[C/MinGW] Quickest way to learn

[Razorblade]

Hi,

I am a university student who is currently studying several programming languages, one of which is C. I was surprised recently while at campus, I found out we have an exam on the 2nd of November. I have been studying a little, but I'm afraid I'm not at the level I need to be to pass the exam. So I am asking "experts" (You guys ;P), for advice on the quickest way to learn C. Since I study programming I know the bare essentials, so I'm fairly ok with syntax and stuff like that. But the course I'm going is focused on Dynamic Memory Allocation, File-managing, and Linked-Lists. I am willing to take any advice, suggestions on tutorials, websites, or general advice, personal help, help forums, anything... except books. I am a slow reader and I would have a Much harder time if I suddenly put time into books.

I have currently an assignment from the C course which is a way to learn what we will be needing to know for the exam. We're suppose to make a Control Promt Text Editor. Its suppose to use all the things I mentioned earlier about memory, files, and lists.

So, what do you guys suggest?

P.S. just in case anyone is wondering, I use Crimson Editor 3.72 Beta, and MinGW (which i have linked with CrimsonE so that i can compile and execute fast.

Also, I am wondering if there is an API I can use. There are so many functions I know nothing about. Is there a good reference documentation for C function?

[rpgfan]

The quickest way to learn is to first learn the basics from a book (preferable usually) or a quick tutorial. Those materials that have exercises for you to complete is by far the best way. A good reference can be found at http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/clibrary/, though it uses the C++ names for the headers. Example: <stdio.h> in C is <cstdio> in C++ (drop the '.h' at the end and add a 'c' to the beginning). I don't recommend using the C++ tutorial as a C tutorial because when you bring yourself down from the high-level programming of C++ to the low level of C, you'll find string variables to be rather annoying.

Recommended tutorials:

http://www2.its.strath.ac.uk/courses/c/

http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/c/lesson1.html - beware of pop* ads

[Razorblade]

Ok.. apparently no one else had anything to add.... Can at least ask for anyone who would be willing to be my contact like on MSN to whom I can turn to for advice and help in case I get stuck?

[Razorblade]

Uhh yeah, I already got a problem, I got an "undefined reference to" error... Would anyone be willing to help me out via chat, I think that would be the quickest way for me to solve issues like this, since I have less than a week to practice for the exam. I would really appreciate it.