C tidbits - comp.lang.c

Hi, I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. Does anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C and other such "tid-bits" ? Regards, Prashanth Ellina I blog at http://prashanthellina@blogspot.com

"Prashanth Ellina" <prashanthellina@gmail.com> wrote in message news:281962dd.0406120820.83f5013@posting.google.com... > Hi, > > I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. Does > anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C and other > such "tid-bits" ? Were that my quest, I'd start looking in C textbooks and the C standard. (the standard defines the entire language and standard library, so it would have every 'obscure' feature there is). You can obtain the C standard in ..PDF format for $18 US, from http://webstore.ansi.org (Search for "9899") -Mike

On 12 Jun 2004 09:20:08 -0700, prashanthellina@gmail.com (Prashanth Ellina) wrote in comp.lang.c: > Hi, > > I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. Does > anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C and other > such "tid-bits" ? > > Regards, > Prashanth Ellina > > I blog at http://prashanthellina@blogspot.com The FAQ for this newsgroup provides questions and answers about many common mistakes often made by newbies and sometimes no-so-newbies. Many of these are caused by features of C that are not intuitively obvious, if not necessarily obscure. You could look at the abridged version available on the web at the address in my signature block. -- Jack Klein Home: http://JK-Technology.Com FAQs for comp.lang.c http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html comp.lang.c++ http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/ alt.comp.lang.learn.c-c++ http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~ajo/docs/FAQ-acllc.html

Jack Klein <jackklein@spamcop.net> wrote in message news:<h3hmc0lgf93ndte2injvi7b44ib9iic92u@4ax.com>... > On 12 Jun 2004 09:20:08 -0700, prashanthellina@gmail.com (Prashanth > Ellina) wrote in comp.lang.c: > > > > I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. Does > > anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C and other > > such "tid-bits" ? > > The FAQ for this newsgroup provides questions and answers about many > common mistakes often made by newbies and sometimes no-so-newbies. > Many of these are caused by features of C that are not intuitively > obvious, if not necessarily obscure. You could look at the abridged > version available on the web at the address in my signature block. Thanks. Will try that.

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004, Prashanth Ellina wrote: > > I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. Does > anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C and other > such "tid-bits" ? I suppose it would be forward to suggest that someone who doesn't know a subject has no business teaching it, let alone "quizzing" about it? IMO if you can't teach C through your own resources, you ought to teach something else. And learn C, of course, but trying to teach *and* learn at the same time rarely works. Also, "obscure features" are not some kind of Teacher's Edition C. Keep away from them; trying to "quiz" the quirks of C will not only get you laughed at by your smarter students, it will produce yet another influx of the less-smart ones in forums like this one asking "what is the size of int?" and "how do I sort an array without using the equals operator?" -Arthur, glad not to be studying there

"Arthur J. O'Dwyer" <ajo@nospam.andrew.cmu.edu> wrote in message > > Keep away from them; trying to "quiz" the quirks of C will not > only get you laughed at by your smarter students, it will produce > yet another influx of the less-smart ones in forums like this one > asking "what is the size of int?" and "how do I sort an array > without using the equals operator?" > I'd agree that this does sound rather a bad test. You can dredge the standard for exotica, and whilst a certain type of rather good programmer will do well (the standards lawyer), its questionable whether for the majority you are actually examining anything useful. Then if you are not comfortable with the standard yourself, there's always the risk of asking a flawed question. C has two related problems. It is quite hard to write completely compliant portable programs, and it is possible to write "portable enough" programs, which are portable for most practical purposes but will break on the more exotic platforms. This is a useful area in which to focus the quiz, as long as you teach portability and tell the students that you intend to test it.

"Arthur J. O'Dwyer" wrote: > On Sat, 12 Jun 2004, Prashanth Ellina wrote: >> >> I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. >> Does anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C >> and other such "tid-bits" ? > > I suppose it would be forward to suggest that someone who > doesn't know a subject has no business teaching it, let alone > "quizzing" about it? IMO if you can't teach C through your > own resources, you ought to teach something else. And learn C, > of course, but trying to teach *and* learn at the same time > rarely works. I have to disagree here. The best teachers are often those who have just learned the subject, from a knowledgeable source (not some hack). They are then highly aware of the stumbling blocks for the newbies, and can address them. Eventually those stumbling blocks become background knowledge, needing no explanation. > > Also, "obscure features" are not some kind of Teacher's Edition > C. Keep away from them; trying to "quiz" the quirks of C will not > only get you laughed at by your smarter students, it will produce > yet another influx of the less-smart ones in forums like this one > asking "what is the size of int?" and "how do I sort an array > without using the equals operator?" Full agreement here. Obscure features are really not features, but rather non-obvious consequences of the rules. -- Chuck F (cbfalconer@yahoo.com) (cbfalconer@worldnet.att.net) Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems. <http://cbfalconer.home.att.net> USE worldnet address!

"Arthur J. O'Dwyer" <ajo@nospam.andrew.cmu.edu> wrote in message news:<Pine.LNX.4.58-035.0406121757060.5253@unix49.andrew.cmu.edu>... > On Sat, 12 Jun 2004, Prashanth Ellina wrote: > > > > I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. Does > > anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C and other > > such "tid-bits" ? > > I suppose it would be forward to suggest that someone who doesn't > know a subject has no business teaching it, let alone "quizzing" > about it? IMO if you can't teach C through your own resources, you > ought to teach something else. And learn C, of course, but trying > to teach *and* learn at the same time rarely works. > Also, "obscure features" are not some kind of Teacher's Edition C. > Keep away from them; trying to "quiz" the quirks of C will not only > get you laughed at by your smarter students, it will produce yet > another influx of the less-smart ones in forums like this one asking > "what is the size of int?" and "how do I sort an array without using > the equals operator?" > > -Arthur, > glad not to be studying there Guys, I did not say that I'm a teacher! I am an undergrad and am looking for "tid-bits" about C to have "fun" quizzing sessions in class when the Prof takes a snooze! laughing his ass out :) , Prashanth Ellina

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004, Prashanth Ellina wrote: > Hi, > > I need to conduct a 'C' language quizzing session in my class. Does > anyone know where I can learn about obscure features in C and other > such "tid-bits" ? Focusing on obscure features is not really the best use of your time. They are obscure for a reason. What you should be focusing on are common mistakes and how to avoid them. Someone has already suggested the FAQ for comp.lang.c. I'd like to add that C Traps and Pitfalls by Andrew Koenig is a good book related to this topic. > Regards, > Prashanth Ellina > > I blog at http://prashanthellina@blogspot.com > -- Send e-mail to: darrell at cs dot toronto dot edu Don't send e-mail to vice.president@whitehouse.gov