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I 0 Li $t0, 0 # t0 I 0 Do (Loop: // Stuff # Stuff I++ Addi $t0, $t0, 1) While (I 4) BLT $t0, 4, Loop

The document summarizes solutions to three problems involving translating C code to MIPS assembly code. 1) It shows how to translate a do-while loop to MIPS using labels and branch instructions. 2) It discusses whether a while-style or do-while-style loop is better for minimizing instructions when the loop count is unknown, concluding a while loop is safer. 3) It provides two solutions for translating a C loop that sums an array to MIPS using different addressing techniques.

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Mohamed Yassine
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59 views1 page

I 0 Li $t0, 0 # t0 I 0 Do (Loop: // Stuff # Stuff I++ Addi $t0, $t0, 1) While (I 4) BLT $t0, 4, Loop

The document summarizes solutions to three problems involving translating C code to MIPS assembly code. 1) It shows how to translate a do-while loop to MIPS using labels and branch instructions. 2) It discusses whether a while-style or do-while-style loop is better for minimizing instructions when the loop count is unknown, concluding a while loop is safer. 3) It provides two solutions for translating a C loop that sums an array to MIPS using different addressing techniques.

Uploaded by

Mohamed Yassine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CS232 Discussion 1: Solutions

1. do-while loops
Translate the following snippet of C code into MIPS:

i = 0; li $t0, 0 # t0 = i = 0
do { loop:
// stuff # stuff
i++; addi $t0, $t0, 1
} while(i < 4); blt $t0, 4, loop

2. while-style or do-while-style?
In the following snippet of C code, the value of variable n is unknown at compile-time. In order to
minimize the number of instructions executed at run-time, should a C-to-MIPS compiler translate
the loop using a while-style or a do-while-style loop?

for(i = 0; i < n; ++i) {


// stuff
}

Solution: Since do-while loops require less loop overhead in MIPS, it seems reasonable to think
that the compiler would prefer this style. However the compiler’s first concern is always correctness,
and it could be that the loop is never executed (i.e., n <= 0), in which case the do-while translation
is incorrect. A compiler must always err on the side of caution, which in this case could be a while-
style translation. With a test for n <= 0 before the loop, however, a smart compiler could use the
do-while-style after all.

3. Loop through an array


Translate this code into MIPS:

int sum = 0;
for(int i = 0; i < n; ++i)
sum += A[i];

Solution: We give two slightly different solutions below:

# a0 = &A[0], a1 = n # a0 = &A[0], a1 = n
li $t0, 0 # t0 = sum li $t0, 0 # t0 = sum
li $t1, 0 # t1 = i add $t1, $a0, $a1 # t1 = &A[n]
loop: loop:
bge $t1, $a1, done # is i >= n? beq $a0, $t1, done # reached end?
add $t2, $a0, $t1 # t2 = &A[i] lb $t2, 0($a0) # read byte
lb $t2, 0($t2) # t2 = A[i] add $t0, $t0, $t2 # sum += t2
add $t0, $t0, $t2 # sum += t2 addi $a0, $a0, 1 # advance pointer
addi $t1, $t1, 1 # i++ j loop
j loop done:
done:

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