COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND DESIGN ARM

Edition
The Hardware/Software Interface

Chapter 2
Instructions: Language
of the Computer
 §2.1 Introduction
Instruction Set
n The repertoire of instructions of a
computer
n Different computers have different
instruction sets
n But with many aspects in common
n Early computers had very simple
instruction sets
n Simplified implementation
n Many modern computers also have simple
instruction sets

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 2

The ARMv8 Instruction Set
n A subset, called LEGv8, used as the example
throughout the book
n Commercialized by ARM Holdings
(www.arm.com)
n Large share of embedded core market
n Applications in consumer electronics, network/storage
equipment, cameras, printers, …
n Typical of many modern ISAs
n See ARM Reference Data tear-out card

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 3

 §2.2 Operations of the Computer Hardware
Arithmetic Operations
n Add and subtract, three operands
n Two sources and one destination
ADD a, b, c // a gets b + c
n All arithmetic operations have this form
n Design Principle 1: Simplicity favours
regularity
n Regularity makes implementation simpler
n Simplicity enables higher performance at
lower cost

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 4

Arithmetic Example
n C code:
f = (g + h) - (i + j);

n Compiled LEGv8 code:

ADD t0, g, h // temp t0 = g + h
ADD t1, i, j // temp t1 = i + j
SUB f, t0, t1 // f = t0 - t1

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 5

 §2.3 Operands of the Computer Hardware
Register Operands
n Arithmetic instructions use register
operands

n LEGv8 has a 32 × 64-bit register file

n Use for frequently accessed data
n 64-bit data is called a “doubleword”
n 31 x 64-bit general purpose registers X0 to X30
n 32-bit data called a “word”
n 31 x 32-bit general purpose sub-registers W0 to W30

n Design Principle 2: Smaller is faster

n c.f. main memory: millions of locations

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 6

LEGv8 Registers
n X0 – X7: procedure arguments/results
n X8: indirect result location register
n X9 – X15: temporaries
n X16 – X17 (IP0 – IP1): may be used by linker as a
scratch register, other times as temporary register
n X18: platform register for platform independent code;
otherwise a temporary register
n X19 – X27: saved
n X28 (SP): stack pointer
n X29 (FP): frame pointer
n X30 (LR): link register (return address)
n XZR (register 31): the constant value 0
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 7
Register Operand Example
n C code:
f = (g + h) - (i + j);
n f, …, j in X19, X20, …, X23

n Compiled LEGv8 code:

ADD X9, X20, X21
ADD X10, X22, X23
SUB X19, X9, X10

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 8

Memory Operands
n Main memory used for composite data
n Arrays, structures, dynamic data

n To apply arithmetic operations

n Load values from memory into registers
n Store result from register to memory

n Memory is byte addressed

n Each address identifies an 8-bit byte

n LEGv8 does not require words to be aligned in

memory, except for instructions and the stack

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 9

Memory Operand Example
n C code:
A[12] = h + A[8];
n h in X21, base address of A in X22

n Compiled LEGv8 code:

n Index 8 requires offset of 64
LDUR X9,[X22,#64] // U for “unscaled”
ADD X9,X21,X9
STUR X9,[X22,#96]

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 10

Registers vs. Memory
n Registers are faster to access than
memory
n Operating on memory data requires loads
and stores
n More instructions to be executed
n Compiler must use registers for variables
as much as possible
n Only spill to memory for less frequently used
variables
n Register optimization is important!

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 11

Immediate Operands
n Constant data specified in an instruction
ADDI X22, X22, #4

n Design Principle 3: Make the common

case fast
n Small constants are common
n Immediate operand avoids a load instruction

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 12

 §2.4 Signed and Unsigned Numbers
Unsigned Binary Integers
n Given an n-bit number
x = x n-1 2n-1 + x n-2 2n-2 + ! + x1 21 + x 0 20

n Range: 0 to +2n – 1
n Example
n 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 10112
= 0 + … + 1×23 + 0×22 +1×21 +1×20
= 0 + … + 8 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 1110
n Using 32 bits
n 0 to +4,294,967,295

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 13

2s-Complement Signed Integers
n Given an n-bit number
x = - x n-1 2n-1 + x n-2 2n-2 + ! + x1 21 + x 0 20

n Range: –2n – 1 to +2n – 1 – 1

n Example
n 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11002
= –1×231 + 1×230 + … + 1×22 +0×21 +0×20
= –2,147,483,648 + 2,147,483,644 = –410
n Using 32 bits
n –2,147,483,648 to +2,147,483,647

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 14

2s-Complement Signed Integers
n Bit 31 is sign bit
n 1 for negative numbers
n 0 for non-negative numbers
n –(–2n – 1) can’t be represented
n Non-negative numbers have the same unsigned
and 2s-complement representation
n Some specific numbers
n 0: 0000 0000 … 0000
n –1: 1111 1111 … 1111
n Most-negative: 1000 0000 … 0000
n Most-positive: 0111 1111 … 1111

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 15

Signed Negation
n Complement and add 1
n Complement means 1 → 0, 0 → 1

x + x = 1111...1112 = -1

x + 1 = -x

n Example: negate +2
n +2 = 0000 0000 … 0010two
n –2 = 1111 1111 … 1101two + 1
= 1111 1111 … 1110two

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 16

Sign Extension
n Representing a number using more bits
n Preserve the numeric value
n Replicate the sign bit to the left
n c.f. unsigned values: extend with 0s
n Examples: 8-bit to 16-bit
n +2: 0000 0010 => 0000 0000 0000 0010
n –2: 1111 1110 => 1111 1111 1111 1110

n In LEGv8 instruction set

n LDURSB: sign-extend loaded byte
n LDURB: zero-extend loaded byte

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 17

 §2.5 Representing Instructions in the Computer
Representing Instructions
n Instructions are encoded in binary
n Called machine code

n LEGv8 instructions
n Encoded as 32-bit instruction words
n Small number of formats encoding operation code
(opcode), register numbers, …
n Regularity!

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 18

Hexadecimal
n Base 16
n Compact representation of bit strings
n 4 bits per hex digit

0 0000 4 0100 8 1000 c 1100

1 0001 5 0101 9 1001 d 1101
2 0010 6 0110 a 1010 e 1110
3 0011 7 0111 b 1011 f 1111

n Example: eca8 6420

n 1110 1100 1010 1000 0110 0100 0010 0000

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 19

LEGv8 R-format Instructions
opcode Rm shamt Rn Rd
11 bits 5 bits 6 bits 5 bits 5 bits

n Instruction fields
n opcode: operation code
n Rm: the second register source operand
n shamt: shift amount (00000 for now)
n Rn: the first register source operand
n Rd: the register destination

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 20

R-format Example
opcode Rm shamt Rn Rd
11 bits 5 bits 6 bits 5 bits 5 bits

ADD X9,X20,X21
1112ten 21ten 0ten 20ten 9ten

10001011000two 10101two 000000two 10100two 01001two

1000 1011 0001 0101 0000 0010 1000 1001two =

8B15028916

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 21

LEGv8 D-format Instructions
opcode address op2 Rn Rt
11 bits 9 bits 2 bits 5 bits 5 bits

n Load/store instructions
n Rn: base register
n address: constant offset from contents of base register (+/- 32
doublewords)
n Rt: destination (load) or source (store) register number

n Design Principle 3: Good design demands good

compromises
n Different formats complicate decoding, but allow 32-bit
instructions uniformly
n Keep formats as similar as possible

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 22

LEGv8 I-format Instructions
opcode immediate Rn Rd
10 bits 12 bits 5 bits 5 bits

n Immediate instructions
n Rn: source register
n Rd: destination register

n Immediate field is zero-extended

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 23

Stored Program Computers
The BIG Picture n Instructions represented in
binary, just like data
n Instructions and data stored
in memory
n Programs can operate on
programs
n e.g., compilers, linkers, …
n Binary compatibility allows
compiled programs to work
on different computers
n Standardized ISAs

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 24

 §2.6 Logical Operations
Logical Operations
n Instructions for bitwise manipulation
Operation C/Java Java LEGv8
(unsigned)
Shift left << <<< LSL
Shift right >> >>> LSR
Bit-by-bit AND & & AND, ANDI
Bit-by-bit OR | | OR, ORI
Bit-by-bit NOT ~ ~ EOR, EORI
n Useful for extracting and inserting
groups of bits in a word
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 25
Shift Operations
opcode Rm shamt Rn Rd
11 bits 5 bits 6 bits 5 bits 5 bits

n shamt: how many positions to shift

n Shift left logical
n Shift left and fill with 0 bits
n LSL by i bits multiplies by 2i
n Shift right logical
n Shift right and fill with 0 bits
n LSR by i bits divides by 2i (unsigned only)

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 26

AND Operations
n Useful to mask bits in a word
n Select some bits, clear others to 0
AND X9,X10,X11

X10 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00001101 11000000

X11 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00111100 00000000

X9 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00001100 00000000

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 27

OR Operations
n Useful to include bits in a word
n Set some bits to 1, leave others unchanged
OR X9,X10,X11

X10 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00001101 11000000

X11 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00111100 00000000

X9 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00111101 11000000

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 28

EOR Operations
n Differencing operation
n Set some bits to 1, leave others unchanged
EOR X9,X10,X12 // NOT operation

X10 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00001101 11000000

X12 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111

X9 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111 11110010 00111111

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 29

 §2.7 Instructions for Making Decisions
Conditional Operations
n Branch to a labeled instruction if a condition is
true
n Otherwise, continue sequentially

n CBZ register, L1
n if (register == 0) branch to instruction labeled L1;

n CBNZ register, L1
n if (register != 0) branch to instruction labeled L1;

n B L1
n branch unconditionally to instruction labeled L1;
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 30
Compiling If Statements
n C code:
if (i==j) f = g+h;
else f = g-h;
n f, g, … in X19, X20, …
n Compiled LEGv8 code:
SUB X9,X22,X23
CBNZ X9,Else
ADD X19,X20,X21
B Exit
Else: SUB X19,X20,x21
Exit: … Assembler calculates addresses
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 31
Compiling Loop Statements
n C code:
while (save[i] == k) i += 1;
n i in X22, k in X24, address of save in x25
n Compiled LEGv8 code:
Loop: LSL X10, X22,#3
ADD X10, X10, X25
LDUR X9,[X10,#0]
SUB X11, X9, X24
CBNZ X11,Exit
ADDI X22, X22,#1
B Loop
Exit: …
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 32
Basic Blocks
n A basic block is a sequence of instructions
with
n No embedded branches (except at end)
n No branch targets (except at beginning)

n A compiler identifies basic

blocks for optimization
n An advanced processor
can accelerate execution
of basic blocks

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 33

More Conditional Operations
n Condition codes, set from arithmetic instruction with S-
suffix (ADDS, ADDIS, ANDS, ANDIS, SUBS, SUBIS)
n negative (N): result had 1 in MSB
n zero (Z): result was 0
n overlow (V): result overflowed
n carry (C): result had carryout from MSB
n Use subtract to set flags, then conditionally branch:
n B.EQ
n B.NE
n B.LT (less than, signed), B.LO (less than, unsigned)
n B.LE (less than or equal, signed), B.LS (less than or equal, unsigned)
n B.GT (greater than, signed), B.HI (greater than, unsigned)
n B.GE (greater than or equal, signed),
n B.HS (greater than or equal, unsigned)

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 34

Conditional Example
n if (a > b) a += 1;
n a in X22, b in X23

SUBS X9,X22,X23 // use subtract to make comparison

B.LTE Exit // conditional branch
ADDI X22,X22,#1
Exit:

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 35

Signed vs. Unsigned
n Signed comparison
n Unsigned comparison
n Example
n X22 = 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111
n X23 = 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0001
n X22 < X23 # signed
n –1 < +1
n X22 > X23 # unsigned
n +4,294,967,295 > +1

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 36

 §2.8 Supporting Procedures in Computer Hardware
Procedure Calling
n Steps required
1. Place parameters in registers X0 to X7
2. Transfer control to procedure
3. Acquire storage for procedure
4. Perform procedure’s operations
5. Place result in register for caller
6. Return to place of call (address in X30)

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 37

Procedure Call Instructions
n Procedure call: jump and link
BL ProcedureLabel
n Address of following instruction put in X30

n Jumps to target address

n Procedure return: jump register

BR LR
n Copies LR to program counter

n Can also be used for computed jumps

n e.g., for case/switch statements

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 38

Leaf Procedure Example
n C code:
long long int leaf_example (long long int
g, long long int h, long long int i, long
long int j)
{ long long int f;
f = (g + h) - (i + j);
return f;
}
n Arguments g, …, j in X0, …, X3

n f in X19 (hence, need to save X19 on stack)

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 39

Leaf Procedure Example
n LEGv8 code:
leaf_example:
SUBI SP,SP,#24 Save X10, X9, X19 on stack
STUR X10,[SP,#16]
STUR X9,[SP,#8]
STUR X19,[SP,#0]
ADD X9,X0,X1 X9 = g + h
ADD X10,X2,X3 X10 = i + j
SUB X19,X9,X10 f = X9 – X10
ADD X0,X19,XZR copy f to return register
LDUR X10,[SP,#16] Restore X10, X9, X19 from stack
LDUR X9,[SP,#8]
LDUR X19,[SP,#0]
ADDI SP,SP,#24
BR LR Return to caller

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 40

Notes
n X9–X17
n temporary registers that are not preserved by
the callee (called procedure) on a procedure
call
n X19–X28: saved registers that must be
preserved on a procedure call
n if used, the callee saves and restores them

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 41

Local Data on the Stack

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 42

Register Usage in Subroutines
n X9 to X17: temporary registers
n Not preserved by the callee

n X19 to X28: saved registers

n If used, the callee saves and restores them

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 43

Non-Leaf Procedures
n Procedures that call other procedures
n For nested call, caller needs to save on the
stack:
n Its return address
n Any arguments and temporaries needed after
the call
n Restore from the stack after the call

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 44

Non-Leaf Procedure Example
n C code:
int fact (int n)
{
if (n < 1) return 1;
else return n * fact(n - 1);
}

n Argument n in X0
n Result in X1

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 45

Non-Leaf Procedure Example
n LEGv8 code:
fact:
SUBI SP,SP,#16 Save return address and n on stack
STUR LR,[SP,#8]
STUR X0,[SP,#0]
SUBIS XZR,X0,#1 compare n and 1
B.GE L1 if n >= 1, go to L1
ADDI X1,XZR,#1 Else, set return value to 1
ADDI SP,SP,#16 Pop stack, don’t bother restoring values
BR LR Return
L1: SUBI X0,X0,#1 n=n-1
BL fact call fact(n-1)
LDUR X0,[SP,#0] Restore caller’s n
LDUR LR,[SP,#8] Restore caller’s return address
ADDI SP,SP,#16 Pop stack
MUL X1,X0,X1 return n * fact(n-1)
BR LR return

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 46

Memory Layout
n Text: program code
n Static data: global
variables
n e.g., static variables in C,
constant arrays and strings

n Dynamic data: heap

n E.g., malloc in C, new in
Java
n Stack: automatic storage

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 47

 §2.9 Communicating with People
Character Data
n Byte-encoded character sets
n ASCII: 128 characters
n 95 graphic, 33 control
n Latin-1: 256 characters
n ASCII, +96 more graphic characters
n Unicode: 32-bit character set
n Used in Java, C++ wide characters, …
n Most of the world’s alphabets, plus symbols
n UTF-8, UTF-16: variable-length encodings

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 48

Byte/Halfword Operations
n LEGv8 byte/halfword load/store
n Load byte:
n LDURB Rt, [Rn, offset]
n Sign extend to 32 bits in rt
n Store byte:
n STURB Rt, [Rn, offset]
n Store just rightmost byte
n Load halfword:
n LDURH Rt, [Rn, offset]
n Sign extend to 32 bits in rt
n Store halfword:
n STURH Rt, [Rn, offset]
n Store just rightmost halfword

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 49

String Copy Example
n C code:
n Null-terminated string
void strcpy (char x[], char y[])
{ size_t i;
i = 0;
while ((x[i]=y[i])!='\0')
i += 1;
}

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 50

String Copy Example
n LEGv8 code:
strcpy:
SUBI SP,SP,8 // push X19
STUR X19,[SP,#0]
ADD X19,XZR,XZR // i=0
L1: ADD X10,X19,X1 // X10 = addr of y[i]
LDURB X11,[X10,#0] // X11 = y[i]
ADD X12,X19,X0 // X12 = addr of x[i]
STURB X11,[X12,#0] // x[i] = y[i]
CBZ X11,L2 // if y[i] == 0 then exit
ADDI X19,X19,#1 // i = i + 1
B L1 // next iteration of loop
L2: LDUR X19,[SP,#0] // restore saved $s0
ADDI SP,SP,8 // pop 1 item from stack
BR LR // and return

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 51

 §2.10 LEGv8 Addressing for 32-Bit Immediates and Addresses
32-bit Constants
n Most constants are small
n 12-bit immediate is sufficient
n For the occasional 32-bit constant
MOVZ: move wide with zeros
MOVK: move with with keep
n Use with flexible second operand (shift)
MOVZ X9,255,LSL 16
0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1111 1111 0000 0000 0000 0000

MOVK X9,255,LSL 0
0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1111 1111 0000 0000 1111 1111

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 52

Branch Addressing
n B-type
n B 1000 // go to location 10000ten

5 10000ten
6 bits 26 bits

n CB-type
n CBNZ X19, Exit // go to Exit if X19 != 0

181 Exit 19
8 bits 19 bits 5 bits

n Both addresses are PC-relative

n Address = PC + offset (from instruction)

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 53

LEGv8 Addressing Summary

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 54

LEGv8 Encoding Summary

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 55

 §2.11 Parallelism and Instructions: Synchronization
Synchronization
n Two processors sharing an area of memory
n P1 writes, then P2 reads
n Data race if P1 and P2 don’t synchronize
n Result depends of order of accesses
n Hardware support required
n Atomic read/write memory operation
n No other access to the location allowed between the
read and write
n Could be a single instruction
n E.g., atomic swap of register ↔ memory
n Or an atomic pair of instructions

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 56

Synchronization in LEGv8
n Load exclusive register: LDXR
n Store exclusive register: STXR
n To use:
n Execute LDXR then STXR with same address
n If there is an intervening change to the address, store
fails (communicated with additional output register)
n Only use register instruction in between

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 57

Synchronization in LEGv8
n Example 1: atomic swap (to test/set lock variable)
again: LDXR X10,[X20,#0]
STXR X23,X9,[X20] // X9 = status
CBNZ X9, again
ADD X23,XZR,X10 // X23 = loaded value

n Example 2: lock
ADDI X11,XZR,#1 // copy locked value
again: LDXR X10,[X20,#0] // read lock
CBNZ X10, again // check if it is 0 yet
STXR X11, X9, [X20] // attempt to store
BNEZ X9,again // branch if fails
n Unlock:
STUR XZR, [X20,#0] // free lock

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 58

 §2.12 Translating and Starting a Program
Translation and Startup

Many compilers produce

object modules directly

Static linking

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 59

Producing an Object Module
n Assembler (or compiler) translates program into
machine instructions
n Provides information for building a complete
program from the pieces
n Header: described contents of object module
n Text segment: translated instructions
n Static data segment: data allocated for the life of the
program
n Relocation info: for contents that depend on absolute
location of loaded program
n Symbol table: global definitions and external refs
n Debug info: for associating with source code

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 60

Linking Object Modules
n Produces an executable image
1. Merges segments
2. Resolve labels (determine their addresses)
3. Patch location-dependent and external refs
n Could leave location dependencies for
fixing by a relocating loader
n But with virtual memory, no need to do this
n Program can be loaded into absolute location
in virtual memory space

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 61

Loading a Program
n Load from image file on disk into memory
1. Read header to determine segment sizes
2. Create virtual address space
3. Copy text and initialized data into memory
n Or set page table entries so they can be faulted in
4. Set up arguments on stack
5. Initialize registers (including SP, FP)
6. Jump to startup routine
n Copies arguments to X0, … and calls main
n When main returns, do exit syscall

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 62

Dynamic Linking
n Only link/load library procedure when it is
called
n Requires procedure code to be relocatable
n Avoids image bloat caused by static linking of
all (transitively) referenced libraries
n Automatically picks up new library versions

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 63

Lazy Linkage

Indirection table

Stub: Loads routine ID,

Jump to linker/loader

Linker/loader code

Dynamically
mapped code

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 64

 Starting Java Applications

Simple portable
instruction set for
the JVM

Compiles
Interprets
bytecodes of
bytecodes
“hot” methods
into native
code for host
machine

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 65

 §2.13 A C Sort Example to Put It All Together
C Sort Example
n Illustrates use of assembly instructions
for a C bubble sort function
n Swap procedure (leaf)
void swap(long long int v[],
long long int k)
{
long long int temp;
temp = v[k];
v[k] = v[k+1];
v[k+1] = temp;
}
n v in X0, k in X1, temp in X9
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 66
The Procedure Swap
swap: LSL X10,X1,#3 // X10 = k * 8
ADD X10,X0,X10 // X10 = address of v[k]
LDUR X9,[X10,#0] // X9 = v[k]
LDUR X11,[X10,#8] // X11 = v[k+1]
STUR X11,[X10,#0] // v[k] = X11 (v[k+1])
STUR X9,[X10,#8] // v[k+1] = X9 (v[k])
BR LR // return to calling routine

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 67

The Sort Procedure in C
n Non-leaf (calls swap)
void sort (long long int v[], size_t n)
{
size_t i, j;
for (i = 0; i < n; i += 1) {
for (j = i – 1;
j >= 0 && v[j] > v[j + 1];
j -= 1) {
swap(v,j);
}
}
}
n v in X0, n in X1, i in X19, j in X20

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 68

The Outer Loop
n Skeleton of outer loop:
n for (i = 0; i <n; i += 1) {

MOV X19,XZR // i = 0
for1tst:
CMP X19, X1 // compare X19 to X1 (i to n)
B.GE exit1 // go to exit1 if X19 ≥ X1 (i≥n)

(body of outer for-loop)

ADDI X19,X19,#1 // i += 1
B for1tst // branch to test of outer loop
exit1:

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 69

The Inner Loop
n Skeleton of inner loop:
n for (j = i − 1; j >= 0 && v[j] > v[j + 1]; j − = 1) {
SUBI X20, X19, #1 // j = i - 1
for2tst: CMP X20,XZR // compare X20 to 0 (j to 0)
B.LT exit2 // go to exit2 if X20 < 0 (j < 0)
LSL X10, X20, #3 // reg X10 = j * 8
ADD X11, X0, X10 // reg X11 = v + (j * 8)
LDUR X12, [X11,#0] // reg X12 = v[j]
LDUR X13, [X11,#8] // reg X13 = v[j + 1]
CMP X12, X13 // compare X12 to X13
B.LE exit2 // go to exit2 if X12 ≤ X13
MOV X0, X21 // first swap parameter is v
MOV X1, X20 // second swap parameter is j
BL swap // call swap
SUBI X20, X20, #1 // j –= 1
B for2tst // branch to test of inner loop
exit2:

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 70

Preserving Registers
n Preserve saved registers:
SUBI SP,SP,#40 // make room on stack for 5 regs
STUR LR,[SP,#32] // save LR on stack
STUR X22,[SP,#24] // save X22 on stack
STUR X21,[SP,#16] // save X21 on stack
STUR X20,[SP,#8] // save X20 on stack
STUR X19,[SP,#0] // save X19 on stack
MOV X21, X0 // copy parameter X0 into X21
MOV X22, X1 // copy parameter X1 into X22

n Restore saved registers:

exit1: LDUR X19, [SP,#0] // restore X19 from stack
LDUR X20, [SP,#8] // restore X20 from stack
LDUR X21,[SP,#16] // restore X21 from stack
LDUR X22,[SP,#24] // restore X22 from stack
LDUR X30,[SP,#32] // restore LR from stack
SUBI SP,SP,#40 // restore stack pointer

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 71

 Effect of Compiler Optimization
Compiled with gcc for Pentium 4 under Linux

3 Relative Performance 140000 Instruction count

2.5 120000
100000
2
80000
1.5
60000
1
40000
0.5 20000
0 0
none O1 O2 O3 none O1 O2 O3

180000 Clock Cycles 2 CPI

160000
140000 1.5
120000
100000
1
80000
60000
40000 0.5
20000
0 0
none O1 O2 O3 none O1 O2 O3

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 72

Effect of Language and Algorithm
3 Bubblesort Relative Performance
2.5

1.5

0.5

0
C/none C/O1 C/O2 C/O3 Java/int Java/JIT

2.5 Quicksort Relative Performance

2

1.5

0.5

0
C/none C/O1 C/O2 C/O3 Java/int Java/JIT

3000 Quicksort vs. Bubblesort Speedup

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
C/none C/O1 C/O2 C/O3 Java/int Java/JIT

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 73

Lessons Learnt
n Instruction count and CPI are not good
performance indicators in isolation
n Compiler optimizations are sensitive to the
algorithm
n Java/JIT compiled code is significantly
faster than JVM interpreted
n Comparable to optimized C in some cases
n Nothing can fix a dumb algorithm!

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 74

 §2.14 Arrays versus Pointers
Arrays vs. Pointers
n Array indexing involves
n Multiplying index by element size
n Adding to array base address
n Pointers correspond directly to memory
addresses
n Can avoid indexing complexity

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 75

 Example: Clearing an Array
clear1(int array[], int size) { clear2(int *array, int size) {
int i; int *p;
for (i = 0; i < size; i += 1) for (p = &array[0]; p < &array[size];
array[i] = 0; p = p + 1)
} *p = 0;
}

MOV X9,XZR // i = 0 MOV X9,X0 // p = address of

loop1: LSL X10,X9,#3 // X10 = i * 8 // array[0]
ADD X11,X0,X10 // X11 = address LSL X10,X1,#3 // X10 = size * 8
// of array[i] ADD X11,X0,X10 // X11 = address
STUR XZR,[X11,#0] // of array[size]
// array[i] = 0 loop2: STUR XZR,0[X9,#0]
ADDI X9,X9,#1 // i = i + 1 // Memory[p] = 0
CMP X9,X1 // compare i to ADDI X9,X9,#8 // p = p + 8
// size CMP X9,X11 // compare p to <
B.LT loop1 // if (i < size) // &array[size]
// go to loop1 B.LT loop2 // if (p <
// &array[size])
// go to loop2

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 76

Comparison of Array vs. Ptr
n Multiply “strength reduced” to shift
n Array version requires shift to be inside
loop
n Part of index calculation for incremented i
n c.f. incrementing pointer
n Compiler can achieve same effect as
manual use of pointers
n Induction variable elimination
n Better to make program clearer and safer

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 77

 §2.16 Real Stuff: ARM Instructions
ARM & MIPS Similarities
n ARM: the most popular embedded core
n Similar basic set of instructions to MIPS
ARM MIPS
Date announced 1985 1985
Instruction size 32 bits 32 bits
Address space 32-bit flat 32-bit flat
Data alignment Aligned Aligned
Data addressing modes 9 3
Registers 15 × 32-bit 31 × 32-bit
Input/output Memory Memory
mapped mapped

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 78

Instruction Encoding

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 79

 §2.17 Real Stuff: x86 Instructions
The Intel x86 ISA
n Evolution with backward compatibility
n 8080 (1974): 8-bit microprocessor
n Accumulator, plus 3 index-register pairs
n 8086 (1978): 16-bit extension to 8080
n Complex instruction set (CISC)
n 8087 (1980): floating-point coprocessor
n Adds FP instructions and register stack
n 80286 (1982): 24-bit addresses, MMU
n Segmented memory mapping and protection
n 80386 (1985): 32-bit extension (now IA-32)
n Additional addressing modes and operations
n Paged memory mapping as well as segments

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 80

The Intel x86 ISA
n Further evolution…
n i486 (1989): pipelined, on-chip caches and FPU
n Compatible competitors: AMD, Cyrix, …
n Pentium (1993): superscalar, 64-bit datapath
n Later versions added MMX (Multi-Media eXtension)
instructions
n The infamous FDIV bug
n Pentium Pro (1995), Pentium II (1997)
n New microarchitecture (see Colwell, The Pentium Chronicles)
n Pentium III (1999)
n Added SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) and associated
registers
n Pentium 4 (2001)
n New microarchitecture
n Added SSE2 instructions

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 81

The Intel x86 ISA
n And further…
n AMD64 (2003): extended architecture to 64 bits
n EM64T – Extended Memory 64 Technology (2004)
n AMD64 adopted by Intel (with refinements)
n Added SSE3 instructions
n Intel Core (2006)
n Added SSE4 instructions, virtual machine support
n AMD64 (announced 2007): SSE5 instructions
n Intel declined to follow, instead…
n Advanced Vector Extension (announced 2008)
n Longer SSE registers, more instructions
n If Intel didn’t extend with compatibility, its
competitors would!
n Technical elegance ≠ market success

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 82

Basic x86 Registers

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 83

Basic x86 Addressing Modes
n Two operands per instruction
Source/dest operand Second source operand
Register Register
Register Immediate
Register Memory
Memory Register
Memory Immediate

n Memory addressing modes

n Address in register
n Address = Rbase + displacement
n Address = Rbase + 2scale × Rindex (scale = 0, 1, 2, or 3)
n Address = Rbase + 2scale × Rindex + displacement
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 84
x86 Instruction Encoding
n Variable length
encoding
n Postfix bytes specify
addressing mode
n Prefix bytes modify
operation
n Operand length,
repetition, locking, …

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 85

Implementing IA-32
n Complex instruction set makes
implementation difficult
n Hardware translates instructions to simpler
microoperations
n Simple instructions: 1–1
n Complex instructions: 1–many
n Microengine similar to RISC
n Market share makes this economically viable
n Comparable performance to RISC
n Compilers avoid complex instructions
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 86
 §2.19 Fallacies and Pitfalls
Fallacies
n Powerful instruction Þ higher performance
n Fewer instructions required
n But complex instructions are hard to implement
n May slow down all instructions, including simple ones
n Compilers are good at making fast code from simple
instructions
n Use assembly code for high performance
n But modern compilers are better at dealing with
modern processors
n More lines of code Þ more errors and less
productivity

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 87

Fallacies
n Backward compatibility Þ instruction set
doesn’t change
n But they do accrete more instructions

x86 instruction set

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 88

Pitfalls
n Sequential words are not at sequential
addresses
n Increment by 4, not by 1!
n Keeping a pointer to an automatic variable
after procedure returns
n e.g., passing pointer back via an argument
n Pointer becomes invalid when stack popped

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 89

 §2.20 Concluding Remarks
Concluding Remarks
n Design principles
1. Simplicity favors regularity
2. Smaller is faster
3. Make the common case fast
4. Good design demands good compromises
n Layers of software/hardware
n Compiler, assembler, hardware
n LEGv8: typical of RISC ISAs
n c.f. x86

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 90

Concluding Remarks
n Additional ARMv8 features:
n Flexible second operand
n Additional addressing modes
n Conditional instructions (e.g. CSET, CINC)

Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer — 91