12/4/2023

MIPS Programming Basic

Dr. Truong Dinh Huy

Outline
• If
• If – else
• Nested If
• Switch case
• Do while
• While
• For
• Nested Loop

1
 12/4/2023

Basic strategy
Writing correct assembler directly is hard.
Recommended strategy:
1. Solve a problem by using high-level languages like C, Java.

2. Map high-level program down to friendly pseudo code (or “simplified C”).
3. Translate this pseudo code to MIPS instructions.

Simplified C (friendly pseudo code)

does not have while, compound if, complex expressions
does have simple if, goto, one-operator expressions

Branch with beq instruction

# high-level language pseudo code (C code)
if ($t0 != $t1)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 == $t1)
goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

beq $t0, $t1, endif
# then $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:

2
 12/4/2023

Branch with bne instruction

# high-level language pseudo code
if ($t0 == $t1)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
……

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 != $t1)
goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:
……

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

bne $t0, $t1, endif
# then $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:
……

Example
• Write the branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 == $t1)
{
$t0 += 1;
$s0 += $t0;
}

3
 12/4/2023

Solution

• First, branch-friendly pseudo

code MIPS assembly code

bne $t0, $t1, END_IF

if ($t0 != $t1)
# $t0 = $t0 + 1
goto END_IF;
addi $t0, $t0, 1
$t0 += 1;
$s0 += $t0; # $s0 = $s0 + $t0
END_IF: add $s0, $s0, $t0
END_IF:

Example
• Write the equivalent MIPS assembly code

if ($t0 == 25)
{
$t0 = $t0 + 10;
}

4
 12/4/2023

Example
• First, the branch-friendly
• MIPS assembly code
pseudo code

li $t1, 25
if ($t0 != 25)
bne $t0, $t1, END_IF
goto END_IF
addi $t0, $t0, 10
$t0 = $t0 + 10;
END_IF:
END_IF:
……# remainder of the program
……..

ble instruction:
# high-level language pseudo code
if ($t0 > $t1)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
………

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 <= $t1)
goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:
………

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

ble $t0, $t1, endif
# then $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:
……

5
 12/4/2023

bge instruction:
# high-level language pseudo code
if ($t0 < $t1)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 >= $t1)
goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

bge $t0, $t1, endif
# then $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:

blt instruction
# high-level language pseudo code
if ($t0 >= $t1)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 < $t1)
goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

blt $t0, $t1, endif
# then $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:

6
 12/4/2023

bgt instruction
# high-level language pseudo code
if ($t0 <= $t1)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 > $t1)
goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

bgt $t0, $t1, endif
# then $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:

Summary: Comparisons & Branch

C code Pseudo Code MIPS instruction
if ($t0 != $t1) if ($t0 == $t1) goto beq $t0, $t1, label
if ($t0 == $t1) if ($t0 != $t1) goto bne $t0, $t1, label
if ($t0 >= $t1) if ($t0 < $t1) goto blt $t0, $t1, label
if ($t0 <= $t1) if ($t0 > $t1) goto bgt $t0, $t1, label
if ($t0 > $t1) if ($t0 <= $t1) goto ble $t0, $t1, label
if ($t0 < $t1) if ($t0 >= $t1) goto bge $t0, $t1, label

7
 12/4/2023

Exercises
• Write branch-friendly pseudo code and MIPS assembly for each:
if($t0 > $t1)
$t0 = $t0 + 1;

if($t0 <= $t1)

$t0 = $t0 + 1;

Comparisons with Zero

• Branch comparisons will frequently be made with zero
• if (X == 0)
• if (X != 0)
• if (X > 0)
• if (X < 0)
• if (X >= 0)
• if (X <= 0)

8
 12/4/2023

Branch if Equal to Zero

# high-level language pseudo code
if ($t0 != 0)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
………

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 == 0) goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:
………

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

beqz $t0, endif
# else $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:

Branch if Not Equal to Zero

# high-level language pseudo code
if ($t0 == 0)
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
………

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

if ($t0 != 0) goto endif;
$t0 = $t0 – 1;
endif:
………

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

bnez $t0, endif
# then $t0 = $t0 - 1
addi $t0, $t0, -1
endif:
………

9
 12/4/2023

Comparisons with Zero

Pseudo Code MIPS instruction
if ($t0 == 0) goto beqz $t0, label
if ($t0 != 0) goto bnez $t0, label
if ($t0 > 0) goto bgtz $t0, label
if ($t0 < 0) goto bltz $t0, label
if ($t0 >= 0) goto bgez $t0, label
if (X <= 0) goto blez $t0, label

Exercises
• Write branch-friendly pseudo code and MIPS assembly for each:
if($t0 >= 0)
$t0 = $t0 + 1;

if($t0 < 0)
$t0 = $t0 + 1;

10
 12/4/2023

Conditionals —IF Else from C to Simplified C

Standard C Simplified C
if (i < 0) { if (i >= 0) goto else1;
n = n - i; n = n - i;
goto end1;
} else { else1:
n = n + i; n = n + i;
} end1:

Conditionals —IFfrom Simplified C to MIPS

Simplified C MIPS
# assuming i in $t0,
# assuming n in $t1...

if (i >= 0) goto else1;

bge $t0, 0, else1
n = n - i;
sub $t1, $t1, $t0
goto end1;
goto end1
else1:
else1:
n = n + i;
add $t1, $t1, $t0
end1:
end1:

11
 12/4/2023

Another example: If-else

C Code Simplified C
if (i < 0 && n >= 42) { if (i >= 0) goto else1;
if (n < 42) goto else1;
n = n - i; n = n - i;
goto end1;
} else { else1:
n = n + i; n = n + i;
} end1:

Simplified C MIPS
# assume i in $t0
# assume n in $t1

if (i >= 0) goto else1; bge $t0, 0, else1

if (n < 42) goto else1; blt $t1, 42, else1
n = n - i; sub $t1, $t1, $t0
goto end1; j end1
else1:
else1:
n = n + i;
add $t1, $t1, $t0
end1:
end1:

12
 12/4/2023

Exercise – Part 1
• Write the MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code for this if-then-else statement.

# High-level language pseudo code

if ($t0 >= 0)
{
$s0 += 1;
$s1 += $s0;
}
else
{
$s0 -= 1;
$s2 += $s0;
}

Exercise – Part 2
• Write the equivalent MIPS assembly code
if ($t0 < 0) goto ELSE;
$s0 += 1;
$s1 += $s0;
goto END_ELSE;
ELSE:
$s0 -= 1;
$s2 += $s0;
END_ELSE

13
 12/4/2023

Exercise
• Write MIPS assembly code for:
if ($t0 == 0)
$t0 = $t0 + 3;
else {
if($t0 == 1)
$t0 = $t0 + 2;
else
$t0 = $t0 + 1;
}

Exercise: Solution
bnez $t0, else1
addi $t0, $t0, 3
j endif
else1:
li $t2, 1 # must load constant 1 in a register
bne $t0, $t2, else2
addi $t0, $t0, 2
j endif
else2:
$t0 = $t0 + 1;
endif:

14
 12/4/2023

Exercise
• Write MIPS code for this C/C++/Java…
if ($t0 > 0)
{
if ($t0 < $t1)
$t0 += 1;
else
$t0 += 2;
}

Switch statement
• #high-level language
int c= 2;
int x = 0;
switch(c)
{
case 0: x= x+1; break;
case 1: x=x+2; break;
Case 2: x=x+3; break;
}
Translate this code to MIPS assembly code ?

15
 12/4/2023

Method 1

• Considering switch statement as a chain of if-else statements

If (c==0){
x= x+1;
}
else{
if (c==1){x=x+2;}
else{
if (c==2){x=x+3;}
}
}

Method 2: jump table

JUMP_TABLE = { case0, case1, case2 }
# Default skips over switch if key value is out of range
if (C < 0) goto END_SWITCH;
if (C > 2) goto END_SWITCH;
goto JUMP_TABLE[C];
case0: $s0 = $s0 + 1; goto END_SWITCH;
case1: $s0 = $s0 + 2; goto END_SWITCH;
case2: $s0 = $s0 + 3; goto END_SWITCH;
END_SWITCH:

16
 12/4/2023

MIPS jump table

 Initialize an array of 32-bit words so each element holds the
address of the first instruction of each switch case Aren’t these numbers ???

.data
JUMP_TABLE: .word case0, case1, case2
...
case0: add $s0, $s0, 1
j END_SWITCH
case1: add $s0, $s0, 2
j END_SWITCH
case2: add $s0, $s0, 3
j END_SWITCH

Using the Jump Table

 The case variable value 0, 1, or 2 is used to index an

element of the Jump Table

 Must multiply case variable value by 4 since the Jump

Table is an array of words

int C = 2; // C = 0, 1, or 2
$t1 = JumpTable[C*4];
jr $t1

17
 12/4/2023

Full code
.data
JUMP_TABLE: .word case0, case1, case2
.text
main:
# Let $t0 hold the value of c variable (0, 1, or 2)
bltz $t0, END_SWITCH
li $t1, 2
bgt $t0, $t1, END_SWITCH
# Multiply switch value 0, 1, or 2 by 4
sll $t0, $t0, 2
la $a0, JUMP_TABLE
add $a0, $a0, $t0
lw $t2, 0($a0)
jr $t2
case0: add $s0, $s0, 1 # $s0 hold the value of x variable
j END_SWITCH
case1: add $s0, $s0, 2
j END_SWITCH
case2: add $s0, $s0, 3
j END_SWITCH
END_SWITCH:

Example Do-While Loop

# C++ do-while loop # Branch-friendly
int i = 0; # pseudo code
do int i = 0;
LOOP:
{
i = i + 1;
i = i + 1; if(i < 10) goto LOOP;
}
while(i < 10);

18
 12/4/2023

Example Do-While Loop

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code
li $t0, 0
li $t1, 10
LOOP:
# Increment $t0 by 1
addi $t0, $t0, 1

# if $t0 < 10 goto LOOP

blt $t0, $t1, LOOP

Exercise
• Write the MIPS assembly code for:

# User must enter an integer > 0

int x;
do
{
cin >> x;
}
while(x < 0);

19
 12/4/2023

Exercise: Solution
LOOP:
# Load register $v0 with code 5 for read integer
li $v0, 5

# Read integer returns value in $v0 register

syscall

bltz $v0, LOOP

While Loop
# High-level language pseudo code
int i = 0;
while (i < 10)
{
i = i + 1;
}

# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code

int i = 0;
LOOP:
if (i >= 10) goto END_WHILE;
i = i + 1;
goto LOOP;
END_WHILE:

20
 12/4/2023

While Loop
# MIPS branch-friendly pseudo code
int i = 0;
LOOP:
if (i >= 10) goto END_WHILE;
i = i + 1;
goto LOOP;

# Equivalent MIPS assembly code

li $t0, 0
li $t1, 10
LOOP: bge $t0, $t1, END_WHILE
addi $t0, $t0, 1
b LOOP
END_WHILE:

Exercise
• Write the branch-friendly pseudo code

int i = 10;
int sum = 0;
while (i >= 0)
{
sum = sum + i;
i = i – 1;
}

21
 12/4/2023

Exercise
• Write the equivalent MIPS assembly code

i = 10; # Equivalent MIPS assembly code

sum = 0; li $t0, 10
WHILE: li $s0, 0
WHILE: bltz $t0, END_WHILE
if (i < 0) goto END_WHILE;
add $s0, $s0, $t0
sum = sum + i;
addi $t0, $t0, -1
i = i – 1; b WHILE
goto WHILE; END_WHILE:
END_WHILE:

Exercise
• Write the MIPS assembly code for this program

char *str = “Hello World!”;

char *s = str;
while (*s != ‘\0’) { printf(“%c”, *s); s = s + 1; }

22
 12/4/2023

Exercise Solution

For Loop
C Simplified C

for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) { int i;

printf(”%d\n”, i); i = 1;
} loop:
……… if (i > 10) goto end;
i++;
printf(”%d”, i);
printf(”\n”);
goto loop;
end:
……

23
 12/4/2023

li $t0, 1 # int i; // i in register $t0

# i = 1;
loop: # loop:
bgt $t0, 10, end # if (i > 10) goto end;
move $a0, $t0 # printf(”%d” i);
li $v0, 1
syscall
li $a0, '\n' # printf(”%c”, '\n');
li $v0, 11
syscall
addi $t0, $t0, 1 # i++;
b loop # goto loop;
end:
………

Nested Loop
int x = 0; # $t0 = x
while(x < 3) # $s0 = 3
{
int y = 0; # $t1 = y
while(y < 5) # $s1 = 5
{
y++;
}
Write the equivalent MIPS code
x++;
}

24
 12/4/2023

Nested Loop (2)

$t0 = 0; # $t0 = x
Loop1:
if($t0 >=3) goto Exit_while1;
$t1 = 0; # $t1 = y
Loop2:
if ($t1>=5) goto Exit_while2;
$t1 = $t1 + 1;
goto Loop2;
Exit_while2:

$t0 = $t0+1;
go to Loop1;

Exit_while1:
……

Exercise
Write the MIPS assembly code to do insertion sort (shown by the following C
code segment).

int main() {
int i, j, v;
int A[10] = {6, 3, 7, 2, 0, 9, 1, 8, 4, 5};
for (i = 1; i < 10; ++i) {
v = A[i];
for (j = i - 1; j >= 0 && A[j] >= v; --j) {
A[j+1] = A[j];
}
A[j+ 1] = v;
}
return 0;
}

25