Home > Store

Windows System Programming, 3rd Edition

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Windows System Programming, 3rd Edition

Book

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Not for Sale

About

Features

The definitive guide to systems programming for Windows XP and 2003 using the essential features and functions of the Windows API.

° Fully updated for Windows 2003, Windows XP, and .NET

° Goes beyond Win32 and now discusses Win64, one of the first books to discuss this increasingly important technology

° One of the few books on Windows to focus on systems programming, as opposed to GUI programming

° Contains plentiful examples and sample exercises

Description

  • Copyright 2005
  • Edition: 3rd
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-321-25619-0
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-321-25619-5

"If you're a systems-level 32-bit or 64-bit Windows developer, whether using the Windows API directly or via .NET interop, you'll definitely want to take a look at this update to Johnson Hart's well-respected and well-loved book. Johnson starts with Windows history and cultural issues and moves through basic and advanced system services in a thoughtful, thorough manner. If Mr. Rogers wrote a book with David Cutler, this is what they'd come up with."
–Chris Sells, Longhorn Content Strategist,
Microsoft Corporation

"While focusing on UNIX developers that are looking to augment their skills or simply jump ship, Windows System Programming, Third Edition is a book that even some seasoned systems-level Windows developers will undoubtedly find useful. This is not your average bland GUI treatise; Hart takes you down to the metal, explains all the relevant concepts clearly and in-depth, and gives you an extensive library of high-quality code examples that can be easily adapted for your own larger applications. Even if you've created server applications before, Windows System Programming will teach you new tricks, shed new light on concepts you thought you'd mastered, and offer new strategies for creating robust and secure solutions."
–Klaus H. Probst, Senior Architect,
Spherion Technology Services; Microsoft MVP

"This book is quite easy to follow; there are clear explanations of everything. Even the explanation of the standards is readable! For a developer not familiar with developing with Windows, Hart's book also provides basic information on where Windows was and where it is today, plus a great explanation of how it is different from Posix and Unix."
–Eric Landes, Microsoft MVP,
www.aspalliance.com/corporatecoder

"Even advanced developers will always need to have a book like this one on hand when the abstractions of a platform like .NET are inadequate or when they need to know more about how .NET is implemented. And the focus on low-level programming (specifically memory management and IO) and other non-GUI topics makes it stand out as superior among other Windows programming books. In keeping the GUI focus to a minimum, Hart's book is able to be comprehensive on the topics contained within."
–Michael Davidson, IT Analyst





Windows System Programming, Third Edition gives a solid grounding on using the core Windows APIs, includingWin64; is updated for Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Framework, and has extensive examples illustrate all topics and show performance impact and tradeoffs

A practical guide to the central features and functions of the Windows API, Windows System Programming, Third Edition, will get you up and running with Windows XP and 2003, as well as other Windows systems. Unlike most Windows programming resources, this book focuses exclusively on the core system services–file system, memory, processes and threads, synchronization, communication, and security–rather than on the more commonly featured graphical user interface functions. Especially geared for those already familiar with UNIX or other high-end operating systems, Windows System Programming, Third Edition, helps you to build on your knowledge base to learn the most important features quickly and easily.

This new edition has been updated and enhanced with coverage of new API functions, network programming, Windows Services, process and thread management, synchronization, and application performance on single and multiprocessor systems. It also describes techniques for porting applications to Win64, the new Windows 64-bit API.

Beginning with an examination of the features required in a single-process application, the text gradually progresses to increasingly sophisticated functions relating to a multithreaded environment. Each chapter contains realistic examples to illustrate the topics. You will find extensive coverage of such critical Windows topics as:

  • File and directory management
  • Character I/O and Unicode
  • The registry
  • Structured exception handling
  • Security services
  • Memory management and DLLs
  • Threads, process management, and scheduling
  • Thread synchronization, including the condition variable model for event and mutex usage
  • Interprocess communication, featuring pipes and mailslots
  • Network programming with sockets
  • Developing Windows Services
  • Timers,Asynchronous I/O, and I/O completion ports
  • Guidelines and trade-offs to improve application performance and reliability
  • Win64, covering architecture, data types, and legacy code migration

Short, practical examples illustrate each topic and are included on the companion Web site (www.awprofessional.com/titles/0321256190). The appendixes provide performance measurements and compare Windows, UNIX, and the C library.

Downloads

Source Code

Untitled Document

Download the Source Code for Windows System Programming, Third Edition

Supplements

Download the PowerPoint Slides for Windows System Programming, Third Edition.

Extras

Related Article

Creating Dynamic Drop Menus on Toolbar Buttons

Author's Site

Visit the Author's Web Site related to this title.

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Windows Processes and Threads: Weaving It All Together

Downloadable Sample Chapter

Download the Sample Chapter related to this title.

Table of Contents

Figures.

Tables.

Programs.

Preface.

1. Getting Started with Win32 and Win64.

    Operating System Essentials.

    Windows Evolution.

    Windows Versions.

    The Windows Market Role.

    Windows, Standards, and Open Systems.

    Windows Principles.

    Getting Ready for Win64.

    The Standard C Library: When to Use It for File Processing.

    What You Need to Use This Book.

    Example: A Simple Sequential File Copy.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

2. Using the Windows File System and Character I/O.

    The Windows File Systems.

    File Naming.

    Opening, Reading, Writing, and Closing Files.

    Interlude: Unicode and Generic Characters.

    Unicode Strategies.

    Standard Devices and Console I/O.

    Example: Printing and Prompting.

    Example: Error Processing.

    Example: Copying Multiple Files to Standard Output.

    Example: ASCII to Unicode Conversion.

    File and Directory Management.

    Example: Printing the Current Directory.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

3. Advanced File and Directory Processing, and the Registry.

    The 64-Bit File System.

    File Pointers.

    Getting the File Size.

    Example: Random Record Updates.

    File Attributes and Directory Processing.

    Mount Points.

    Example: Listing File Attributes.

    Example: Setting File Times.

    File Processing Strategies.

    File Locking.

    The Registry.

    Registry Management.

    Example: Listing Registry Keys and Contents.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

4. Exception Handling.

    Exceptions and Their Handlers.

    Floating-Point Exceptions.

    Errors and Exceptions.

    Example: Treating Errors as Exceptions.

    Termination Handlers.

    Example: Using Termination Handlers to Improve Program Quality.

    Example: Using a Filter Function.

    Console Control Handlers.

    Example: A Console Control Handler.

    Vectored Exception Handling.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

5. Memory Management, Memory-Mapped Files, and DLLs.

    Win32 and Win64 Memory Management Architecture.

    Heaps.

    Managing Heap Memory.

    Example: Sorting Files with a Binary Search Tree.

    Memory-Mapped Files.

    Example: Sequential File Processing with Mapped Files.

    Example: Sorting a Memory-Mapped File.

    Example: Using Based Pointers.

    Dynamic Link Libraries.

    Example: Explicitly Linking a File Conversion Function.

    The DLL Entry Point.

    DLL Version Management.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

6. Process Management.

    Windows Processes and Threads.

    Process Creation.

    Process Handle Counts.

    Process Identities.

    Duplicating Handles.

    Exiting and Terminating a Process.

    Waiting for a Process to Terminate.

    Environment Blocks and Strings.

    Example: Parallel Pattern Searching.

    Processes in a Multiprocessor Environment.

    Process Execution Times.

    Example: Process Execution Times.

    Generating Console Control Events.

    Example: Simple Job Management.

    Job Objects.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

7. Threads and Scheduling.

    Thread Overview.

    Thread Basics.

    Thread Management.

    Using the C Library in Threads.

    Example: Multithreaded Pattern Searching.

    Performance Impact.

    The Boss/Worker and Other Threading Models.

    Example: Merge-Sort-Divide and Conquer to Exploit SMP.

    Thread Local Storage.

    Process and Thread Priority and Scheduling.

    Thread States.

    Pitfalls and Common Mistakes.

    Timed Waits.

    Fibers.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

8. Thread Synchronization.

    The Need for Thread Synchronization.

    Thread Synchronization Objects.

    The CRITICAL_SECTION Object.

    A CRITICAL_SECTION for Protecting Shared Variables.

    Example: A Simple Producer/Consumer System.

    Mutexes.

    Semaphores.

    Events.

    Example: A Producer/Consumer System.

    More Mutex and CRITICAL_SECTION Guidelines.

    More Interlocked Functions.

    Memory Management Performance Considerations.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

9. Synchronization Performance Impact and Guidelines.

    Synchronization Performance Impact.

    A Model Program for Performance Experimentation.

    Tuning SMP Performance with CS Spin Counts.

    Semaphore "Throttles" to Reduce Thread Contention.

    Processor Affinity.

    I/O Completion Ports.

    Performance Guidelines and Pitfalls.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

10. Advanced Thread Synchronization.

    The Condition Variable Model and Safety Properties.

    Using SignalObjectAndWait.

    Example: A Threshold Barrier Object.

    A Queue Object.

    Example: Using Queues in a Multistage Pipeline.

    Asynchronous Procedure Calls.

    Queuing Asynchronous Procedure Calls.

    Alertable Wait States.

    Safe Thread Cancellation.

    Pthreads for Application Portability.

    Thread Stacks and the Number of Threads.

    Hints for Designing, Debugging, and Testing.

    Beyond the Windows API.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

11. Interprocess Communication.

    Anonymous Pipes.

    Example: I/O Redirection Using an Anonymous Pipe.

    Named Pipes.

    Named Pipe Transaction Functions.

    Example: A Client/Server Command Line Processor.

    Comments on the Client/Server Command Line Processor.

    Mailslots.

    Pipe and Mailslot Creation, Connection, and Naming.

    Example: A Server That Clients Can Locate.

    Comments on Thread Models.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

12. Network Programming with Windows Sockets.

    Windows Sockets.

    Socket Server Functions.

    Socket Client Functions.

    Comparing Named Pipes and Sockets.

    Example: A Socket Message Receive Function.

    Example: A Socket-Based Client.

    Example: A Socket-Based Server with New Features.

    In-Process Servers.

    Line-Oriented Messages, DLL Entry Points, and TLS.

    Example: A Thread-Safe DLL for Socket Messages.

    Example: An Alternative Thread-Safe DLL Strategy.

    Datagrams.

    Berkeley Sockets vs. Windows Sockets.

    Overlapped I/O with Windows Sockets.

    Windows Sockets 2.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

13. Windows Services.

    Writing Windows Services-Overview.

    The main() Function.

    The ServiceMain() Functions.

    The Service Control Handler.

    Example: A Service "Wrapper".

    Managing Windows Services.

    Summary: Service Operation and Management.

    Example: A Service Control Shell.

    Sharing Kernel Objects with a Service.

    Event Logging.

    Notes on Debugging a Service.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

14. Asynchronous Input/Output and Completion Ports.

    Overview of Windows Asynchronous I/O.

    Overlapped I/O.

    Example: Synchronizing on a File Handle.

    Example: File Conversion with Overlapped I/O and Multiple Buffers.

    Extended I/O with Completion Routines.

    Example: File Conversion with Extended I/O.

    Asynchronous I/O with Threads.

    Waitable Timers.

    Example: Using a Waitable Timer.

    I/O Completion Ports.

    Example: A Server Using I/O Completion Ports.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

15. Securing Windows Objects.

    Security Attributes.

    Security Overview: The Security Descriptor.

    Security Descriptor Control Flags.

    Security Identifiers.

    Managing ACLs.

    Example: UNIX-Style Permission for NTFS Files.

    Example: Initializing Security Attributes.

    Reading and Changing Security Descriptors.

    Example: Reading File Permissions.

    Example: Changing File Permissions.

    Securing Kernel and Communication Objects.

    Example: Securing a Process and Its Threads.

    Overview of Additional Security Features.

    Summary.

    Exercises.

16. Win64 Programming.

    Current Win64 Status.

    64-Bit Architecture Overview.

    The Win64 Programming Model.

    The Data Types.

    Legacy Code Migration.

    Example: Migrating sortMM (Program 5-5).

    Summary.

    Exercises.

Appendix A. Using the Sample Programs.

    Web Site Organization.

    Include File Listings.

    Additional Utility Programs.

Appendix B. Windows, UNIX, and C Library Comparisons.

    Chapters 2 and 3: File and Directory Management.

    Chapter 4: Exception Handling.

    Chapter 5: Memory Management, Memory-Mapped Files, and DLLs.

    Chapter 6: Process Management.

    Chapter 7: Threads and Scheduling.

    Chapters 8-10: Thread Synchronization.

    Chapter 11: Interprocess Communication.

    Chapter 14: Asynchronous I/O.

    Chapter 15: Securing Windows Objects.

Appendix C. Performance Results.

    Test Configurations.

    Performance Measurements.

    Running the Tests.

Bibliography.

Index.

Index

Download the Index file related to this title.

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020