ASSEMBLER

WHAT IS ASSEMBLER?
An assembler is a program that converts an assembly level language code (also called as mnemonic code) into machine language code and provides necessary information for the loader to load the programme.

Assembler languages-structure
<Label> <Mnemomic> <Operand> Comments
Label
symbolic labeling of an assembler address (command address at Machine level)

Mnemomic
Symbolic description of an operation

Operands
Contains of variables or addresses if necessary

Comments
ignored by assembler used by humans to document/understand programs tips for useful comments:
as decrement R1 as in accumulate product in R6

TYPES OF STATEMENT OF ASSEMBLER

STATEMENTS

IMPERATIVE STATEMENTS

DECLARATIVE STATEMENT

ASSEMBLER DIRECTIVE STATEMENTS

ASSEMBLER PROCESS
ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAM PASS1 SYMBOL TABLE PASS2 EXECUTABLE IMAGE

First Pass: scan program file find all labels and calculate the corresponding addresses; this is called the symbol table Second Pass: convert instructions to machine language, using information from symbol table

OVERVIEW PASS1

PASS 2 Overview: Evaluate Fields and Generate Code.

Assemblers functions
Convert mnemonic operation codes to their machine language equivalents Convert symbolic operands to their equivalent machine addresses . Build the machine instructions in the proper format Convert the data constants to internal machine representations Write the object program and the assembly listing

Loading
Loading is the process of copying an executable image into memory.
more sophisticated loaders are able to relocate images to fit into available memory must readjust branch targets, load/store addresses

Linking
Linking is the process of resolving symbols between independent object files.
suppose we define a symbol in one module, and want to use it in another some notation, such as .EXTERNAL, is used to tell assembler that a symbol is defined in another module linker will search symbol tables of other modules to resolve symbols and complete code generation before loading

DATABASES USED BY PASS1 AND PASS2

Assembler Design
Machine Dependent Assembler Features
instruction formats and addressing modes program relocation

Machine Independent Assembler Features

literals symbol-defining statements expressions program blocks control sections and program linking

ADVANTAGES
It used mnemonics instead used bits. Address are symbolic not absolute. Reading / understand program easily. Introduction to data is easier.

DISADVANTAGES
Working with assembler takes a little more time, through not as much as people are wont to think. Assembler offers more facilities for structuring, even though lacking craftsmanship will bring on maintenance problems more easily. In assembler one has more possibilities for solving or preventing performance problems. It takes some extra effort to find or train professionals.