Here is a typical sequence of netCDF calls used to create a new netCDF dataset (with arguments and error handling not shown):
nc_create /* create netCDF dataset: enter define mode */
...
nc_def_dim /* define dimensions: from name and length */
...
nc_def_var /* define variables: from name, type, ... */
...
nc_put_att /* define attributes and assign attribute values */
...
nc_enddef /* end definitions: leave define mode */
...
nc_put_var /* provide values for variables */
...
nc_close /* close: save new netCDF dataset */