A Programmer's View of Computer Architecture: With Assembly Language Examples from the MIPS RISC Architecture [Hardcover]

James Goodman (Author), Karen Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0195131096 | ISBN-13: 978-0195131093 | Edition: Preliminary ed

This introductory text offers a contemporary treatment of computer architecture using assembly and machine language with a focus on software. Students learn how computers work through a clear, generic presentation of a computer architecture, a departure from the traditional focus on a specific architecture. A computer's capabilities are introduced within the context of software, reinforcing the software focus of the text. Designed for computer science majors in an assembly language course, this text uses a top-down approach to the material that enables students to begin programming immediately and to understand the assembly language, the interface between hardware and software. The text includes examples from the MIPS RISC (reduced instruction set computer) architecture, and an accompanying software simulator package simulates a MIPS RISC processor (the software does not require a MIPS processor to run).

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karen Miller is at both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; Preliminary ed edition (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195131096
• ISBN-13: 978-0195131093
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #903,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Assembly Language Programming

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author comment (admittedly biased rating), January 12, 2005

By 

James Goodman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Programmer's View of Computer Architecture: With Assembly Language Examples from the MIPS RISC Architecture (Hardcover)

To be fair, the first printing of this book did have a LOT of errors. But that was in 1993! And some of those copies are still circulating, especially in Madison, WI. But I only know of about three errors in the latest printing, and they are all very subtle.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Frustrating Errors, December 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Programmer's View of Computer Architecture: With Assembly Language Examples from the MIPS RISC Architecture (Hardcover)

Having taken the class at UW-Madison for which this book was written, and my instructor being Karen Miller (one of the authors), even she admitted to the great number of errors. It is highly frustrating to open the book read something, and then wonder, "Gee, is this correct?" Constantly referring to Karen's list of webpage errors was frustrating. Chapter 9 was completely re-written and made available to us in PDF format because the book's version was poor.

I'm shocked that the university is still using the text. Though it was only slightly easier to follow the material since the author was also my instructor, she also seemed annoyed that through some departmental/political/publishing snafu that they are still using the text 10yrs later.

Avoid this book if you have a choice.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars new edition has not been printed, January 27, 2006

By 

CompSci major (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Programmer's View of Computer Architecture: With Assembly Language Examples from the MIPS RISC Architecture (Hardcover)

Based on the author's review I tried to get a copy of a newer edition than 1993. According to Oxford Press, the newer edition is in press but has not been printed and they have no publication date available.