6 ms·

Back in 2010 I had my first embedded programming job. I needed to do some network programming in C (controlling a PLC over ethernet). My boss at the time told m

by LeonM 6y ago

Back in 2010 I had my first embedded programming job. I needed to do some network programming in C (controlling a PLC over ethernet). My boss at the time told me "just read Beej's guide and you'll be fine". He was right. That system is running 24/7 since then. Good to see that the guide is still being updated. edit: typo

KuiN 6y ago
Same here, my first job out of university was network programming on embedded Linux and Beej's guide was an invaluable resource.
- ravingraven 6y ago
  Are you guys me? Exact same story. Network programming on embedded systems. Beej to the rescue.
  - friend-monoid 6y ago
    Same here. That book and the Linux api book are just invaluable resources.
    - vymague 6y ago
      Which linux api book?
      - friend-monoid 6y ago
        The linux programming interface by Michael Kerrisk. It’s incredibly good.
        renerthr 6y ago
        I only found this: https://man7.org/tlpi/ https://man7.org/tlpi/ Is there any free or low-cost version?
        thinkmassive 6y ago
        That’s the high-value version, it’s the only legitimate one
        no_wizard 6y ago
        You may be able to get it from your local library via an app like Overdrive[0][1]. Some library programs even have a way for you to get free access to Safari Books Online[2] (I'd say most if not all, in the US at least) My experience has been that there is rarely a backlog on technical materials like this. [0]: https://www.overdrive.com/ https://www.overdrive.com/ [1]: Example of for the LA public library of what I mean: https://lapl.overdrive.com/search?query=The+Linux+Programming+Interface https://lapl.overdrive.com/search?query=The+Linux+Programmin... [2]: https://www.spl.org/books-and-media/books-and-ebooks/oreilly-complete-public-library https://www.spl.org/books-and-media/books-and-ebooks/oreilly...
        renerthr 6y ago
        That's great information, thank you!
        no_wizard 6y ago
        Libraries are like the secret weapon of a learner. I don't know why our industry has such a lack of knowledge about this one! I only recently found out about being able to do this myself (In some ways, we benefit, since there is little pressure for the large publishers not to offer these kinds of things for free via the library system) Ancedota (and unrelated to the topic of this thread, but interesting none the less I think): In California, if you go to a state university (but if I recall correctly this doesn't apply to the University of California system, but the CSU system, if I got my facts straight) they must provide a minimum number of copies of each textbook / reading material required for a class be available via the campus library. I hardly paid for books once I found this out. I just coordinated with others to make sure it was available when needed. Worked well for me. I could be hazy on the regulation on this though, it might have just been dumb luck that the two places I went to school had this as a policy, but I remember it being explained as I did above.
        tracyhenry 6y ago
        How does this book compare to Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment? http://www.apuebook.com/about3e.html http://www.apuebook.com/about3e.html
- anilakar 6y ago
  Heck, I passed my uni network programming courses thanks to Beej. It also helped tremendously that our professor was a seasoned UNIX programmer and during lectures he actually typed in his own code and ran it.
  - dan-robertson 6y ago
    I had a few maths lectures who were highly regarded for turning up and proving things from memory in front of the blackboard. I hadn’t really considered that it might be done in CS.
    - konjin 6y ago
      The best lecturer I had in maths would screw up the proofs every time from memory, but the way he screwed them up taught me a lot more than if he'd gotten them right.
      - renerthr 6y ago
        Did he acknowledge and fix his mistakes? Or it was just you who noticed and fixed them in your mind?
        sjburt 6y ago
        My experience is that they get about 45 minutes into the lecture, realize that there was an error in minute 10 and spend the rest of the period trying to fix it before telling you to check the book for the correct proof.
        dan-robertson 6y ago
        One professor provided scans of his written notes. For one of the theorems in his notes, he’d stated it, attempted to prove it, failed, crossed out the proof and wrote ‘QED’. At least he was honest enough to include it!
      - 6y ago
Person5478 6y ago
Same for me only it was mid to late 90's and I was interested in understanding MUD code. I have fond memories of that guide and it's always a treat when it pops back up.
wdb 6y ago
Yes, I used the guide in 2006 I think or it at least looks similar. I had used it to write a little webserver in C to talk between the Flash UI and the internals of the device. Worked well :)

by LeonM 6y ago

KuiN 6y ago

Same here, my first job out of university was network programming on embedded Linux and Beej's guide was an invaluable resource.

ravingraven 6y ago
Are you guys me? Exact same story. Network programming on embedded systems. Beej to the rescue.
- friend-monoid 6y ago
  Same here. That book and the Linux api book are just invaluable resources.
  - vymague 6y ago
    Which linux api book?
    - friend-monoid 6y ago
      The linux programming interface by Michael Kerrisk. It’s incredibly good.
      - renerthr 6y ago
        I only found this: https://man7.org/tlpi/ https://man7.org/tlpi/ Is there any free or low-cost version?
        thinkmassive 6y ago
        That’s the high-value version, it’s the only legitimate one
        no_wizard 6y ago
        You may be able to get it from your local library via an app like Overdrive[0][1]. Some library programs even have a way for you to get free access to Safari Books Online[2] (I'd say most if not all, in the US at least) My experience has been that there is rarely a backlog on technical materials like this. [0]: https://www.overdrive.com/ https://www.overdrive.com/ [1]: Example of for the LA public library of what I mean: https://lapl.overdrive.com/search?query=The+Linux+Programming+Interface https://lapl.overdrive.com/search?query=The+Linux+Programmin... [2]: https://www.spl.org/books-and-media/books-and-ebooks/oreilly-complete-public-library https://www.spl.org/books-and-media/books-and-ebooks/oreilly...
        renerthr 6y ago
        That's great information, thank you!
        no_wizard 6y ago
        Libraries are like the secret weapon of a learner. I don't know why our industry has such a lack of knowledge about this one! I only recently found out about being able to do this myself (In some ways, we benefit, since there is little pressure for the large publishers not to offer these kinds of things for free via the library system) Ancedota (and unrelated to the topic of this thread, but interesting none the less I think): In California, if you go to a state university (but if I recall correctly this doesn't apply to the University of California system, but the CSU system, if I got my facts straight) they must provide a minimum number of copies of each textbook / reading material required for a class be available via the campus library. I hardly paid for books once I found this out. I just coordinated with others to make sure it was available when needed. Worked well for me. I could be hazy on the regulation on this though, it might have just been dumb luck that the two places I went to school had this as a policy, but I remember it being explained as I did above.
      - tracyhenry 6y ago
        How does this book compare to Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment? http://www.apuebook.com/about3e.html http://www.apuebook.com/about3e.html
anilakar 6y ago
Heck, I passed my uni network programming courses thanks to Beej. It also helped tremendously that our professor was a seasoned UNIX programmer and during lectures he actually typed in his own code and ran it.
- dan-robertson 6y ago
  I had a few maths lectures who were highly regarded for turning up and proving things from memory in front of the blackboard. I hadn’t really considered that it might be done in CS.
  - konjin 6y ago
    The best lecturer I had in maths would screw up the proofs every time from memory, but the way he screwed them up taught me a lot more than if he'd gotten them right.
    - renerthr 6y ago
      Did he acknowledge and fix his mistakes? Or it was just you who noticed and fixed them in your mind?
      - sjburt 6y ago
        My experience is that they get about 45 minutes into the lecture, realize that there was an error in minute 10 and spend the rest of the period trying to fix it before telling you to check the book for the correct proof.
        dan-robertson 6y ago
        One professor provided scans of his written notes. For one of the theorems in his notes, he’d stated it, attempted to prove it, failed, crossed out the proof and wrote ‘QED’. At least he was honest enough to include it!
    - 6y ago

Person5478 6y ago

Same for me only it was mid to late 90's and I was interested in understanding MUD code. I have fond memories of that guide and it's always a treat when it pops back up.

wdb 6y ago

Yes, I used the guide in 2006 I think or it at least looks similar. I had used it to write a little webserver in C to talk between the Flash UI and the internals of the device. Worked well :)