Introduction to RISC Assembly Language Programming [Paperback]

John Waldron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 1998

This is a straightforward text on RISC assembly language programming for MIPS computers - the microprocessor gaining popularity due to its compact and elegant instruction set. Enabling students to understand the internal working of a computer, courses in RISC are an increasingly popular option in assembly language programming.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

This book is based on a one semester introductory computer architecture course for first year computing students in the School of Computer Applications, Dublin City University using SPIM, a virtual machine that runs programs for the MIPS R2000/R3000 computers. The architecture of the MIPS is an ideal example of a simple, clean RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) machine, which makes it easy to learn and understand. The processor contains thirty two general-purpose registers and a well-designed instruction set. The existence of a simulator for the processor greatly simplifies the development and debugging of assembly language programs. For these reasons, MIPS is the preferred choice for teaching computer architecture in the 2000s, just as the Motorola 68000 was during the 1980s.

The material assumes the reader has never studied computer programming before, and is usually given at the same time as a programming course in a high level language like Java or C. The main data structures covered are strings, arrays and stacks. The ideas of program loops, if statements, procedure calls and some recursion are presented. The philosophy behind the book is to speed up the learning process relative to other MIPS architecture books by enabling the reader to start writing simple assembly language programs early, without getting involved in laborious descriptions of the trade-offs involved in the design of the processor. The most successful approach to computer architecture is to begin by writing numerous small assembly language programs, before going on to study the underlying concepts. Thus this text does not address topics such as logic design or boolean algebra, but does contain example programs using the MIPS logical instructions. While processors like the MIPS were designed for high level language compilation and as such are targeted at compilers rather than human programmers, the only way to gain an appreciation of their functionality is write many programs for the processor in assembly language.

The book is associated with automatic program testing system MIPSMARK which allows a lecturer to set assembly language programming questions and collect and mark the assignments automatically, or a reader to test a MIPS assembly language program against several different cases and determine if it works, as described in Appendix A. The exam system is written as a collection on Unix C shell scripts. If the instructor or student does not wish to adopt this learning approach, the text book can be used in a traditional manner. A student who can write an assembly language program which converts a number to an ASCII string in hexadecimal format under exam conditions has demonstrated a thorough understanding of all the principles of introductory computer architecture. There is little point in describing concepts such as pipelining, delayed branches of advanced compiler topics to students who are not yet familiar with simple program loops.

Assembly language programming is usually considered an arcane and complex discipline. This view arises among those whose first experience of assembly language programming was the instructions and registers of architectures like the Intel 8086 family. Programming in a RISC architecture is very different due to the elegant, compact and simple instruction set. Students of this text who have never programmed before and begin to study it simultaneously with a course on C programming report it is easier and more logical to program in assembly! In addition, because of the programming exam system, there is a higher pass rate and level of proficiency achieved by students on the assembly course than on the more traditional C course.

The SPIM simulator is available in the public domain. Overhead projector slides of lecture notes, all example programs and all exam questions are available from Introduction to RISC Assembly Language Programming. The programs that correct the questions, together with test cases and solutions are available to lecturers adopting the course.

The SPIM simulator software was designed and written by James R. Laurus [e-mail]. This book was partly inspired by John Conry's course at the University of Oregon which he has made available on the Internet. I would like to thank him for permission to use some of his material. Thanks to Dr. David Sinclair for reading an early draft and providing many important suggestions. Also thanks to Karen Sutherland and Keith Mansfield at Addison Wesley Longman.

0201398281P04062001

From the Back Cover

As the best way to gain an understanding of how a computer processor works at the lower levels, assembly language programming is essential background for every computer science and electronic engineering student. It is, however, often considered an arcane and complex discipline, because many first encounter it through the daunting instructions and registers of the Intel 8086 family.

Programming in a simple RISC architecture is very different due to the elegant and compact instruction set. Students of this text who have never programmed before and who study it simultaneously with a course on a higher-level language report that it is easier and more logical to program in assembly!

Introduction to RISC Assembly Language Programming:

• is based around the MIPS RISC processor, a simple, clean RISC processor whose architecture and assembly language is easy to learn and understand
• speeds up the learning process by enabling the reader to start writing simple assembly language programs early, while assuming no prior knowledge of computer programming
• links with an automatic program testing system, allowing a lecturer to set programming questions and mark the assignments automatically, or a reader to test a MIPS assembly language program against numerous test inputs
• uses the SPIM simulator, a freely available virtual machine that allows users to write and simulate running MIPS R2000/R3000 assembly language programs on PC, Macintosh or UNIX platforms. with excellent source-level debugging tools
• contains a large number of example programs and programming questions
• is supported by related software freely available via the Web http://www.compapp.dcu.ie/~jwaldron
  
  
  0201398281B04062001

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 1st edition (October 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201398281
• ISBN-13: 978-0201398281
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Assembly Language Programming
  • #76 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Microprocessors & System Design > Microprocessor Design

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for learning MIPS Assembly Language, March 30, 2004

By 

R. W. Roth "Wally Roth" (Upland, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to RISC Assembly Language Programming (Paperback)

Great to learn about assembly language programming in general and MIPS computer RISC architecture in particular. Very readable with many good, understandable examples and good reference tables for the beginning assembly language programmer.

I recommend althought the book seems somewhat over priced for its size and content.

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn MIPS Assembly, July 2, 2011

By 

King Ian "Book fiend" (Columbia, SC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to RISC Assembly Language Programming (Paperback)

This is definitely a great resource for learning the MIPS assembly language. Not very long or in-depth but did the trick for me.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fair book, January 3, 2007

By 

U. SHAHZAD - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to RISC Assembly Language Programming (Paperback)

This book is really not worth the price. It is not that helpful other than finding out what commands are available. You can do that using Google for free.