Category: Uncategorized

  • Don’t get scammed by companies like Reader’s Magnet

    As I’ve mentioned previously, everyone wants to rip you off as an author by taking advantage of your hopes and dreams. Scammers make me sick. I’ve had a few calls from them lately pretending to be huge media companies that offer promotion for authors. These scammers do their homework, and so I assume they work

    Don’t get scammed by companies like Reader’s Magnet
  • What Microsoft Copilot says about Assembly Arithmetic Algorithms

    I tried something new. I asked Microsoft Copilot what it could tell me about my own series of books on Assembly. I have to say I am impressed with the nice summary it came up with. I really think it highlights how unique this series is because it is written from the perspective of my autism and math obsession.

    Assembly Arithmetic Algorithms is a series of assembly‑language programming books written by Chastity White Rose, covering DOS, Windows (32‑ and 64‑bit), and Linux editions. They teach low‑level programming by focusing on arithmetic, binary/hex math, system calls, and how computers actually perform operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

    📘 What the books are

    Chastity White Rose has published multiple editions of Assembly Arithmetic Algorithms, each targeting a different operating system:

    1. 16‑bit DOS Edition

    • Teaches how to write .com programs for MS‑DOS.
    • Focuses heavily on binary/hex arithmetic and low‑level operations.
    • Includes explanations of interrupts, pointers, memory addresses, and arithmetic routines.
    • Emphasizes learning how computers “think” numerically.
    • MS-DOS | Definition, Features, Importance, & Facts | Britannica
    • MS-DOS - Wikipedia
    • Difference Between Assembly And Binary at Donna Bull blog
    • Program Development and Execution | Assembly language, Assembly ...

    2. 32‑ and 64‑bit Windows Edition

    • Covers Windows API calls (GetStdHandle, WriteFile, ExitProcess).
    • Introduces registers, stack behavior, and bit operations.
    • Provides “Hello World” examples for both 32‑bit and 64‑bit Windows.
    • Designed for beginners and intermediate programmers wanting deeper control.
    • 理解 Windows API 调用过程 - 厚积薄发 - 开发者Cpp博客
    • Architecture Overview - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn
    • X64 registers
    • PPT - Introduction to Machine-Level Programming: Basics of x86 ...

    3. 32‑bit Linux Edition (co‑authored with Chandler Klebs)

    • Focuses on POSIX system calls: read, write, open, close, lseek, exit.
    • Includes C programs to help explain assembly routines.
    • Teaches how to write fast, minimal Linux console applications.
    • Manage Your Linux System Resources With These 7 Terminal Commands
    • Timer In Linux Terminal at Rita Skelley blog
    • x86 Assembly Guide-CSDN博客
    • Assembly Language Tutorial No. 1 : Introduction To Registers - YouTube

    🧠 What the books emphasize

    Across all editions, the core themes are:

    • Binary arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
    • Understanding CPU registers and flags
    • Memory addressing and pointer arithmetic
    • System calls and OS‑level interaction
    • Writing extremely small, efficient programs
    • Learning how computers actually perform math internally

    Chastity frames arithmetic as the foundation of all computation — the CPU’s “native language.”

    📚 Why these books stand out

    • They are modern books about old‑school assembly, which is rare.
    • They teach assembly through arithmetic, not through abstract theory.
    • They are written by a transgender Christian author who blends technical instruction with personal philosophy and creativity.
    • They aim to preserve low‑level programming knowledge that is becoming harder to find.

  • Book Review: Switching to Linux: A Practical Guide for Windows and Mac Users

    I have been a Linux user for at least 25 years at this point. In that time, I have tried many distros and experienced the pain of figuring it all out on my own. I can confidently say this is the book I wish I had in my teenage years. Modern Linux confuses people because there are so many distributions to choose from, and it can be so overwhelming that people give up and stick with the Windows or Mac systems they already know.

    It is not human nature to leave the comfortable and risk everything you have on something that may not work out. However, for those who have reasons to try Linux, this is the first book I will recommend to them. It is also useful for me because the landscape of Linux has changed greatly during the many years I have been a happy Debian user who plays Steam games and writes C programs for fun. The newest desktop environments and tools are a pleasure to learn about.

    Thanks to this book, I even tried Ventoy and can now boot Debian, Gentoo, and Kali Linux ISOs directly from a USB drive. If the day ever comes when I need to upgrade to a newer distro, I will be using this book as my guide to help me transition to the new way of being a Linux user.

    https://leanpub.com/switch-to-linux

  • RISC-V Assembly Progress

    After having some minor success with Windows Intel Assembly, I took a break and went back to learning RISC-V Assembly using the RARS simulator and Robert Winkler’s book as a reference. I have managed to convert most of my Intel functions, including the Standard Input functions into RISC-V Assembly Language.

    The benefit of this will become useful for both simulation and teaching but also eventually on real hardware if I ever have the time and money to play with such things. In the mean time, I am appreciating how easy RISC-V is compared to Intel Assembly.

    # chastelib test suite for RISC-V Assembly in RARS simulator
    
    # this program tests the stdin extension of chastelib
    
    # The same library of functions I commonly use in my Intel Assembly code
    # have now been translated to RISC-V.
    # All assembly code seen here is for the RARS simulator written in Java.
    
    .data
    
    ##################################################################
    # chastelib core specific variables                              #
    #                                                                #
    # These variables are used by the intstr function to convert an  #
    # integer to a string and what radix and widthshould be used     #
    # width means how many minimum digits including leading zeros    #
    ##################################################################
    
    int_string: .space 32 #reserve space for 32 bytes for up to 32 bits if printed in binary
    int_end: .byte 0 #the terminating zero of the integer string
    radix: .byte 2   #the radix the number will be shown in
    int_width: .byte 1 #by default
    
    # These variables are for outputting special strings
    # such as a newline, space, or a single character based on s0
    
    space: .byte 0x20, 0
    line:  .byte 0x0A, 0
    char:  .byte 0, 0 
    
    ##################################################################
    # chastdin specific variables                                    #
    #                                                                #
    # these variables are used as the default controllers            #
    # for the getstring and getline functions                        #
    # buf stores keyboard input during those functions               #
    # count stores how many bytes were read during system read calls #
    # last_char stores the last character read                       #
    # usually this will be a space, tab, or newline                  #
    ##################################################################
    
    buf: .space 0x100
    count: .word 0
    last_char: .byte 0
    
    # program specific variables
    # These variables are for outputting specific messages
    # or to simulate user input as integers in the strint function
    
    string0: .ascii "chastelib test suite for RISC-V Assembly\n"
    string1: .asciz "stdin (STanDard INput) extension\n"
    
    string_exit: .asciz "exit"
    
    .text
    
    la s0, string0
    jal putstr
    
    # change radix for this program
    li t0, 16    #load t0 register with the new radix
    la t1, radix #load t1 register with the address the radix will go to
    sb t0, 0(t1) #save t0 register (byte) to address t1
    
    main_loop:
    
    jal getstr  # read the string from standard input
    jal putline # print extra line for readability
    
    jal putstr # echo it to standard output
    jal putline
    
    #s0 already contains string that was input and printed
    #s1 will be loaded with address of exit string
    la s1, string_exit
    jal strcmp
    
    # end program if the string entered is equal to string_exit
    beq t0, zero, exit
    
    #method 0: loading the length of string just entered from (count)
    #la t1, count       #load address of count into t2
    #lw s0, 0(t1)       #store number of chars read at (count) address
    
    #method 1: calculate the length with strlen function
    jal strlen
    
    # regardless of method used, display the length of last string
    jal putint
    jal putline
    
    j main_loop # keep restarting until exit string is entered
    
    exit:
    li a0, 0  #status
    li a7, 93 #exit
    ecall     #environment call
    
    #################################################################################
    # The following functions are independent of a specific RISC-V Operating System #
    #                                                                               #
    # intstr = convert integer into a string ready for printing                     #
    # putint = prints integer using intstr and the OS specific putstr function      #
    # strint = convert string into an integer                                       #
    #                                                                               #
    # The s0 register is used for pass data in or out of these functions            #
    # See comments above those specific functions for full details                  #
    #################################################################################
    
    # The intstr function does several things at once and is the foundation for all integer output.
    # It uses the global radix variable to know which radix or number base to use when turning the integer to a string
    # It also uses the global int_width variable to determine how many leading zeros should be used for the string
    # The purpose of this is to make numbers look good when lined up when they are printed in a list.
    # radices 2 to 36 are supported. Digits higher than 9 will be capital letters
    
    intstr:
    
    la t1, radix     #load address of radix into t1
    lb t2, 0(t1)     #load value of radix into t2
    la t1, int_width #load address of width into t1
    lb t4, 0(t1)     #load value of int_width into t4
    li t3, 1         #load current number of digits, always 1
    
    la t1, int_end   #t1=address of terminating zero in string
    addi t1, t1, -1  #t1-- to go to lowest digit
    
    digits_start:
    
    remu t0, s0, t2  #t0=remainder of the previous division
    divu s0, s0, t2  #s0=s0/t2 (divide s0 by the radix value in t2)
    
    li t5, 10        #load t5 with 10 because RISC-V does not allow constants for branches
    
    blt t0, t5, decimal_digit
    bge t0, t5, hexadecimal_digit
    
    decimal_digit:   #we go here if it is only a digit 0 to 9
    
    addi t0, t0, 0x30
    
    j save_digit
    
    hexadecimal_digit:
    addi t0, t0, -10
    addi t0, t0, 0x41
    
    save_digit:
    sb t0, 0(t1)     #store byte from t0 at address t1
    beq s0, zero, intstr_end
    addi t1, t1, -1
    addi t3, t3, 1
    j digits_start
    
    intstr_end:
    
    li t0, 0x30
    prefix_zeros:
    bge t3, t4, end_zeros
    addi t1, t1, -1
    sb t0, 0(t1) # store byte from t0 at address t1
    addi t3, t3, 1
    j prefix_zeros
    end_zeros:
    
    mv s0, t1
    
    ret
    
    # this function calls intstr to convert the s0 register into a string
    # then it uses the system specific putstr call to print the string
    # it also uses the stack to save the value of s0 and ra (return address)
    # this way, s0 is restored to the value it had before this function
    # restoring ra is required because it is modified during calls to other functions
    
    putint:
    
    addi sp, sp, -8
    sw ra, 0(sp)
    sw s0, 4(sp)
    
    jal intstr
    jal putstr
    
    lw ra, 0(sp)
    lw s0, 4(sp)
    addi sp, sp, 8
    
    ret
    
    # RISC-V does not allow constants for branches
    # Because of this fact, the RISC-V version of strint
    # requires a lot more code than the MIPS version
    # Whatever value I wanted to compare in the branch statement
    # was placed in the t5 register on the line before the conditional branch
    # Even though it is completely stupid, it has proven to work
    
    strint:
    
    la t1, radix     #load address of radix into t1
    lb t2, 0(t1)     #load value of radix into t2
    
    mv t1, s0        #copy string address from s0 to t1
    li s0, 0
    
    read_strint:
    lb t0, 0(t1)
    addi t1, t1, 1
    beq t0, zero, strint_end
    
    #if char is below '0' or above '9', it is outside the range of these and is not a digit
    li t5, 0x30
    blt t0, t5, not_digit
    li t5, 0x39
    blt t5, t0, not_digit
    
    #but if it is a digit, then correct and process the character
    is_digit:
    andi t0, t0, 0xF
    j process_char
    
    not_digit:
    #it isn't a digit, but it could be an alphabet character
    #which counts as a digit in a higher base
    
    # if char is below 'A' or above 'Z', it is outside the range of these and is not capital letter
    li t5, 0x41
    blt t0, t5, not_upper
    li t5, 0x5A
    blt t5, t0, not_upper
    
    is_upper:
    li t5, 0x41
    sub t0, t0, t5
    addi t0, t0, 10
    j process_char
    
    not_upper:
    
    # if char is below 'a' or above 'z', it is outside the range of these and is not lowercase letter
    li t5, 0x61
    blt t0, t5, not_lower
    li t5, 0x7A
    blt t5, t0, not_lower
    
    is_lower:
    li t5, 0x61
    sub t0, t0, t5
    addi t0, t0, 10
    j process_char
    
    not_lower:
    
    # if we have reached this point, result invalid and end function
    # this is only reached if the byte was not a valid digit or alphabet character
    j strint_end
    
    process_char:
    
    blt t2, t0 strint_end #;if this value is above or equal to radix, it is too high despite being a valid digit/alpha
    
    mul s0, s0, t2 # multiply s0 by the radix
    add s0, s0, t0 # add the correct value of this digit
    
    j read_strint # jump back and continue the loop if nothing has exited it
    
    strint_end:
    
    ret
    
    ###############################################################################
    # This putstr function is my most portable function for RISC-V simulators     #
    # It calculates the length of a zero terminated string before printing it     #
    # This is the same way used in my Intel Assembly programs for DOS and Linux   #
    # This function was written to operate the same in both RARS and riscemu      #
    ###############################################################################
    
    putstr:
    
    mv t1, s0                       # t1 will be used as an index register
    
    putstr_strlen_start:
    lb t0, 0(t1)                    # load byte into t0 from address of t1
    beq t0, zero, putstr_strlen_end # if t0==0, then we jump to the end of the loop.
    addi t1, t1, 1                  # go to next byte
    j putstr_strlen_start           # jump to start of the loop
    putstr_strlen_end:              
    
    li a0, 1                        # STDOUT file number
    mv a1, s0                       # address of string 
    sub a2, t1, s0                  # length of string
    li a7, 64                       # write call number
    ecall                           # environment call
    
    ret
    
    #############################################################################
    # The next four 3 functions print things to standard output                 #
    # All of them use the putstr function above to achieve the output           #
    # They use the stack to preserve the values of the s0 and t1 registers used #
    # They also use global variables in the data section                        #
    #############################################################################
    
    #the putchar function, which is named after the C language function of the same name
    #prints the lowest byte of the s0 register as a byte or character to standard output
    
    putchar:
    
    addi sp, sp, -12
    sw ra, 0(sp)
    sw s0, 4(sp)
    sw t1, 8(sp)
    
    la t1, char
    sb s0, 0(t1)
    la s0, char
    jal putstr
    
    lw ra, 0(sp)
    lw s0, 4(sp)
    lw t1, 8(sp)
    addi sp, sp, 12
    
    ret
    
    # the putspace function prints a space to standard output
    
    putspace:
    
    addi sp, sp, -8
    sw ra, 0(sp)
    sw s0, 4(sp)
    
    la s0, space
    jal putstr
    
    lw ra, 0(sp)
    lw s0, 4(sp)
    addi sp, sp, 8
    
    ret
    
    # the putline function prints a newline to standard output
    
    putline:
    
    addi sp, sp, -8
    sw ra, 0(sp)
    sw s0, 4(sp)
    
    la s0, line
    jal putstr
    
    lw ra, 0(sp)
    lw s0, 4(sp)
    addi sp, sp, 8
    
    ret
    
    ##########################################################################
    # chastdin extension functions                                           #
    #                                                                        #
    # all functions that deal with getting strings and characters from stdin #
    ##########################################################################
    
    # the getstr function will read a string into a buffer and return it
    # in the s0 register for printing with the putstr function
    # the (count) variable will also return the number of characters
    
    getstr:
    
    li t0, 0                        # use t0 register to track chars read
    la a1, buf                      # load address of buffer for read string
    li a2, 1                        # read only 1 byte for each env call
    
    getstring_chars:
    
    li a0, 0                        # STDIN file number
    li a7, 63                       # read call number
    ecall                           # environment call
    
    # Branch to label getstring_end if a0 is less than a2
    # a0 is the return value of this environment read call
    # as will be -1 on error or 1 if successful
    # because we read 1 character at a time
    
    blt a0, a2, getstring_end
    
    # if no error, test range of the last byte
    
    lb t1, 0(a1)      #load byte at address (a1) into t1 register
    
    # if t1 is less than 0x21
    # of t1 is more than 0x7E
    # branch to function end because it is outside of print range
    
    li t2, 0x21
    blt t1, t2, getstring_end
    li t2, 0x7E
    blt t2, t1, getstring_end
    
    # otherwise, proceed to read more characters
    add t0, t0, a0    # add to read counter
    addi a1, a1, 1    # add 1 to buffer pointer register a1
    j getstring_chars # unconditional jump to getstring_chars
    
    getstring_end:
    
    la t2, count       #load address of count into t2
    sw t0, 0(t2)       #store number of chars read at (count) address
    la t2, last_char   #load address of last_char into t2
    sb t1, 0(t2)       #store last byte at (last_char) address
    sb zero, 0(a1)     #store byte zero to terminate string
    la s0, buf         #return address of buf in s0 register
    
    ret
    
    
    # Short Description of strlen:
    # The strlen function gets the length of string in s0 and returns it in s0
    # This is the same algorithm used in my putstr function but is independent of an operating system.
    
    strlen:
    
    mv t1, s0                       # t1 will be used as an index register
    
    strlen_start:
    lb t0, 0(t1)                    # load byte into t0 from address of t1
    beq t0, zero, strlen_end        # if t0==0, then we jump to the end of the loop.
    addi t1, t1, 1                  # go to next byte
    j strlen_start                  # jump to start of the loop
    strlen_end:              
    
    sub s0, t1, s0                  # return length of string in s0
    
    ret
    
    
    # Short Description of strcmp:
    # strcmp compares the string at s0 to the one at s1
    # t0 returns 0 if the strings are the same and non zero if different
    # the algorithm is simple but I will explain it for those who are confused
    
    # Long Description of strcmp:
    # each byte from each string is loaded into the t0 and t1 registers
    # the bytes are compared. if they are different, then we jump to the end
    # However, if they are the same, then we check if one of them is zero
    # if it is zero, this also jumps to the end of the function
    # If neither jump took place, then we jump to the start of the loop
    # but when the function finally ends t1 will be subtracted from t0
    # this ensures that the t0 register returns zero if the final characters are the same
    # a zero result in t0 also guarantees that both strings are equal
    
    strcmp:
    
    mv a0,s0 # move pointer s0 to t0
    mv a1,s1 # move pointer s0 to t0
    
    strcmp_start:
    
    #read a byte from each string
    lb t0, 0(a0) 
    lb t1, 0(a1) 
    #if the two bytes are not equal end comparison
    bne t0, t1, strcmp_end
    
    #but if they are equal, test for zero
    #if one of them is zero, also end the loop
    beq t0, zero, strcmp_end
    
    addi a0, a0, 1                  # go to next byte
    addi a1, a1, 1                  # go to next byte
    
    j strcmp_start
    
    strcmp_end:
    
    #subtract t1 from t0
    #if t0 is still zero after the function returns
    #it means that the strings are equal
    sub t0, t0, t1
    
    ret
    

    To use this example, it is required to run the RARS Java archive and have a Java runtime installed on whatever operating system you have.

    java -jar ~/rars.jar main.s

    However complicated the RISC-V code looks to a beginner, to me it makes more sense than Java did in my experience. I have invested significant time into learning it though because I enjoyed it right from the start.

    Anyway, what the program does is keep reading input from the keyboard until the user enters “exit” as a string.

  • Chapter 14: Word of Man versus God

    After Stacy had slapped Pastor Mark, Chad was concerned, not about Mark but about the kids who had to watch this unfortunate conflict. Nonetheless, he asked his friend John to read the final Bible verses from the book of John.

    “We have only one more section from the Bible to read today, and then I will explain the entire purpose of all these verses we have read from Matthew, Luke, and John. John, I’d like you to proceed with John chapter 1, verses 1 to 18,” said Chad.

    John 1:1-18 from NET Bible


    1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.

    6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children— 13 children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.

    14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 15 John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.


    After John had finished reading, Chad explained the reason he chose these verses from the gospels and how they are all connected.

    "It may surprise you, but I noticed something for the first time in my life as I was reading through the four gospels. Although they start at different places in the story of Jesus, they all have a theme about being born differently. Matthew and Luke cover the unusual story of how Jesus was born of the virgin named Mary. The specific issue of Jesus not having a biological father because God was his father instead is most unusual.

    Another unusual thing is that John the Baptist’s birth was unusual because Zechariah and Elizabeth were old and could not have children for many years. The books of Mark and John don’t talk about the birth of Jesus or John but start with what they did as adults. In any case, it is clear that John knew who Jesus was and told everyone to be ready for him. John also knew that Jesus existed before him, even though he was conceived by Elizabeth six months prior to the angel visiting Mary and telling her she was going to be the mother of Jesus.

    Someone has to read all four gospels even to get a coherent picture of everything that happened because they start in different places and tell different details. But most importantly, I realized that the Bible is not the Word of God, but that Jesus is the Word who was with God and was also fully God. The Word became flesh, which means Jesus took a human form when he was conceived by his mother Mary after the visit from the angel.

    I can see that humans were all trying to write down the story of Jesus from their perspectives. It also appears they made an error when including the genealogy of Jesus because he was not created by human parents but, just as John said, he existed before John the Baptist did and was with God in the beginning of all things before anything was created.

    But the most amazing thing to me is that the book of John explains in verses 12 and 13 that we can become children of God by the decision of God, and it doesn’t matter who your biological parents were or when they decided to have you.

    And I wanted everyone to know that I think it is important for people to read the Bible and understand these stories, not because the Bible is God’s Word, but because it covers the life and teachings of Jesus, who is the actual Word of God. I live my life always pondering the question: “What would Jesus do?” and I thought understanding this could be the most important thing I tell you since I was asked to be part of this ministry," said Chad.