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2.3 Complete Program, Line by Line

Here’s the same example, explained line by line. Beginners, do you find this helpful or not? Would you prefer a different layout for the example? Please tell rms@gnu.org.

#include <stdio.h>      /* Include declaration of usual */
                        /*   I/O functions such as printf.  */
                        /* Most programs need these.  */

int                     /* This function returns an int.  */
fib (int n)             /* Its name is fib;  */
                        /*   its argument is called n.  */
{                       /* Start of function body.  */
  /* This stops the recursion from being infinite.  */
  if (n <= 2)           /* If n is 1 or 2,  */
    return 1;           /*   make fib return 1.  */
  else                  /* otherwise, add the two previous  */
                        /* fibonacci numbers.  */
    return fib (n - 1) + fib (n - 2);
}

int                     /* This function returns an int.  */
main (void)             /* Start here; ignore arguments.  */
{                       /* Print message with numbers in it.  */
  printf ("Fibonacci series item %d is %d\n",
          20, fib (20));
  return 0;             /* Terminate program, report success.  */
}