Sorting array of strings in c

Question

Is there a simpler way with a simpler notation to do the following part of code:

void swap(char **s1, char **s2){
    char *tmp=*s1;
    *s1=*s2;
    *s2=tmp;
}

void sort(char ***m, int dim){
    int i, j, flag=1;

    for(i=0; i<dim-1 && flag==1; i++){
        flag=0;
        for(j=0; j<dim-1; j++)
            if(strcmp((*m)[j],(*m)[j+1])>0){
                swap(&(*m)[j],&(*m)[j+1]);
                flag=1;
            }
    }
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[]){

    char **m, s[30];
    int i;

    m=malloc(N*sizeof(char *));
    for(i=0; i<N; i++){
        scanf("%s", s);
        m[i]=strdup(s);
    }

    sort(&m, N);
    for(i=0; i<N; i++)
        printf("%s\n", m[i]);

    for(i=0; i<N; i++)
        free(m[i]);
    free(m);

    return 0;
}

The aim is to sort an array of strings allocated dynamically. What I've written above works but I want to know if there is a more efficient and readable way to write the function sort.

Answer 1

Assuming the logic of your sort code is correct.

---

You can just have your sort function as:

void sort(char **m, int dim);

Your sort function can be like:

void sort(char **m, int dim) {
    int i, j, flag=1;

    for(i=0; i<dim-1 && flag==1; i++){
        flag=0;
        for(j=0; j<dim-1; j++)
            if(strcmp(m[j],m[j+1])>0){
                swap(&m[j],&m[j+1]);
                flag=1;
            }
    }
}

This improves some readability. There is no need to pass &m - like (sort(&m, N)) - to your sort. Just passing m - like sort(m, N) - is enough for changing/comparing/swapping m[i] and m[j].