[lomendil]

I can't imagine using this for real. Perception is so much more parallel than that. If I see

  char *(*fp)(int)

I see that it matches the pattern

  returntype *(*function)(args)

It's the "* (* )()" that one sees all at once, and that signifies "this is a function pointer".

This actually reminds me of some research where kids are asked to trace the direction of interlocked gears. They start by looking at each one, but soon they move to more general strategies. Edit - this is the one, in case anyone is curious: Dixon, J. A., & Bangert, A. S. (2002). The prehistory of discovery: precursors of representational change in solving gear system problems. Developmental Psychology, 38(6), 918.

[yshklarov]

But before the kids could use general strategies, they had to work out the details.

You're right, the spiral rule is probably unwieldy in practice. But until a programmer can recognize the patterns, the rule can be used as a learning aid.