any ASCII editor. Ideas for color version provided along with
review of a commercial help package.
o Terminate and Stay Resident Functions Package
Complete skeleton of TSR program with functions for calling setting
up a TSR, strategy and interrupt calls.
o Device Driver Functions Package
Complete setJof functions for device drivers and applications
examples for real time clock, RAM disk, speaker, MIDI device.
o UNIX Shell Functions Package
A set of UNIX shell and utility functions that make turn the MS-DOS
environment into a UNIX-like environment. Not the full set of over 200
UNIX commands, but a subset of the most popular commands and
utilities, like cat, cp, ls, rm, mkdir, etc. Review of commercial
shell package.
If you are interested in writing any of these topics please let me
know. A proposal package consisting of the formal proposal, an author
terms letter and a style guide will be sent.
Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
Mitchell Waite
President
The Waite Group
3220 Sacramento Street
San Francisco CA 94115
Phone: (415) 929-7088
{hplabs, lll-crg, lll-lcc, ucbvax, ptsfa}!well!mitch