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BOOK REVIEWS

Structured Programming with PL/I: An Introduction. MICHAEL N|ARCOTrY (Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N J)

This book is an introduction to computer programming that does not require any advanced mathematics. Many people think they can never program a computer because they are frightened by a square root symbol. Most computer programming does not require a knowledge of mathematics beyond simple arithmetic; it is much more important to be able to think clearly and logically. This book is mainly addressed to people like this. However, for those who enjoy slightly more mathematical fare, there are sections (marked with asterisks) where some mathematical ability is assumed.

Although the emphasis here is on programming rather than on programming language, we need a language to describe programming. The language PL/I is used here because, of the generally available languages, P/I is the best for explaining the programming process. Learning the first language is the hardest: once the principles of programming have been learned, a second language comes easily.

There is no attempt to co~er the whole of PL/I: no tutorial text that I know of has attempted that task[ Instead, I have taken the opposite direction. My aim is to introduce the minimum of PL/I that will allow me to explain the basics of programming. By taking this approach, I have been able to remain well within almost all implementations of PL,q and its subsets. In particular, all the programs described can be run with the PL/C subset, which is becoming more and more popular. A Simplified Approach to S/370 Assembly Language Programming. BARBARA J. BURIAN (Prentice-Hall, Engle- wood Cliffs, N J)

The objective of this text is to introduce the assembly language to the reader in the simplest manner possible, to build his or her confidence in his own ability to program, and then to educate him toward a complete understanding of assembly language programming.

The assembly language is introduced at the symbolic level. A business subset is presented first to enable the reader to grasp basic concepts using familiar decimal numbers. The student is given suffacient knowledge to code simple computer exercises--the hands on approach--before being introduced to the binary instructions using a subset involving fullword add, subtract, move, and compare instructions. The text emphasizes basic programming techniques, including loop control and total breaks. The book is not only an assembly language text, but a basic programming text as well. The Data Processing Security Game: Safeguarding Against the Real Dangers of Computer Abuse. ROBERT S. BECKER (Pergamon Press, Oxford)

In the last few years, we have seen the emergence of highly sophisticated complex computer installations. At the same time, we have seen an increase in the use and complexity of shared systems. It is this environment, together with the very nature of the data "'housed" within it, that has highlighted the following needs:

- - t o provide protection for processable data; - - t o provide protection for the equipment (computer terminals, etc.) handling the data; - - t o provide protection for the magnetic media on which the data resides; - - t o provide the legal basis (documentation) required to prosecute an adversary in a court of law;

or in more general terms, - - t o provide a comprehensive data processing (DP) security program. It is the intent of this book to set forth the fundamental elements required to insure acceptable DP security

levels in a business environment. Five major areas of concern (physical aspects, magnetic media control, terminal systems, data set control, and disaster recovery) will be discussed in some detail. In addition, planning recommendations and underlying philosophies will be developed, together with control procedures and associ- ated checklists.

This text is intended as a ready reference for corporate executives and DP professionals at all levels of the business :

- - fo r corporate and professional DP executives to gain a better understanding of the need for DP security, the ramifications involved, and their role in the DP security game;

- - for the professional DP manager to gain an insight into the nature of the DP security game, to understand the exposures that may be faced, together with the options available to effectively minimize or eliminate these exposures;

- - fo r the DP installations manager to effect a sound DP security program; - - for auditing professionals to gain an appreciation of basic DP security requirements; - - for college professors to use as an effective reference manual regarding the fundamentals of DP security.

A Primer on PASCAL. RICHARD CONWAY, DAVIS GRIES and E. C. ZIMMERMAN (Winthrop, Cambridge, MA) TI~ book is intended to be a primer on programming--an introduction for students who have not pro-

grammed previously. It does not attempt to cover all of the PASCAL language; just to introduce an elementary subset. When PASCAL is taught as a second language to students who have already learned the elements of programming in another larrguage, then parts of this Primer will be tediously slow. (However, some of the material in Parts II, III, and V may still be useful.) But PASCAL should be taught more widely as a first language, and this book is designed for that service.

We know of no other book that is really suitable as a textbook for an introductory course using PASCAL, and suspect that this had discouraged some instructors who would prefer to use this very worthwhile language. We hope that this Primer may contribute to the growth and acceptance of PASCAL.

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