C tidbits

[Prashanth Ellina]

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://pr*************@blogspot.com

[Mike Wahler]

"Prashanth Ellina" <pr*************@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:28*************************@posting.google.co m...

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

[Jack Klein]

On 12 Jun 2004 09:20:08 -0700, pr*************@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://pr*************@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/~a...FAQ-acllc.html

[Prashanth Ellina]

Jack Klein <ja*******@spamcop.net> wrote in message news:<h3********************************@4ax.com>. ..

On 12 Jun 2004 09:20:08 -0700, pr*************@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.

[Arthur J. O'Dwyer]

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

[Malcolm]

"Arthur J. O'Dwyer" <aj*@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.

[CBFalconer]

"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 (cb********@yahoo.com) (cb********@worldnet.att.net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net> USE worldnet address!

[Prashanth Ellina]

"Arthur J. O'Dwyer" <aj*@nospam.andrew.cmu.edu> wrote in message news:<Pi**********************************@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

[Martin Johansen]

here are some nice questions

http://www.programmersheaven.com/art...k/article2.htm

--
test

[Darrell Grainger]

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://pr*************@blogspot.com

--
Send e-mail to: darrell at cs dot toronto dot edu
Don't send e-mail to vi************@whitehouse.gov