Chapter 1

Describe terms associated with computer technology.
Explain Instruction Set Architecture.
Explain computer arithmetic.
Measure system performance.
Define performance metrics.
Write code with Assembly Language using control structures and loop constructs.
Analyze the workings of Assemblers and Linkers.
Design simple logic circuits.

Course Schedule

CSC 2025 - Assembly Language & Computer Architecture

15-week lesson plan using Kip Irvine textbook with Raspberry Pi + Bob Plantz's Chapter 9 integration.

Week	Topics (Irvine Chapters & Sections)	Key Activities / Labs / Projects	Outcomes
1	Ch 1: Basic Concepts (1.1-1.4) Welcome, virtual machines, data representation, Boolean algebra	Install Visual Studio + Irvine32/64 libraries First x86-64 "Hello, world" Number base conversion exercises	1, 2
2	Ch 2: x86 Processor Architecture (all)	Diagram instruction execution cycle Compare 32-bit vs 64-bit modes Discuss real/protected/long mode	1, 2
3	Ch 3.1-3.4: Basic elements, data definition, assembling/linking, AddTwo program	Lab: Assemble-link-run cycle Write & debug AddTwo + variants	1, 6, 7
4	Ch 4.1-4.3: MOV, XCHG, ADD/SUB, NEG, data-related operators (OFFSET, PTR, etc.)	Lab: Variables, arithmetic expressions, OFFSET/SIZEOF usage	3, 6
5	Ch 4.4-4.6: Indirect & indexed addressing, arrays, JMP/LOOP, 64-bit programming	Lab: Sum integer array using indexed addressing (32-bit & 64-bit)	3, 6
6	Ch 5: Procedures (stack, PROC/CALL/RET, Irvine32 library, passing parameters)	Convert array sum to procedure Use WriteString, ReadInt, DumpRegs	6
7	Ch 6: Conditional processing (flags, CMP, TEST, Jcc, finite-state machines)	Lab: Signed-integer string validation (6.5.2) Build if-then-else and while loops in assembly	3, 6, 8
8	Midterm Exam (Chapters 1-6) + review	Pure x86-64 exam (no Pi yet)	All so far
9	Ch 7: Integer arithmetic (shifts, rotates, MUL/IMUL, DIV/IDIV, ADC/SBB)	Raspberry Pi Week 1 - Plantz Ch 9 sections 1-3 (registers, MOV, ADD, LDR/STR) Lab: Set up Pi OS 64-bit + "Hello World" via UART Port Ch 7 multiply/divide lab to AArch64 (compare MUL vs x86 MUL)	2, 3, 4, 5
10	Ch 8: Advanced procedures (stack frames, local vars, recursion, x64 calling convention)	Raspberry Pi Week 2 - Plantz Ch 9 sections 4-6 (branches, procedures, stack frames) Lab: Recursive factorial on Pi (Plantz example) + compare to x86 version Measure recursion depth with cycle counter	2, 6
11	Ch 9: Strings & arrays (MOVS/STOS/SCAS, string primitives, bubble sort, binary search)	Raspberry Pi Week 3 - Plantz Ch 9 sections 7-8 (arrays, loops, syscalls) Lab: Port bubble sort to Pi; time with CNTVCT_EL0 vs RDTSC on PC Write short report comparing cycles & code size	4, 5, 6
12	Ch 12: Floating-point (IEEE 754, FPU stack, basic instructions)	Raspberry Pi Bonus - Use ARM V registers (scalar FP) Lab: Mixed integer/FP math on Pi vs x86 SSE Optional: Simple NEON vector add	3, 4
13	Ch 10: Structures, simple macros + performance review	Lab: Define STRUCT on x86 and equivalent layout on Pi Begin final project work	6, 8
14	Review + project work time	Final project choices (must pick one): 1. Pure x86-64 Windows program (Irvine-style) 2. Bare-metal Pi program using Plantz templates (e.g., LED Game of Life) 3. Hybrid benchmark comparing same algorithm on x86-64 vs AArch64	1-8
15	Final demos & course wrap-up	Live demos (Pi projects on real hardware highly encouraged) Submit code + short reflection on x86 vs ARM differences	All outcomes

Grading Breakdown (Subject to Change)

Weeks 1-8 labs & midterm: 45%
Weeks 9-12 Pi labs: 20%
Weeks 13-15 Final project (x86 or Pi or hybrid): 20%
Attendance/Participation/reflections: 15%

Key Highlights

Weeks 1-8: Focus on x86-64 assembly fundamentals using Kip Irvine textbook
Weeks 9-12: Introduction to ARM assembly on Raspberry Pi using Bob Plantz's materials
Weeks 13-15: Integration and comparison projects between x86 and ARM architectures
Midterm: After Week 8, covering pure x86-64 content
Final Project: Choice of x86-only, Pi-only, or comparative analysis projects