Assembly is used for?

Reply

Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 28
Reputation: KalebG is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 0
KalebG's Avatar
KalebG KalebG is offline Offline
Light Poster

Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #1
Jan 15th, 2007
I've been searching around the site, looking at the different types of coding, and come accross Assembly. This is one of the most complicating code ive seen yet and was just wondering what is it's most common use?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 521
Reputation: pty is on a distinguished road 
Solved Threads: 37
pty's Avatar
pty pty is offline Offline
Posting Pro

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #2
Jan 15th, 2007
Originally Posted by KalebG View Post
I've been searching around the site, looking at the different types of coding, and come accross Assembly. This is one of the most complicating code ive seen yet and was just wondering what is it's most common use?
Assembly language is a very low level language.

It is very fast but very complex (therefore generally takes longer to write) and these days tends to be used where massive optimisation is required (a number-crunching algorithm) or in drivers and stuff where it has to interact directly with hardware.
Note to self... pocket cup
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 28
Reputation: KalebG is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 0
KalebG's Avatar
KalebG KalebG is offline Offline
Light Poster

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #3
Jan 15th, 2007
Originally Posted by pty View Post
Assembly language is a very low level language.

It is very fast but very complex (therefore generally takes longer to write) and these days tends to be used where massive optimisation is required (a number-crunching algorithm) or in drivers and stuff where it has to interact directly with hardware.
Ah, ok thanks.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 15
Reputation: akyprian is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 0
akyprian akyprian is offline Offline
Newbie Poster

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #4
Jan 30th, 2007
This is completely wrong! Assembly language is very easy and can be used to develop any kind of application. Have a look at this article and visit the WinAsm Studio site for a lot of free open source tools written in Assembly.

Regards,

Antonis Kyprianou
Last edited by akyprian; Jan 30th, 2007 at 4:08 am.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 49
Reputation: Purple Avenger is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 0
Purple Avenger Purple Avenger is offline Offline
Light Poster

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #5
Jan 30th, 2007
The Space Shuttle's cockpit displays/keypad processors (an IBM SP0) were programmed in assembler as was its Heads Up Display(HUD) symbology processor (Hughs A10INS processor)

All of the kernel (and the vast majority of stock drivers and TSR's) for plain old DOS were written in assembler too.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 134
Reputation: mathematician is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 3
mathematician mathematician is offline Offline
Junior Poster

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #6
Jan 30th, 2007
True, it can be used to develop any kind of application, but what would be the point when a high or middle level language can do the job just as well (and more quickly)?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 15
Reputation: akyprian is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 0
akyprian akyprian is offline Offline
Newbie Poster

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #7
Jan 31st, 2007
Assembly Language can produce small and very fast applications, no bloat, no dependencies (huge dll's), VERY easy to develop and above all, I can do anything I want without facing any HLL limitations.

Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), for example, looks VERY similar to C code and is no harder to learn. I would say that it is easier.

Regards,

Antonis
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 134
Reputation: mathematician is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 3
mathematician mathematician is offline Offline
Junior Poster

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #8
Jan 31st, 2007
Originally Posted by akyprian View Post
Assembly Language can produce small and very fast applications, no bloat, no dependencies (huge dll's), VERY easy to develop and above all, I can do anything I want without facing any HLL limitations.

Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM), for example, looks VERY similar to C code and is no harder to learn. I would say that it is easier.

Regards,

Antonis

There is nothing wrong with the speed of today's optimising compilers. Entire operating systems are written in C, including both Windows and Linux - 95% of the source code anyway. What are the HLL limitations nowadays? Operating system API's are written with C in mind, and directly programming the hardware is out of the question in multi-tasking environments such as Windows and Linux.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,127
Reputation: jbennet is a name known to all jbennet is a name known to all jbennet is a name known to all jbennet is a name known to all jbennet is a name known to all jbennet is a name known to all 
Solved Threads: 528
Moderator
Featured Poster
jbennet's Avatar
jbennet jbennet is offline Offline
Moderator

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #9
Jan 31st, 2007
Assembly is very fast. common uses are bootloaders, compilers, embedded systems
If i am helpful, please give me reputation points.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 15
Reputation: akyprian is an unknown quantity at this point 
Solved Threads: 0
akyprian akyprian is offline Offline
Newbie Poster

Re: Assembly is used for?

 
0
  #10
Jan 31st, 2007
Originally Posted by mathematician View Post
There is nothing wrong with the speed of today's optimising compilers.
No compiler can produce faster binaries than what assembly can do (written correctly offcourse)

Entire operating systems are written in C, including both Windows and Linux - 95% of the source code anyway.
still remains a 5%. why should I use C and assembly while I can be equally productive using assembly only.

What are the HLL limitations nowadays?
Try to write a multithreaded application in VB6 or lower (I don't know about other versions, I never touched any), or a debugger, a large file edit control or ... You 'll fail. Try to use pointers with VB. You 'll be wasting your time (although it is possible).



Operating system API's are written with C in mind
You can call equally easily these API's with Assembly (and written correctly, the binary WILL be faster)

and directly programming the hardware is out of the question in multi-tasking environments such as Windows and Linux.
Although I don't usually do this kind of stuff, why not?

Regards,

Antonis
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message  
Reply

This thread is more than three months old.
Perhaps start a new thread instead?
Message:


Thread Tools Search this Thread



About Us | Contact Us | Advertise | DaniWeb | Acceptable Use Policy | RSS Feed

©2003 - 2009 DaniWeb® LLC