Assembly Language in 100 Seconds
Fireship・3 minutes read
Assembly language is a low-level programming language that simplifies instructions for a computer's CPU, created by Kathleen Booth in 1947. It evolved into various formats for supercomputers like the IBM 7090 and is still used today for direct hardware access, low-level performance, and web browser native software via WebAssembly, specific to CPU architectures like ARM or x86.
Insights
- Assembly language, invented by Kathleen Booth in 1947, simplifies CPU instructions and is still relevant for hardware access, performance, device drivers, and web browser native software today, tailored to CPU architectures like ARM or x86.
- Writing an assembly program requires an assembler like NASM for x86, with text, block starting symbol, and data sections, utilizing instructions with operands limited by CPU registers for efficient operations, culminating in calling the OS kernel, updating registers, assembling, and linking for the executable.
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Recent questions
What is assembly language?
A low-level programming language for CPUs.
Who created assembly language?
Kathleen Booth in 1947.
What is an assembler?
A tool to convert assembly code to machine code.
How is an assembly program structured?
Into text, block starting symbol, and data sections.
What are some common uses of assembly language?
Direct hardware access, low-level performance, device drivers.
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Summary
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Evolution and Usage of Assembly Language
- Assembly language is a low-level programming language that simplifies instructions for a computer's CPU, created by Kathleen Booth in 1947. It evolved into various formats for supercomputers like the IBM 7090. Assembly is still used today for direct hardware access, low-level performance, device drivers, and web browser native software via WebAssembly, specific to CPU architectures like ARM or x86.
- To write an assembly program, you need an assembler like NASM for x86 chips. The program is divided into text, block starting symbol, and data sections. Instructions with operands are used, limited by CPU registers for quick operations. To execute code, call the OS kernel, update registers for system exit, compile with an assembler, and link for the final executable.
