What is in it, and when will it be available?

When I started the second edition in 1996 I just started with the Sockets chapter, seeing how big it got. I had originally planned to include IPC (Chapter 3 in the 1990 edition) and applications (the last half of the 1990 edition) but they just don't fit.

The second edition of UNIX Network Programming will therefore appear in multiple volumes.

• Volume 1, subtitled Networking APIs: Sockets and XTI, was available in October 1997.

  This volume alone is about 70% bigger than the entire 1990 edition (290,000 words versus 170,000).

  The Preface (go back with your browser) contains a detailed listing of what has changed since the 1990 edition, and what new topics are covered.

• Volume 2, subtitled IPC: Interprocess Communication, was available in August 1998.

  This volume is an update of Chapter 3 from the 1990 edition, along with the newer Posix 1003.1b-1993 realtime IPC (what used to be called Posix.4), Sun RPC, and the new Solaris doors API. Check the Preface for a detailed listing of what has changed since the 1990 edition, and what new topics are covered.

  This volume is about 140,000 words so the combined Volumes 1 and 2 are about 2.5 times the size of the 1990 edition.

• Volume 3, subtitled Applications, will be an update of the final half of the 1990 edition, probably with some new applications. Note that a few applications snuck into Volume 1: ping, traceroute, and inetd.

  I have not yet started this volume, and have no estimated completion date.

The 1990 edition will remain in print until Volume 3 is published.