Linked List insertion in Beginning - c

I am trying basic creation of linked list using C. I have written the following code which is working up until first node but fails eventually on second one. I think the issue is where I am trying to display the node values in list separated by arrow(->). I think my logic is right but please correct me. Thanks in advance
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <malloc.h>
struct node
{
int number;
struct node *next;
};
typedef struct node NODE;
NODE *node1, *node2, *start, *save;
int main()
{
node1 = (NODE *)malloc(sizeof(NODE));
int i = 0;
start = NULL;
for(i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
int inf;
printf("Enter node value:");
scanf("%d", &inf);
node1->number = inf;
node1->next = NULL;
if(start == NULL)
{
start = node1;
save = node1;
}
else
{
// save=start;
// start=node1;
// node1->next=save;
node1->next = start;
start = node1;
}
while(node1 != NULL)
{
printf("%d ->",node1->number);
node1 = node1->next;
}
}
return 0;
}

The issues are
How you're allocating your nodes for insertion (i.e. save for one, you're not).
How they're placed in the list once you fix the above.
Don't cast malloc in C programs (read here for why).
Fail to check the success of your scanf invoke.
Fail to check the success of your malloc invoke
Before you get discouraged, things you did correctly:
Did not mask a node pointer in a typedef
Properly included a MCVE for review
Prospected the things you may be doing wrong.
A very simple example of iterating three values into a linked list would look something like this:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct node
{
int number;
struct node *next;
};
typedef struct node NODE;
int main()
{
NODE *head = NULL, *p;
int i = 0;
for(i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
int inf;
printf("Enter node value:");
if (scanf("%d", &inf) == 1)
{
p = malloc(sizeof *p);
if (p != NULL)
{
p->number = inf;
p->next = head;
head = p;
}
else
{
perror("Failed to allocate new node");
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
}
else
{
// failed to read data. break
break;
}
// report current linked list
printf("%d", p->number);
for (p=p->next; p; p = p->next)
printf(" -> %d", p->number);
fputc('\n', stdout);
}
// cleanup the linked list
while (head)
{
p = head;
head = head->next;
free(p);
}
head = NULL;
return 0;
}
Input
The values 1 2 3 are input upon being prompted:
Output
Enter node value:1
1
Enter node value:2
2 -> 1
Enter node value:3
3 -> 2 -> 1
Best of luck.

You should use malloc() inside for loop.
Since it is outside, same memory is being used.

As said by Vamsi, you should use malloc to put the nodes on the heap. You also generally shouldn't cast the output of malloc, it isn't needed. And then you could play around with making a doubly-linked list, where you also have a prev pointer inside your struct.

Related

Printing extra 0 and not removing front nodes in linked list implementation in C

My code has two separate (although likely connected) problems, one of which being that when I print out the linked list (regardless of if I push nodes to the front or to the back), it prints an additional 0 at the start of the linked list. I saw a similar post about this, but the implementation of the push method was different, as it didn't take head as an argument, so I've defined head in the main() method with:
struct node *head = NULL;
and my linked list instantiation looks like
struct node *temp, *ptr;
temp=(struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
if(temp==NULL) {
exit(0);
}
temp->next=NULL;
if(head==NULL) {
head=temp;
} else {
ptr=head;
while(ptr->next!=NULL) {
ptr=ptr->next;
}
ptr->next=temp;
ptr->data=NULL;
}
The issue I'm having is that I'm not sure whether or not the issue is in the print method, my push front method or my linked list instantiation.
The relevant code is:
case PUSH_FRONT: ; // push onto front of list
struct node *temp1;
temp1=(struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
if(temp1==NULL) {
break;
}
temp1->next=NULL;
temp1->data=val;
if(head==NULL) {
head=temp1;
} else {
temp1->next=head;
head=temp1;
}
break;
case PRINT_LIST: ; // print list
printf("Elements: ");
struct node *ptr4;
ptr4=(struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
if(head==NULL) {
break;
} else {
ptr4=head;
while(ptr4) {
printf("%d",ptr4->data);
printf(" ");
ptr4=ptr4->next;
}
printf("\n");
free(ptr4);
}
break;
My other issue (although I'm still convinced that this issue lies elsewhere) is that my pop front method does absolutely nothing, which I'm guessing has to do with the initial instantiation of the linked list. The relevant code is:
case POP_FRONT: ; // remove from front of list
// If list is empty, do nothing.
struct node *ptr2;
ptr2=(struct node *)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
if(ptr2==NULL) {
break;
}
if(head==NULL) {
break;
} else if(head->next==NULL) {
ptr2=head;
head=head->next;
free(ptr2);
}
break;
You should post code someone could download and compile. And when
needed a data file or a description of the problem. Code fragments are
not good.
I believe that the data component of your list is just an int by looking at the code at the label PRINT_LIST
here goes what I think
a list is a collection of nodes. In java a list is even called a collection. In C++ lists are called containers. When you write code for a linked list as if it is a node you will have more work and less results.
as a direct consequence of using a node as a list you have 3 pointers here just to manage the list, in the instantiation code: head, temp and ptr, It is too much. Imagine if there where 3 lists...
a list with pointers only to one direction is harder to program and much less useful than one with pointers to next and previous nodes. If it is your decision may be you should reconsider. If the space of the additional pointer is not a concern, it is hard to justify not to use 2 pointers. Imagine a list for a library, a path,, a playlist, all the classic examples: it is very handful to be able to navigate in both directions.
the use of a switch() is uncommon. Why not just use functions?
back to your code
struct node *temp, *ptr;
temp=(struct node*)malloc(sizeof(struct node));
if(temp==NULL) {
exit(0);
}
temp->next=NULL;
if(head==NULL) {
head=temp;
} else {
ptr=head;
while(ptr->next!=NULL) {
ptr=ptr->next;
}
ptr->next=temp;
ptr->data=NULL;
}
here you write ptr->data = NULL; and we may think that data is a pointer, but in the list label you wrote
ptr4=head;
while(ptr4) {
printf("%d",ptr4->data);
printf(" ");
ptr4=ptr4->next;
}
printf("\n");
free(ptr4);
and data is just an int as you are using %d in the printf(). Well, the NULL in instantiation is, well, a zero.
And that NULL is the 0 you are complaining about.
This code seems to be much more complex and hard to read than it may need to be.
Let me show an alternative
about the declaration
You may write the node struct like
typedef struct _nd
{
int data;
struct _nd* next;
} node;
So you can use node in the declaration and not have to repeat struct at all times. Also it is useful to have a convention for typedef, like using first letter uppercase to help in readability
As I said before a list is a collection of nodes, it is NOT just a node --- with a pointer inside --- and each node has a payload, some data, usually a pointer. As an example consider
an alternate example of list structs
typedef struct _nda
{
int data;
struct _nda* next;
} Node;
struct _the_list
{
char* name;
unsigned size;
unsigned limit;
Node* head;
Node* tail;
};
typedef struct _the_list List;
Here the list is, well, List. And each list has head, tail, size, limit and even a name. I kept data as an int but is is not good: you really want it as a pointer, maybe (void*).
Why? Because in this way you can reuse the code everywhere with no change.
How to use a List like this?
Using functions like these possible prototypes
List* _create(const char*);
int _define_max(List* l, const unsigned);
List* _delete(List*);
int _empty(List*);
int _get_max(List*);
List* _insert_begin(int, List*);
List* _insert_end(int, List*);
int _insert_your_way(List*, int(*)(int,int));
int _print(List*);
int _print_your_way(List*, int(*)(int,int));
List* _remove(int, List*);
int _size(List*);
I will post a running example below just to have something you can test or ask about case you need. But it is the usual. Only these two functions are less usual, but more useful:
int _insert_your_way(List*, int(*F)(int,int));
int _print_your_way(List*, int(*F)(int,int));
Here you can pass a function like in the qsort() function, and the node is inserted at the position, using the function F() to compare the nodes. The effect is that you can have the nodes inserted (or listed) in any order, with no change in the list code, just by providing different functions to the print or insert function. C does that, C++ does that, everybody does that, so we can too :)
code for instantiating such a list
List* _create(const char* name)
{
List* one = (List*)malloc(sizeof(List));
one->name = (char*)malloc(1 + strlen(name));
strcpy(one->name, name);
one->size = 0;
one->limit = 0;
one->head = NULL;
one->tail = NULL;
return one;
}; // criar()
You may find that writing this way makes easier to maintain or read the code. And the List as a container is much more expressive: metadata about the list in included in the list. No need for ptr, head, temp, size or other controls hanging loose in main()
To create a list you can just write, like in the example
List* first = _create("The First List");
inserting nodes at the beggining
List* _insert_begin(int value, List* l)
{
if (l == NULL) return l; //no list
if ((l->limit > 0) && (l->size == l->limit)) return l; // full
// ok: create a node and stuff data in
Node* nd = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
nd->data = value; // data comes in
nd->next = l->head; // depois vem o que estava na frente
l->head = nd; // nd fim
l->size = l->size + 1;
// if it is the first node
if (l->size == 1)l->tail = nd;
return l;
};
As I told you this is just a toy, an example. In practice you will use a void* in order to have a generic code. I am using an int as data here, as you did. To insert a few nodes in the list created above you just write
// insert 6,7,8,9,10 at the end
for(int i = 6; i<11; i+=1 ) _insert_end(i, first);
And you can have even an array of lists and all goes well. No external variables to look after. And each list has size updated, head, tail...
printing nodes
print is also easy and can be more expressive, since we have metadata with limits, size, head, tail and even the name for each list.
sample program
int main(void)
{
List* first = _create("The First List");
_print(first);
_define_max(first,300);
_print(first);
// insert 5,4,3,2,1 at the beggining
for(int i = 5; i>0; i-=1 ) _insert_begin(i, first);
// list again
_print(first);
// insert 6,7,8,9,10 at the end
for(int i = 6; i<11; i+=1 ) _insert_end(i, first);
// list again
_print(first);
printf("empty(): %d size()= %d\n",
_empty(first),
_size(first) );
first = _delete(first);
_print(first);
return 0;
}
This code just
create a list and prints the nodes
set the optional limit to 300 nodes
list the nodes
insert 5,4,3,2,1 at the beginning
list the nodes
insert 6,7,8,9,10 at the tail
list the nodes
call a few functions on the list
deletes all data
output
List 'The First List' with 0 elements [MAX not defined yet]
List 'The First List' with 0 of 300 MAX elements
List 'The First List' with 5 of 300 MAX elements
First: 1
Last: 5
Elements
1
2
3
4
5
End of list
List 'The First List' with 10 of 300 MAX elements
First: 1
Last: 10
Elements
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
End of list
empty(): 0 size()= 10
Deleting 'The First List'
List not created!
the code (with almost no testing)
#include <memory.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
typedef struct _nda
{
int data;
struct _nda* next;
} Node;
struct _the_list
{
char* name;
unsigned size;
unsigned limit;
Node* head;
Node* tail;
};
typedef struct _the_list List;
List* _create(const char*);
int _define_max(List* l, const unsigned);
List* _delete(List*);
int _empty(List*);
int _get_max(List*);
List* _insert_begin(int, List*);
List* _insert_end(int, List*);
int _insert_your_way(List*, int(*)(void*));
int _print(List*);
int _print_your_way(List*, int(*)(void*));
List* _remove(int, List*);
int _size(List*);
int main(void)
{
List* first = _create("The First List");
_print(first);
_define_max(first,300);
_print(first);
// insert 5,4,3,2,1 at the beggining
for(int i = 5; i>0; i-=1 ) _insert_begin(i, first);
// list again
_print(first);
// insert 6,7,8,9,10 at the end
for(int i = 6; i<11; i+=1 ) _insert_end(i, first);
// list again
_print(first);
printf("empty(): %d size()= %d\n",
_empty(first),
_size(first) );
first = _delete(first);
_print(first);
return 0;
}
List* _create(const char* name)
{
List* one = (List*)malloc(sizeof(List));
one->name = (char*)malloc(1 + strlen(name));
strcpy(one->name, name);
one->size = 0;
one->limit = 0;
one->head = NULL;
one->tail = NULL;
return one;
}; // criar()
int _define_max(List* l, const unsigned m)
{
if (l == NULL) return -1;
// new value can not be less than present size
if (l->size > m) return -2;
l->limit = m;
return m;
};
List* _delete(List* l)
{
if (l == NULL) return NULL;
printf("Deleting '%s'\n", l->name);
free(l->name);
if (l->size == 0)
{
free(l);
return NULL; // empty
}; // if()
Node* node = l->head;
do
{
Node* p = node->next;
free(node);
node = p;
} while (node != NULL);
return NULL;
};
int _empty(List* L)
{
if (L == NULL) return -1;
return (L->size == 0);
};
int _get_max(List* L)
{
if (L == NULL) return -1;
return (int)L->limit;
};
List* _insert_begin(int value, List* l)
{
if (l == NULL) return l; //no list
if ((l->limit > 0) && (l->size == l->limit)) return l; // full
// ok: create a node and stuff data in
Node* nd = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
nd->data = value; // data comes in
nd->next = l->head; // depois vem o que estava na frente
l->head = nd; // nd fim
l->size = l->size + 1;
// if it is the first node
if (l->size == 1)l->tail = nd;
return l;
};
List* _insert_end(int value, List* l)
{
if (l == NULL) return l;
if ((l->limit > 0) && (l->size == l->limit)) return l; // full
// ok: create a node and insert at the end
Node* nd = (Node*)malloc(sizeof(Node));
nd->data = value;
// first one?
if (l->size == 0)
{
l->head = nd;
nd->next = NULL;
}
else
{
nd->next = NULL; // no one after this
(l->tail)->next = nd;
}; // if()
l->tail = nd; // nd is tail now
l->size = l->size + 1;
// of this is the first node
if (l->size == 1)l->head = nd;
return l;
};
int _insert_your_way(List* L, int(*F)(void*))
{
return 0;
};
int _print(List* l)
{
if (l == NULL)
{
printf("List not created!\n");
return -1;
};
if (l->limit > 0)
{
printf("\nList '%s' with %d of %d MAX elements\n",
l->name,
l->size,
l->limit
);
}
else
{
printf("\nList '%s' with %d elements [MAX not defined yet]\n",
l->name,
l->size
);
}
if (l->size < 1) return 0;
// assume data as just an int
Node* p = l->head;
printf("\n First:%10d\n", l->head->data);
printf(" Last:%10d\n", l->tail->data);
printf("\nElements\n\n");
do
{
printf("%10d \n", p->data);
p = p->next;
} while (p != NULL);
printf("\nEnd of list\n\n");
return 0;
}; // _print()
int _print_your_way(List* L, int(*F)(void*))
{
return 0;
};
List* _remove(int value, List* L)
{
return NULL;
};
int _size(List* L)
{
if (L == NULL) return -1;
return (int)L->size;
};
It was extracted for a larger example, for WIndows. Compiled just under gcc 9.3 on Ubuntu on Windows WSL

Merge double linked list in C language

Merge the two linked list in C language.
I tried to merge the two sorted double linked list. When I ran my code with different inputs, sometime the code just crushed with EXC_BAD_ACCESS error. I can't figure out why, the code seemed perfect for me and I use the similar way to merge two single linked list, it worked.
Can someone explain? Thanks!
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
typedef struct Node
{
struct Node* prior;
struct Node* next;
int value;
}Node,*list;
list create_list()
{
list head = (list)malloc(sizeof(Node));
if(!head) exit(-1);
list tail;
tail=head;
printf("Please enter the length of double linked list:\n");
int len;
scanf("%d",&len);
for(int i=0;i<len;i++)
{
list new = (list)malloc(sizeof(Node));
printf("Please enter the value of node:\n");
int val;
scanf("%d",&val);
new->value=val;
tail->next = new;
new->prior=tail;
tail=new;
}
return head;
}
list merge_list(list a, list b)
{
if(a==NULL||b==NULL) exit(-1);
list p=(list)malloc(sizeof(Node));
list l=p;
while(a&&b)
{
if(a->value<=b->value)
{
p->next = a;
a->prior=p;
p=a;
a=a->next;
}
else
{
p->next = b;
b->prior=p;
p=b;
b=b->next;
}
}
if(a!=NULL)
{
p->next=a;
a->prior=p;
}
if(b!=NULL)
{
p->next=b;
b->prior=p;
}
return l;
}
int main() {
list l = create_list();
l=l->next;
list m = create_list();
m=m->next;
list n =merge_list(l,m);
n=n->next;
while(n)
{
printf("%d\n",n->value);
n=n->next;
}
return 0;
}
The problem is that in create_list you do not initialize new->next with NULL.
From this error it makes no sense in merge_list to compare pointers with NULL.
The most important bug (i.e. no initialization of new->next) has already been addressed by the answer from #alinsoar.
However, there are other bugs in your code that a) cause memory leaks and b) cause the linked list to be incorrect.
In main you have:
list l = create_list();
l=l->next; // Why ......
Why do you "throw away" the first element like that? That's a memory leak! And further it means that l->prio is not NULL as it should be!
I know it's because your create_list inserted a phony node in the start. But don't just fix it by throwing the node away. Fix the function instead.
Do something like this:
list create_list()
{
list head = NULL; // Do not use malloc here - just assign NULL
list tail = NULL;
printf("Please enter the length of double linked list:\n");
int len;
scanf("%d",&len);
for(int i=0;i<len;i++)
{
list new = malloc(sizeof(Node)); // do not cast malloc
new->next = NULL; // set the next pointer
printf("Please enter the value of node:\n");
int val;
scanf("%d",&val);
new->value=val;
// Add the node to the end
new->prior=tail;
if (tail)
{
tail->next = new;
}
else
{
// First element so update head
head = new;
}
tail=new;
}
return head;
}
With this code you don't get an extra element in the start and you can delete the code l=l->next; in main. Similar changes applies to merge_list but I'll leave that to you as an exercise.
In the end your mainshould only be:
int main() {
list l = create_list();
list m = create_list();
list n =merge_list(l,m);
while(n) {
printf("%d\n",n->value);
n=n->next;
}
return 0;
}

Cycle through List and Ordering

I want to create a linked list.
The user adds numbers and the idea is that the numbers are inserted to the list in descending order.
Here goes what I did, but when rearranging, it just orders the first number...
int addInputNumber(numberList **node){
numberList *temp;
int userInput;
temp = (numberList*)malloc(sizeof(numberList));
//Memory Check
if ( temp == 0 )//out of memory, return 0
return 0;
//Get the users input
printf("Give me a Number!\n");
scanf("%d",&userInput);
//Add it to the list.
temp->numbero = userInput;
///Link to the list.
temp->next = *node;
*node = temp;
//Lets cycle through the list.
numberList *temp2;
int helpNumber;
temp2 = *node;
//Rearrange the list.
while(temp2 != 0){
if(temp->numbero < temp2->numbero){
//Switch position..
helpNumber= temp2->numbero;
temp2->numbero = temp->numbero;
temp->numbero = helpNumber;
temp2 = *node;// If we change number, we must cycle from the beginning AGAIN.
}//eof if
temp2 = temp2->next;
}//eof while
return 0;
}//eof addNUmber function.
Here's the structure just in case:
typedef struct dynamicNumberList {
int numbero;
struct dynamicNumberList *next;
}numberList;
I've got 2 quick questions.
Why would it only arrange the first number?
This list adds a space towards the left (visually), how could I make it so I can add a space to the right?
You need to get into the habit of creating one function per task, instead of cramming everything into a single one. It makes the code easier to read and reuse and reduces the chance of errors.
A correct implementation could look like this:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
typedef struct s_List
{
int n;
struct s_List *next;
} List;
void print_list (List *head)
{
List *ptr;
for (ptr = head; ptr; ptr = ptr->next) {
printf ("%d\t", ptr->n);
}
putchar ('\n');
}
List * make_node (int n, List *next)
{
List * node = malloc (sizeof(List));
node->n = n;
node->next = next;
return node;
}
void insert_number_front (List **head, int n)
{
*head = make_node (n, *head);
}
void insert_number_after (List *prev, int n)
{
prev->next = make_node (n, prev->next);
}
// If HEAD is sorted, it will stay sorted after insertion
void insert_number_sorted (List **head, int n)
{
List *ptr;
List *ptr2;
// search for the rightmost node whose number is smaller than n.
ptr2 = NULL;
for (ptr = *head; ptr; ptr = ptr->next) {
if (ptr->n >= n)
break;
ptr2 = ptr;
}
// If such a node exists we insert the new node after it,
// otherwise we insert it at the front of the list.
if (ptr2) {
insert_number_after (ptr2, n);
}
else {
insert_number_front (head, n);
}
}
int input_number ()
{
int n;
printf ("enter a number: ");
scanf ("%d", &n);
return n;
}
int main ()
{
List *head = NULL;
int i;
// By adding elements exclusively with insert_number_sorted()
// we ensure the list is always sorted
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
int n;
n = input_number ();
insert_number_sorted (&head, n);
}
print_list (head);
return 0;
}
To answer your second question, what you have here is a singly linked list, which can be described by a pointer to the first node. If you want to be able to insert nodes at the back you need to maintain an additional pointer to the last node. However this is not necessary in this case.

Making of linked list by head and node

here's my code in C for making of linked list. Its giving runtime error after the while loop gets executed for one time. Plz help me in correcting my code. (totally confused that where's the error.) I am making a head node first and then adding child nodes to it.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
typedef struct node nd;
typedef nd *link;
struct node{
int data;
link next;
};
typedef struct {
int size;
link head;
}list;
void create(link temp)
{
link new;
new=(link)malloc(sizeof(nd));
printf("enter data: ");
scanf("%d",new->data);
temp->next=new;
temp=temp->next;
}
list createlist()
{
list sl;
sl.size=0;
sl.head=0;
return sl;
}
int main()
{
list sl;
sl=createlist();
link temp;
temp=sl.head;
char c;
while (1)
{
printf("Add node?: ");
scanf(" %c",&c);
if (c=='y')
{
create(temp);
sl.size++;
}
else
break;
}
return 0;
}
your createlist() function is returning a reference to a local variable that goes out of scope after it returns. You should instead return a heap based value:
list* createlist() {
list* sl = (list*)malloc(sizeof(list));
sl->size=0;
sl->head=0;
return sl;
}
Initially temp points to NULL. temp = sl.head;
In create(temp) temp->next = new;
You are dereferencing a NULL, address 0x0. I get a segmentation fault when I do that.
Need to change the algorithm.
A debugger shows this problem immediately.
You could use a pointer to pointer for temp. It would be easier to read if you didn't use a typedef for a pointer to node. I haven't tested this, but it should be close:
nd ** create(nd **temp)
{
nd *new;
new=(nd *)malloc(sizeof(nd)); /* this cast shouldn't be needed */
printf("enter data: ");
scanf("%d",&(new->data));
new->next = NULL;
*temp = new;
return &(new->next);
}
/* ... */
int main()
{
nd **temp;
temp = &(sl.head);
/* ... */
temp = create(temp);
/* ... */
}

C program not recognizing null pointer

I'm trying to recurvisely implement an insert function in C, but I'm having all sorts of issues. I'm in an intro CS class and they started throwing C labs at us before we had ever worked with it before. Part of the issue is that the list pointer is not being recognized as NULL and I'm also pretty sure that I'm using malloc improperly.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#define True 1
#define False 0
typedef int BOOLEAN;
struct Node{
int value;
struct Node *next;
};
void insert(int x, struct Node **pL){
printf("insert\n");
if(*pL == NULL){
printf("inside if\n");
struct Node *pN;
pN = (struct Node*) malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
(*pN).value = x;
(*pN).next = NULL;
return;
}
if (*pL != NULL){
printf("inside else\n");
insert(x, &(((*pL)->next)));
}
printf("end insert\n");
};
void printList(struct Node *L){
while (L != NULL){
printf("%d", (*L).value);
printList((*L).next);
}
return;
};
main(){
printf("main\n");
struct Node* L;
//L).next = NULL;
int i;
printf("for loop\n");
for (i = 3; i < 20; i+=2){
printf("%d\n", i);
insert(i, &L);
}
printList(L);
};
First of all, in main you need to initialise L:
struct Node* L = NULL;
Second, in insert when you allocate the new node pN, you are not assigning it to the pL, i.e., it doesn't get inserted. Put this right before the return; in insert:
*pL = pN;
(Also you could remove the return and change if (*pL != NULL) into else.)
Then, in printList you are both iterating with a while loop, and with recursion. Choose one, not both, e.g.,:
while (L) {
printf("%d\n", L->value);
L = L->next;
}
Also, throughout your code you can replace (*pointer_to_struct).field with pointer_to_struct->field for better style.

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