CA-Clipper is a compiler for dBASE script files that produces applications that generally run much faster than the same files when run under the dBASE interpreter. The objective of this book is to develop a good programming style by actually constructing a simple address and phone number database from scratch.

The first part of the text gives first-rate advice on such things as the choice of programmer’s editors and linkers; explains how the dBASE script language has developed; and details the obsolete instructions that, although still recognized, should be avoided.

Next comes formulation of the problem and specification of the desired format goal. This section includes a good account of alpha and beta testing and a general discussion of reliability criteria.

The rest of the book derives the various elements of the final product, discusses the incorporation of C and assembler routines, and ends with suggestions for improvements. Four appendices list all of the example and final codes and provide a makefile.

The index is complete, but there is no bibliography. The author provides a disk containing all of the text programs and .OBJ files and a fully compiled version of the final product.

This is a well-written book that I should be pleased to use as a student text both on elementary databases and on programming style.