Scribd
Upload
45 views3 pages

DE Assign 7

Uploaded by

Okay F
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
45 views3 pages

DE Assign 7

Uploaded by

Okay F
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Assignment on Assembly Language Programming

1. Simple Assembly Language Program: Stack for String Reversal

Below is a simple example of an assembly language program that uses a stack to reverse a
string. The following code is written for x86 architecture using NASM assembly language
syntax.

```assembly
section .data
input db 'Hello, World!', 0 ; The input string
output db 13 dup(0) ; Output buffer, length = 13

section .bss
stack resb 50 ; Reserve 50 bytes for the stack
sp resb 1 ; Stack pointer

section .text
global _start

_start:
; Initialize stack pointer
mov [sp], stack ; Set stack pointer to the base of the stack

; Push characters onto the stack


mov rsi, input ; RSI points to the input string
.push_loop:
mov al, [rsi] ; Load character
test al, al ; Test for null terminator
jz .pop_loop ; If null, start popping
push rax ; Push character on stack
inc rsi ; Move to the next character
jmp .push_loop ; Repeat

.pop_loop:
mov rdi, output ; RDI points to the output buffer
.pop:
pop rax ; Pop character from the stack
test rax, rax ; Check for stack underflow
jz .done ; If empty, we are done
mov [rdi], al ; Store character in output
inc rdi ; Move to the next position
jmp .pop ; Repeat
.done:
mov byte [rdi], 0 ; Null-terminate the output string

; Exit the program


mov rax, 60 ; syscall: exit
xor rdi, rdi ; status: 0
syscall
```

2. Design and Development Process

The design of this program primarily revolves around using a stack data structure to achieve
the task of string reversal. The process involved the following core steps:

- Understanding Assembly Syntax: Familiarization with basic assembly language constructs


such as data sections, instruction sets, and control flow.
- Defining Data Sections: The input string and an output buffer were defined in the `.data`
and `.bss` sections respectively.
- Implementing the Stack: The stack was simulated using the CPU's push and pop
instructions, which involved careful management of the stack pointer.
- Control Flow: A loop structure was utilized to push each character of the input string onto
the stack and then pop them back to reverse the order.

This project enhanced my understanding of low-level programming concepts by


demonstrating how data structures can be handled without high-level abstractions. It allowed
me to appreciate the intricate mechanics behind stack operations, memory management, and
control flow in assembly language.

3. Benefits of Using Assembly Language for Implementing High-Level Data Structures

Using assembly language to implement high-level data structures offers several benefits:

- Efficiency: Assembly language programs are generally faster than their high-level
counterparts due to lower overhead and direct access to hardware resources. For instance, the
use of direct stack manipulation via `push` and `pop` instructions allows for quick operations
compared to the overhead found in high-level languages.

- Memory Control: Assembly language provides fine-grained control over memory allocation
and deallocation, which is essential for data structures. In our program, stack memory is
utilized effectively, ensuring minimal waste.

- Learning Core Concepts: Programming in assembly forces developers to understand the


underlying hardware operations and memory layout, reinforcing foundational concepts in
computer science.
As a practical example, consider string operations. In a high-level language, a developer
might use built-in functions that abstract away memory management and performance. In
assembly, we understand exactly how each character is handled and stored, offering profound
insights into data manipulation.

References

1. Patterson, D. A., & Hennessy, J. L. (2017). Computer Organization and Design: The
Hardware/Software Interface (5th ed.). Morgan Kaufmann.
2. Stallings, W. (2015). Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for
Performance (9th ed.). Pearson.

You might also like