How the Book Is Organized

This book is written as a collection of short sections. Each section is self-contained, and addresses a particular topic. You'll find numerous cross references, which help put each topic in context. Feel free to read the sections in any orderthis isn't a book you need to read front-to-back.

Occasionally you'll come across a box labeled Tip nn (such as Tip 1, "Care About Your Craft" on page xix). As well as emphasizing points in the text, we feel the tips have a life of their ownwe live by them daily. You'll find a summary of all the tips on a pull-out card inside the back cover.

Appendix A contains a set of resources: the book's bibliography, a list of URLs to Web resources, and a list of recommended periodicals, books, and professional organizations. Throughout the book you'll find references to the bibliography and to the list of URLssuch as [KP99] and [URL 18], respectively.

We've included exercises and challenges where appropriate. Exercises normally have relatively straightforward answers, while the challenges are more open -ended. To give you an idea of our thinking, we've included our answers to the exercises in Appendix B, but very few have a single correct solution. The challenges might form the basis of group discussions or essay work in advanced programming courses.