How can I quickly improve my C programming skills for serious projects?

It’s not just about the tutorials; you've been relying too heavily on them! Start writing your own programs without relying on tutorials or AI. Just dive in, start with simple projects, and gradually tackle more complex tasks. That’s the only way to truly learn and grow.

Keep at it! There's a big gap between wanting to write an operating system or exploits and being able to write simple programs independently. You’ll need a solid foundation in computer science and programming. Unfortunately, there aren’t any shortcuts—just consistent learning and practice.

Think of it like writing a book: read a lot and write often. Look for open source projects that interest you, fork them, and explore the code. Playing around with existing code can teach you a ton. For instance, check out nmap on GitHub—it’s a great project to learn from! Just remember: always get permission before probing any machines.

Forget tutorials or AI for a moment. Focus on practice! Start with small tasks like creating a 'Hello World' program, then move on to more complex things like FizzBuzz or implementing data structures. You’ll gain a lot of experience by doing this consistently.