development

The book is also very hands-on. It describes an example device drive in full source and develops it through each chapter. You can actually build the driver as you go and the driver is developed as you would develop your own driver.

This book is also not wordy and quick-reading. I would suggest is, if you are trying to grasp NT device drivers.

I write NT drivers and kernel extensions for a living so I have already been baptised so to speak. Even so, because Microsoft has been so tight lipped about NT's internals, there is much I have to learn. And, indeed I did by reading Art's book.

I just finished Art's book and I must say that I am impressed with his choice of subjects, his clear style and his light humor throughout. Moreover, his examples teach in fact what his narative imaginatively presents. If you are buying this book to teach you about writing a certain kind of driver, say NDIS 4.0, then don't. It's very short on specifics of that kind. But, if you want to learn the "basics" about writing NT drivers, this will get it done. The gift that Art brings through his book is more than dry facts about NT driver lore and technique. Unlike the DDK Guide, Art has placed the process into perspective by presenting the material in a logically progressive manner. Further, we benefit from Art's long experience at teaching the subject as well as, I suspect, his hobknobbing with the MS development folks and having had many a question answered. I would not be surprised to learn that he has "even" seen NT's sources since he formerly worked for DEC with their intimate association with Uncle Bill's Belleview Works. I know that I have come to understand some things that, frankly, I thought were in the realm of accepting on faith.

To sum up, though experienced, I learned alot, and, I am convinced I will continue to do so every time I pick it up in the future. I do have one caution to offer. Art's book is no substitute for the DDK Guide -- I think after reading Art's book, you should then skim through the Guide. It's in the neighborhood of 1000 screen pages of if you want to print it out, it's much shorter. Since the Guide was written as an online reference, it tends to repeat a lot of information. This can be tedious reading but, hey, that's how I learned -- I only wish that I had had Art's book as a primer