This book should have been called "Introduction to Posix threads in Solaris and multithreading issues". Pros:
- covers Posix threads, including more complex aspects, which are "usually neglected by ... implementors" to quote the authors. Includes threads cancellation and fork behaviour.
- a set of ideas, problems and methods that you may encounter while developing multithreaded software. Most of them are on the simpler side though.
- compact, highly informative chapters (average to 20 pages each).
Cons:
- No word on differences between Unix flavours. Basically it's all refers to Solaris, which I can understand, since Mr. Kleiman is the head of Sun Solaris threading dept (also Posix threads committee member).
- C API only, no existing C++ implementations behaviour or really anything C++ related.
- Mostly recommendations. Nothing on the _existing_ practices, libs or whatever. One or two of the existing bigger pieces of software could have been surgically dissembled to show how it's done. Some math analysis is shown, but it ends with yet another recommendation.
- The methods and problems covered could be more deep, otherwise it's sort of an introduction.
- Some of the samples are too big.
Overall:
- Gives you an impression that the authors are very knowledgeable (yeah, right, see note on who one of the authors is), and capable of explaining complex things with simple words, but a little bit ignorant in that they consider the reader not worth sharing more knowledge with.
- Certain chapters must be stripped out, and more pure theoretical info added.
- A recommended book all in all.
P.S. A stylish cover.
