Thread: Wanna learn Assembly?

  1. #1
    the Corvetter
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    Wanna learn Assembly?

    Assembly is the most low-level language a programmer (besides binary ) a programmer can program in. It's rewarding, challenging, and most of all...it's fun!!! So, I can't see any down sides to it! Sure, it's hard to debug, but that's part of the challenge. So, why not learn this rewarding language?

    See this sticky for Assembly sources. And, due to the fact that it's a hard language to learn and program in (the hardest! ) you will need to ask questions. Here is a great board to ask those Assembly questions . So, think about it!
    1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette

  2. #2
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    Yes, assembly is a nice thing. However, I only use it for the real low-level stuff, implement time-critical things etc. A disadvantage of assembly is that it is hard to maintain. Another disadvantage is that it is platform dependent. Therefore I prefer writing software in C or C++ so porting to a different platform is easier. But anyway, it is nice and you learn a lot about the archictecture of the processors and other hardware you're using.

  3. #3
    ¡Amo fútbol!
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    Just out of curiousity, why are you recruiting? Things are not that empty there, are they??

  4. #4
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    >So, I can't see any down sides to it!

    Ok, give me an example of an advanced data structure using IA32 asm.

  5. #5
    Registered User Sunny's Avatar
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    Oh-oh

    Well guys. You gotta admit, assembly is after all the basis of all programming. No assembly, no funny. All c programs are converted to assembly trough the compiler. And yes, assembly always comes in handy...:P


    Stef

  6. #6
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    >Well guys. You gotta admit, assembly is after all the basis of all programming.

    Yep, but there's no common language called assembly and no rules that any assembly language has to follow. So following on from this, the basis of all programming could mean anything.

    >And yes, assembly always comes in handy...:P

    No, it doesn't.

  7. #7
    Registered User tgm's Avatar
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    When using inline asm in a C/C++ program, do you think you actually get those lines translated exactly or do you think the compiler still tries to optimize what you've done?

  8. #8
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    >do you think you actually get those lines translated exactly or do you think the compiler still tries to optimize what you've done?

    If it did, it would mean inline asm was pointless.

  9. #9
    junior member mix0matt's Avatar
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    i agree with Sorensen...assmembly is a waste of time. Most decent C compilers generate code that is fast enough, and C is portable (more or less). Assembly programmer's are basement dwellers who enjoy avoiding the outdoors or fear time away from the computer....if you're into that, then go for it...

    just ask your self this: why are the trends in software development moving towards cross compatibility (the future) and not toward "hard coding" into one processor (the sixties)?
    THIS IS NOT JUST A CHRONICLING OF THINGS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST BUT OUR RISE TO POWER.

  10. #10
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    >assmembly is a waste of time

    Assembly is not a waste of time. There are a lot of things you can't do in a high level language, even C. For example, hardware interfacing and other low level stuff can usually only be done in assembly. C doesn't support such.

    >Most decent C compilers generate code that is fast enough, and
    >C is portable (more or less).

    Modern C compilers do very good optimization.

    >just ask your self this: why are the trends in software
    >development moving towards cross compatibility (the future)
    >and not toward "hard coding" into one processor (the sixties)?

    There still is a very large variety of processors, so we still need assembly. I believe that coding for a specific processor will be necessary for a long time, since some applications just require a specific processor. Just think about the DSP's and microcontrollers.

    There are still new processors introduced. Every new processor comes with it's own instruction set. Even the Intel x86 processors have instruction sets which are not equal to the older processors. To make optimal use of the new functionalities, code has to be rewritten, in assembly. And the Intel series is just one example of the many, many processors in the world.

  11. #11
    ¡Amo fútbol!
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    Originally posted by mix0matt
    ...assmembly is a waste of time...
    Would you like to explain to me how your great higher-level languages are made? Hint, they use a language that rhymes with bassembly.

  12. #12
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    learning assembly is not essential, or even necessary most of the time. it's interesting, and its fun to know exactly what happens and why. hand-coded sections of code can be faster in time-critical tasks. but for most programmers, assembly is not needed.

  13. #13
    Its not rocket science vasanth's Avatar
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    well for normal computer application development etc etc you do not require ASM but forget the feild of computers.. There are many electronic feilds that use their own processor in devices.. ASM is required here.. In case you are good with it, it means you have a wide range of area to choose from......

  14. #14
    the Corvetter
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    I don't know, I don't like a compiler doing everything for me. And, mind you, a terrible Assembly programmer won't write a better and faster program than a great C/C++ program. It depends on the programmer and his ways...
    1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette

  15. #15
    Its not rocket science vasanth's Avatar
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    Well i dont like playing around with my computers registers, memory and so on and scre it up.. Any way learning ASM is godd.. But it does not help me in building application...

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