As a knowledgeable programmer, you'll probably be tempted to immerse yourself in C immediately. But before taking that plunge, you should know the basic model for all C programs. This chapter sketches the anatomy of a C program without getting bogged down in formal definitions or exceptions to the rules. (You'll find plenty of rules in the chapters that follow.)
The discussion revolves around a short, reasonably typical C program named VOLUME.C. To get comfortable with the look of C programs, as well as the basic ideas that shape them, refer to VOLUME.C frequently as you read.