William Stevens (writer)

William Richard Stevens (1951 – 1999) was an American author and expert on technical computing topics, particularly in the area of TCP/IP networking on Unix-like operating systems. He is best known for his series of networking books, including:

• TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1: The Protocols (Addison-Wesley, 1994), which provides a comprehensive and detailed explanation of the TCP/IP protocol suite.

• TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 2: The Implementation (Addison-Wesley, 1995), which delves into the actual code implementation of TCP/IP in a BSD-derived Unix kernel.

• TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 3: TCP for Transactions, HTTP, NNTP, and the Unix Domain Protocols (Addison-Wesley, 1996), covering application-layer protocols.

• Unix Network Programming, Volume 1: Networking APIs: Sockets and XTI (Prentice Hall, 1990; 2nd edition, 1998), a definitive guide to socket programming on Unix systems.

• Unix Network Programming, Volume 2: Interprocess Communications (Prentice Hall, 1992; 2nd edition, 1999), dealing with various forms of interprocess communication in Unix.

Stevens's books are highly regarded for their clarity, accuracy, and depth of coverage. They remain essential resources for network engineers, system administrators, and software developers working with networking technologies. His writing style is noted for its blend of theoretical explanation and practical examples, making complex topics accessible. His meticulous approach to detail and emphasis on understanding the underlying principles have made his books enduringly valuable.

He held a doctorate in systems engineering and previously worked at Wang Laboratories and Health Systems Research, Inc. He died of brain cancer in 1999. His legacy continues through the continued use and appreciation of his influential books.