Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 Computer Architecture

3 Your First Programs

4 All About Functions

5 Dealing with Files

6 Reading and Writing Simple Records

7 Developing Robust Programs

8 Sharing Functions with Code Libraries
9 Intermediate Memory Topics

10 Counting Like a Computer

11 High-Level Languages

12 Optimization
13 Moving On from Here 233

This is a course in assembly language programming of the MIPS processor. It emphasizes the topics needed for study of computer architecture: bits, bit patterns, operations on bit patterns, and how bit patterns represent instructions and data. This course is equivalent to a semester-long junior college or university course (except, perhaps, for the emphasis on bit patterns).

The tutorial has extensive coverage of interfacing assembly and C code and so might be of interest to C programmers who want to learn about how C works under the hood. All the examples use the free NASM (Netwide) assembler. The tutorial only covers programming under 32-bit protected mode and requires a 32-bit protected mode compiler.

Something amazing lies beneath BASIC.Several years ago I decided to learn to program in machine language, the computer's own language. I understood BASIC fairly well and I realized that it was simply not possible to accomplish all that I wanted to do with my computer using BASIC alone. BASIC is sometimes just too slow.

Assembly language was once the only language that existed for programming computers. That was before it was used to build the first compiler. A compiler is in fact nothing but an automated assembly programmer. Then why would you still want to learn assembly? Well, here are some reasons:

This is a course in assembly language programming of the MIPS processor. It emphasizes the topics needed for study of computer architecture: bits, bit patterns, operations on bit patterns, and how bit patterns represent instructions and data. This course is equivalent to a semester-long junior college or university course (except, perhaps, for the emphasis on bit patterns).

Welcome to my PC Assembly Page

I taught Computer Science at the University of Central Oklahoma for 10 years. During this time I taught an introductory course in PC Assembly Language programming. I grew frustrated at teaching 16-bit real mode programming and decided to change to 32-bit protected mode. However, I soon ran into a problem. I could not find a textbook that covered 32-bit protected mode assembly programming! So, I decided to write my own.

Few events in learning to use a personal computer have had more impact on me than the moment that I could instantly fill the TV screen with any picture I wanted because of a machine language program I had written. I was amazed at its speed, but more than that, I realized that any time large amounts of information were needed on screen in the future - it could be done via machine language. I had, in effect, created a new BASIC "command" which could be added to any of my programs.

Why learning Assembler?
Assembler or other languages, that is the question. Why should I learn another language, if I already learned other programming languages? The best argument: while you live in France you are able to get through by speaking english, but you will never feel at home then, and life remains complicated. You can get through with this, but it is rather inappropriate. If things need a hurry, you should use the country's language.

Assembly language was once the only language that existed for programming computers. That was before it was used to build the first compiler. A compiler is in fact nothing but an automated assembly programmer. Then why would you still want to learn assembly? Well, here are some reasons: