Tag: technology

  • What are the reasons why some people say that Assembly is not worth learning, even though it is a fundamental part of computers?

    People say it is not worth learning because it is not a good strategy for making money. If, however, your goal is gaining a better understanding of how computers work, then clearly it is “worth it” to learn Assembly. Many people consider it a waste of time because they can write software faster in C or C++ than they could in Assembly.

    In programming, you can either spend a lot of time writing software that runs fast, or you can write it fast and then let the compiler optimize it and expect people to run it on faster machines. There is always a tradeoff between quality work and the time limits imposed by the industry. But when you are a hobbyist, you have no time limit and can do what you like.

    People are still learning old Assembly languages for machines that no longer exist for pure joy. I will always fondly remember the 6502 as a relic of the past that was simple to understand and powered the Nintendo Entertainment System.

    Intel Assembly will serve you well because most desktop and laptop PCs are still using 32-bit and 64-bit descendants of the Intel 8086 CPU.

    ARM assembly may interest you if you are using special Linux or Mac laptops that use ARM chips for their lower power consumption compared to Intel.

    RISC-V Assembly is one of the newer architectures, but it is an open standard, and some people believe it will replace Intel and ARM one day because of its lower cost to produce, as it doesn’t require licensing fees paid to the makers of Intel or ARM.

    Of all these, I have the most experience with Intel Assembly, and I have written books on programming using Assembly for DOS and Linux. If you are interested, I can help you get started.

  • chastdin calculator for RISC-V Assembly

    I really did it this time. I translated all of my Intel Assembly functions into RISC-V Assembly and rebuilt my calculator. It works flawlessly running under the rars simulator.

    To run this example, you need the RARS java archive and a java runtime environment installed on your machine.

    You can get RARS here:

    https://github.com/rarsm/rars

    However, once you do, you can run my program with a command like the following.

    java -jar ~/rars.jar main.s
    
    # 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 getstr 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 "calculator for RISC-V Assembly\n"
    string1: .asciz "chastdin (Chastity's STanDard INput) extension\n\n"
    
    string_add: .asciz "add"
    string_sub: .asciz "sub"
    string_mul: .asciz "mul"
    string_div: .asciz "div"
    string_rem: .asciz "rem"
    string_setradix: .asciz "setradix"
    
    string_help: .asciz "help"
    string_exit: .asciz "exit"
    string_putstack: .asciz "?"
    string_clear: .asciz "clear"
    
    string_prompt: .asciz "->"
    
    string_err: .asciz "Error: invalid number or command: "
    string_err1: .asciz "Error: need one number on stack for command: "
    string_err2: .asciz "Error: need two numbers on stack for command: "
    
    chastdin_help: .ascii "chastdin is a stack based interactive calculator\n"
                  .ascii "that reads stdin for numbers and commands.\n"
                  .ascii "Numbers are pushed on the stack for all math.\n"
                  .ascii "Each line can contain multiple numbers or commands.\n\n"
                  .ascii "Arithmetic commands are add,sub,mul,div,rem\n"
                  .ascii "The exit command ends the program\n"
                  .ascii "The ? command prints the entire stack\n"
                  .asciz "The setradix command changes the radix for input and output\n"
    
    .align 2  # Aligns the next item to a 4-byte (2^2) word boundary
    chastack: .space 0x400 #reserve space for RPN calculator stack
    
    .text
    
    la s0, string0
    jal putstr
    
    # change radix for this program
    li t0, 10    #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
    
    la s11, chastack #s11 will be used as the virtual stack pointer for this program
    
    #print the help message at the beginning of the program
    la s0, chastdin_help
    jal putstr
    
    #print the initial arrow prompt
    la s0, string_prompt
    jal putstr
    
    main_loop:
    
    la t1, last_char #load address of last_char
    lb t0, 0(t1)     #get the last character
    
    #show the arrow indicating we wait for the user to enter something
    #but only show it when the last character is a newline
    #otherwise it will print too many if multiple commands were entered on the same line
    li t1, 0xA
    bne t0, t1, skip_prompt
    la s0, string_prompt
    jal putstr
    skip_prompt:
    
    jal getstr  # read the string from standard input
    
    #load the length of string just entered from (count)
    la t1, count            #load address of count into t1
    lw t0, 0(t1)            #load number of chars read at (count) address
    beq t0, zero, main_loop #restart main_loop on empty string
    
    #jal putline # print extra line for readability
    #jal putstr # echo it to standard output
    #jal putline
    
    #s0 already contains string that was input
    #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
    
    la s1, string_putstack
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_putstack
    
    la s1, string_clear
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_clear
    
    la s1, string_help
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_help
    
    #next we begin checking for actual math commands of arithmetic
    
    la s1, string_add
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_add
    
    la s1, string_sub
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_sub
    
    la s1, string_mul
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_mul
    
    la s1, string_div
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_div
    
    la s1, string_rem
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_rem
    
    la s1, string_setradix
    jal strcmp
    beq t0, zero, command_setradix
    
    
    #if the last string entered was not exit or a math command then
    #The default command is to turn the argument into a number and push to stack
    command_num:
    
    mv s1, s0              #back up this string address to s1 register
    jal strint             #try to get a number from the string pointed to by s0 register
    beq a0, zero, num_push #branch to number push if zero errors in integer string
    
    la s0, string_err    #load error message
    jal putstr           #print error message
    mv s0, s1            #load original command string
    jal putstr           #print which command failed
    jal putline
    j num_push_end       #skip the push because this can't be used
    
    num_push:            #push the number to the fake stack
    addi s11, s11, 4     #increment the pointer by the size of the native int for this mode
    sw s0, 0(s11)        #store the value we converted from the string with strint to this stack space
    num_push_end:
    j main_loop          #once value is pushed, continue the program
    
    exit:
    li a0, 0  #status
    li a7, 93 #exit
    ecall     #environment call
    
    #################################################################################
    # The following functions are used in the calculator program                    #
    # The all jump back to the main_loop after they are done                        #
    #                                                                               #
    #################################################################################
    
    #check if the stack has enough space for the last command
    #this will print an error if less than two numbers were on the stack
    #when using one of the math commands above
    
    memory_check:
    
    la s10, chastack        #load s10 with chastack address for branch comparison
    blt s10, s11, memory_ok # if s10 is less than s11, no errors
    
    print_stack_error:   #otherwise we print error message
    la s0, string_err2   #get error message for less than 2 numbers on stack
    jal putstr           #print error message
    mv s0, s1            #get name of the command used
    jal putstr           #print which command failed
    jal putline
    addi s11, s11, 4     #increment the pointer to what it was before the failed command
    j main_loop          #now go back to main loop after error was printed
    
    memory_ok:
    sw zero, 4(sp)       #if no error, erase the old top of stack by storing zero
    j main_loop          #and continue main_loop as normal
    
    
    command_putstack: #print all numbers on the stack
    la s9, chastack #load s9 with address of chastack
    mv s10, s11     #copy value of s11 to s10
    command_putstack_loop:
    
    #is s10 equal to the address of stack start?
    #if so, end the putstack loop
    beq s9, s10 command_putstack_end
    lw s0, 0(s10) #load the word at s10 into s0 for printing integer 
    addi s10, s10, -4 #subtract the word size from this temp stack index
    jal putint
    jal putline
    j command_putstack_loop
    command_putstack_end:
    j main_loop
    
    
    
    
    command_clear: #erase all numbers on the stack
    la s9, chastack #load s9 with address of chastack
    command_clear_loop:
    
    #is s11 equal to the address of stack start?
    #if so, end the clear loop
    beq s9, s11 command_clear_end
    sw zero, 0(s11) #store zero into the word at 0(s11) to erase it
    addi s11, s11, -4 #subtract the word size from this temp stack index
    j command_clear_loop
    command_clear_end:
    j main_loop
    
    
    command_help:
    la s0, chastdin_help
    jal putstr
    j main_loop
    
    #add number on top of stack to the one below it
    command_add:
    lw t1, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    addi s11, s11, -4 #subtract the word size from s11
    lw t0, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    add t0, t0, t1    #t0 = t0 + t1
    sw t0, 0(s11)     #save the word at this chastack address
    j memory_check    #check stack for errors after this command
    
    #add number on top of stack to the one below it
    command_sub:
    lw t1, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    addi s11, s11, -4 #subtract the word size from s11
    lw t0, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    sub t0, t0, t1    #t0 = t0 - t1
    sw t0, 0(s11)     #save the word at this chastack address
    j memory_check    #check stack for errors after this command
    
    #mul number on top of stack to the one below it
    command_mul:
    lw t1, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    addi s11, s11, -4 #subtract the word size from s11
    lw t0, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    mul t0, t0, t1    #t0 = t0 * t1
    sw t0, 0(s11)     #save the word at this chastack address
    j memory_check    #check stack for errors after this command
    
    #divide and store quotient on stack
    command_div:
    lw t1, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    addi s11, s11, -4 #subtract the word size from s11
    lw t0, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    divu t0, t0, t1    #t0 = t0 / t1
    sw t0, 0(s11)     #save the word at this chastack address
    j memory_check    #check stack for errors after this command
    
    #divide and store remainder on stack
    command_rem:
    lw t1, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    addi s11, s11, -4 #subtract the word size from s11
    lw t0, 0(s11)     #load the word at this chastack address
    remu t0, t0, t1   #t0 = t0 % t1
    sw t0, 0(s11)     #save the word at this chastack address
    j memory_check    #check stack for errors after this command
    
    
    
    #pop top of stack and set the current radix to it
    #it has error checking and leaves the radix as is
    #unless at least one number is on the stack
    command_setradix:
    
    
    la s10, chastack     #load s10 with chastack address for branch comparison
    ble s11, s10, change_radix_no # if s11 is less than or equal to chastack address, branch to radix error
    change_radix_yes:
    lw t0, 0(s11)        #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
    sw zero, 0(s11)      #erase the old top of stack by storing zero
    addi s11, s11, -4
    j main_loop          #and continue main_loop as normal
    change_radix_no:
    la s0,string_err1    #get error message for less than 1 numbers on stack
    jal putstr           #print error message
    mv s0, s1            #get name of the command used
    jal putstr           #print which command failed
    jal putline
    
    addi s11, s11, 4     #increment the pointer to what it was before the failed command
    j main_loop          #now go back to main loop after error was printed
    
    #################################################################################
    # 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
    
    # strint takes the string at address pointed to by s0 register
    # and then loads the s0 register with an integer equivalent value
    # the a0 register is returned with the number of errors that happened
    # programs can use this to find if a user entered a valid number
    # number is intepreted according to the current radix
    
    strint:
    
    li a0, 0         #load zero into register for error counting
    
    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_error
    
    process_char:
    
    blt t2, t0 strint_end_error #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_error:  #we jump here if there was an error with one of the chars
    addi a0, a0, 1 #add 1 to the a0 register indicating an error occurred
    
    strint_end: #we jump here when no errors happened
    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 from stdin
    # 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
    
    getstr_chars:
    
    li a0, 0                        # STDIN file number
    li a7, 63                       # read call number
    ecall                           # environment call
    
    # Branch to label getstr_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, getstr_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
    # or t1 is more than 0x7E
    # branch to function end because it is outside of print range
    
    li t2, 0x21
    blt t1, t2, getstr_end
    li t2, 0x7E
    blt t2, t1, getstr_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 getstr_chars # unconditional jump to getstr_chars
    
    getstr_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
    
    
    
    
    # the getline function will read a string into a buffer from stdin
    # and return it in the s0 register for printing with the putstr function
    # the (count) variable will also return the number of characters
    # this function will get the whole line including spaces
    
    getline:
    
    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
    
    getline_chars:
    
    li a0, 0                        # STDIN file number
    li a7, 63                       # read call number
    ecall                           # environment call
    
    # Branch to label getline_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, getline_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 0x20
    # or t1 is more than 0x7E
    # branch to function end because it is outside of print range
    
    li t2, 0x20
    blt t1, t2, getline_end
    li t2, 0x7E
    blt t2, t1, getline_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 getline_chars # unconditional jump to getline_chars
    
    getline_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 a0
    mv a1, s1 # move pointer s1 to a1
    
    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
    
    
  • 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.

  • chastdin for FreeBASIC

    I have rewritten my chastdin program (the stack based calculator that reads keyboard input from standard input) into the FreeBASIC programming language. I did it as an exercise to prepare myself for a future book on the BASIC programming language which was my first programming language. FreeBASIC is compatible with QBASIC which is what I first started on. Luckily, BASIC is not so different from C but I had to spend a lot of time on the documentation to refresh my memory in how I used to do things with it.

    Eventually I would like to make a GUI version of this command line calculator. I am trying to take baby steps in working my way into programs that the average person would use. However, command line utilities are still the easiest to build and that is an acceptable place to start.

    main.bas

    #include "chastelib.bi"
    #include "chastdin.bi"
    
    dim shared as integer chastack(256)
    dim shared as integer csi=0 'Chastity's Stack Index
    
    radix=10
    
    dim as integer a,b
    dim shared as string s
    
    sub help()
    ?  "chastdin is a stack based interactive calculator"
    ?  "Numbers are pushed on the stack and commands can do math."
    ?  "It is a fork of chastack that reads from stdin instead of arguments."
    ?  "Each line can contain multiple numbers or commands."
    ?
    ?  "Math commands are add,sub,mul,div,rem"
    ?  "And use the top two stack numbers for their operations"
    ?
    ?  "The setradix command uses the top of stack as the new radix"
    ?  "The exit command ends the program"
    ?  "The ? command prints the entire stack"
    ?
    end sub
    
    sub stack_check()
     if csi>0 then
      chastack(csi+1)=0 /'erase old top of stack because command was successful'/
     else
      print "Error: two numbers required for command: ";s
      csi+=1 /'increment the pointer to what it was before the failed command'/
     end if
    end sub
    
    help():
    
    while s<>"exit"
    
    s=""
    
     s=getstr() 'read and ignore empty strings
    
    'print entire stack
    if s="?" or s="print" then
     b=csi
     while csi>0
      print intstr(chastack(csi))
      csi-=1
     wend
     csi=b
    
    elseif s="exit" then
    exit while
    
    elseif s="help" then
    help()
    
    elseif s="setradix" then
     if csi>0 then
     radix=chastack(csi)
     chastack(csi)=0
     csi-=1
     else
      print "Error: need one number on stack for command: ";s
     end if
    
    elseif s="add" then
    b=chastack(csi)
    csi-=1
    a=chastack(csi)
    a+=b
    chastack(csi)=a
    stack_check()
    
    elseif s="sub" then
    b=chastack(csi)
    csi-=1
    a=chastack(csi)
    a-=b
    chastack(csi)=a
    stack_check()
    
    elseif s="mul" then
    b=chastack(csi)
    csi-=1
    a=chastack(csi)
    a*=b
    chastack(csi)=a
    stack_check()
    
    elseif s="div" then
    b=chastack(csi)
    csi-=1
    a=chastack(csi)
    a\=b
    chastack(csi)=a
    stack_check()
    
    elseif s="rem" then
    b=chastack(csi)
    csi-=1
    a=chastack(csi)
    a=a mod b
    chastack(csi)=a
    stack_check()
    
    else
    
    'try to interpret string as a number if not empty
     a=strint(s)
     if strint_errors<>0 or len(s)=0 then
     'print s;" cannot be added to the stack because it is not a valid number"
     else
     csi+=1
     chastack(csi)=a
     print intstr(a);" was added to the stack"
     end if
    
    end if
    
    wend
    
    /'
     This is a FreeBASIC program.
    
     compile and run as:
    
     fbc main.bas && ./main
    '/
    
    

    chastelib.bi

    /'
     global variables to define radix and formatting
     for the intstr function
    '/
    dim shared as integer radix=2
    dim shared as integer int_width=1
    
    /'
     translation of intstr function for FreeBASIC
     by original C programmer Chastity White Rose
    '/
    function intstr(i as uinteger) as string
     dim as string s=""
     dim as integer w=0
     dim as byte c
    
     while i<>0 or w<int_width 
    
      c=i mod radix                  
      i\=radix                     
    
      if c<10 then 
      c+=48
      else
      c+=55
      end if
    
      s=chr(c)+s
    
      w+=1                     
     wend
    
    return s
    end function
    
    /'
     global variable for error detection in strint function
     this variable will be zero if last string was a number
    '/
    dim shared as integer strint_errors=0
    
    /'
     translation of strint function for FreeBASIC
     by original C programmer Chastity White Rose
    '/
    function strint(s as string) as uinteger
    dim as uinteger i=0
    dim as integer x=0,y=len(s)
    dim as byte c
    
    strint_errors = 0 /' clear errors '/
    
    while x<y
    
     /' read digit from string '/
     c=s[x]
    
     /' 0 to 9 '/
     if c >= 48 and c <= 57 then
     c-=48
     /' A to Z '/
     elseif c >= 65 and c <= 90 then
     c-=65
     c+=10
     /' a to z '/
     elseif c >= 97 and c <= 122 then
     c-=97
     c+=10
     /' whitespace '/
     elseif c >= 0 and c <= 32 then
      exit while /' exit correctly at string end '/
     else
      strint_errors+=1
      print "Error: ";chr(s[x]);" is not an alphanumeric character!"
      exit while /' exit at invalid character '/
     end if
    
     if c>=radix then
      strint_errors+=1
      print "Error: ";chr(s[x]);" is not a valid character for radix ";radix
      exit while /' exit at digit wrong for radix '/
     end if
    
     /'multiply by radix then add digit'/
     i*=radix
     i+=c
    
    x+=1
    wend
    
    return i
    end function
    

    chastdin.bi

    dim shared as string stdin_buf
    dim shared as integer stdin_buf_index
    dim shared as integer stdin_buf_length=0
    
    function getstr() as string
    dim as string s=""         'create empty string
    dim as byte c              'temporary byte/char variable
    
    /'
    this section gets a line of text
    if the length of the string/buffer is 0
    '/
    
    if stdin_buf_length=0 then      'check if there are characters in the buf
    input "-> ",stdin_buf           'if not, read a line of text
    stdin_buf_index=0               'set index to zero
    stdin_buf_length=len(stdin_buf) 'set the length
    end if
    
    /'
    regardless of whether input was added above
    or if it still had bytes from the last input
    we then extract characters one at a time into the
    substring s to be returned from the function
    '/
    
    while stdin_buf_index<stdin_buf_length
    c=stdin_buf[stdin_buf_index]
    stdin_buf_index+=1
    if(c>=33) and (c<=126) then
    s=s+chr(c)
    else
    exit while
    endif
    wend
    
    /'
    if the index matches the length of buffer
    set length to zero so that more will be read
    next time this function is called
    '/
    
    if stdin_buf_index=stdin_buf_length then
    stdin_buf_length=0
    end if
    
    return s
    end function
    
    /'
    the getline function always gets an entire line of text
    I don't really need it but it is here as a reminder of
    how to use the input statement in FreeBASIC
    '/
    
    function getline() as string
    dim as string s=""
    input "-> ",stdin_buf
    s=stdin_buf
    return s
    end function
    

  • chastelib for Pascal Programming Language

    I managed to hack my four functions from chastelib into the Pascal programming language. This program includes the functions and the test suite which works just like the C version. The code is a bit more complex than the C version because strings and characters are handled very differently than they are in the C programming language. The strint function was the hardest to write but it seems to be working according to the standards I require.

    I am doing this for education and possibly a future book on old programming languages. Pascal is nice but I will also be studying BASIC again.

    program chastelib;
    
    const
     string0='Official test suite for the Pascal version of chastelib.'#10;
    
    var //this is the global variable section
     a:integer;
     b:integer;
     
     radix:integer;       //current radix being used
     int_width:integer=1; //global integer width
     strint_errors:integer=0; //error result for strint function
    
    (*
    A function to print a string using Pascal's write function.
    *)
    procedure putstr(s:string);
    begin
     write(s);
    end;
    
    (*
     a function to return a string form of an integer
     using the global radix variable
    *)
    function intstr(i:integer):string;
    var
     s:string=''; //string that will be built and returned from this function
     width:integer=0; //the current width
     c:integer;
     ch:char;
    begin
     while (i>0) or (width<int_width) do
     begin
    
      c:=i mod radix; //get integer division modulus or remainder
      i:=i div radix; //get integer division quotient
    
      (*turn remainder c into character ch for digit in this radix*)
      if c<10 then
      begin
       ch:=chr(c+48);
      end
      else
      begin
       ch:=chr(c+55);
      end;
    
       s:=ch+s; //prefix the string with this character
       width+=1;
    
     end;
    
     intstr:=s; //return this string from the function
    
    end;
    
    (*use both putstr and intstr to print an integer*)
    procedure putint(i:integer);
    begin
     putstr(intstr(i));
    end;
    
    (*
    Because characters and integers are separate types in Pascal,
    it is required to get the ASCII value of characters in the string
    for the strint function so I can do the math the same way
    as I did in the C version of the function.
    *)
    
    function strint(s:string):integer;
    var
     i:integer=0; //integer that will be built and returned from this function
     x:integer=1; //index used to scan forward through the string
     c:integer=0;
    begin
     strint_errors := 0; (*set zero errors before we parse the string*)
     if (radix<2) or (radix>36 ) then
     begin
      strint_errors+=1;
      writeln('Error: radix ',radix,' is out of range!');
     end;
     while(x<=length(s)) do
     begin
      c:=ord(s[x]);
      if (c>=ord('0')) and (c<=ord('9')) then 
      begin
       c-=ord('0')
      end
      else if (c>=ord('A')) and (c<=ord('Z')) then
      begin
       c-=ord('A');
       c+=10;
      end
      else if (c>=ord('a')) and (c<=ord('z')) then
      begin
       c-=ord('a');
       c+=10;
      end
      
      else if (c < $21 ) then
      begin
       break; (*end loop because we have found whitespace*)
      end
      
      else
      begin
       strint_errors+=1;
       writeln('Error: ',s[x],' is not an alphanumeric character!');break;
      end;
      
      if(c>=radix) then
      begin
       strint_errors+=1;
       writeln('Error: ',s[x],' is not a valid character for radix ',radix);
       break;
      end;
      
      i*=radix; //multiply by the radix
      i+=c;     //add the digit from the character processed
    
      x:=x+1;
     end;
     strint:=i;
    end;
    
    
    
    
    begin
     radix:=16; //set the radix used by both intstr and strint functions
    
     a:=0;
     b:=strint('100');
    
     putstr(string0);
    
     while a<b do
     begin
      radix:=2;
      int_width:=8;
      putint(a);
      putstr(' ');
      radix:=16;
      int_width:=2;
      putint(a);
      putstr(' ');
      radix:=10;
      int_width:=3;
      putint(a);
    
      if (a>=$20) and (a<=$7E) then
      begin
       putstr(' ');
       putstr(chr(a));
      end;
    
      putstr(#10);
      a+=1;
     end;
     
     putstr(string0);
    
    end.
    
    (*
     fpc main.pas && ./main
    *)