This is actually a pretty good list and that's why i submitted it to HN. The Chinese stratagem "Cast a Brick to attract Jade" is relevant here though i haven't

This is actually a pretty good list and that's why i submitted it to HN. The Chinese stratagem "Cast a Brick to attract Jade" is relevant here though i haven't yet seen much "Jade" from others :-) The author's presentation/explanation is also quite succinct and precise with references pointing to further details and thus the overall s/n ratio is very good. This is how tech stuff should be written (contrast with meandering articles with one technique being "explained" over five pages). Knowing these sort of techniques is important because they force you to think in different ways to solve a problem which expands one's mental design space. C (and C++) is particularly important here since it is the common "lingua-franca" across all system/application software from servers to desktops to itty-bitty MCUs. PS: Also see the book Fluent C by Christopher Preschern which while not dealing with "tricks" shows how to use C effectively using a pattern-like approach.