BSE

Computer Architecture

LAB. 1:
INTRODUCTION TO ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE & DEBUG
Objectives:
1.
2.

Familiarity with environment of lab

Introduction to assembly language

Introduction:
Assembly Language:
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors,
microcontrollers, and other programmable devices in which each statement corresponds to a single
machine language instruction. An assembly language is specific to certain computer architecture,
in contrast to most high-level programming languages, which may be more portable.
This experiment introduces the student to assembly language programming. In order to illustrate
the basic concepts of assembly language programming a new environment NASM is used as a tool
to develop assembly programs.
Assembly Language uses 'mnemonic codes' or 'symbols'. Instead of remembering the exact
memory locations where data and instructions are stored, symbolic memory addresses are used for
data.
Debugger:
The DOS Debug program is an example of a simple debugger that comes with MS-DOS. Hence, it is
available on any PC. It was initially designed to give the user the capability to trace logical errors in
executable files. It allows the user to take an existing executable file and unassembled it, i.e. convert it to
assembly language. Also, it allows the user to write assembly language instruction directly, and the convert
them to machine language. The program is simple and easy to use, but offers limited capabilities, which
make it unsuitable for serious Assembly language programming.
Below, are summarized the basic DOS-Debugger commands.

Fatima Jinnah Women University

BSE

Computer Architecture

Table 1.1: Common DOS Debug Commands

Fatima Jinnah Women University

BSE

COMMAND

Computer Architecture

DESCRIPTION with example

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Fatima Jinnah Women University