Assembly x64 in easy steps: Modern coding for MASM, SSE & AVX

by Mike McGrath

Overview

Assembly x64 Programming in easy steps shows how to write code to create your own computer programs. It contains separate chapters demonstrating how to store and manipulate data in 64-bit registers, how to control program flow, and how to create reusable blocks of code in program functions. It includes demonstrations of parallel processing with 128-bit Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) and 256-bit Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX).

Assembly x64 Programming in easy steps has an easy-to-follow style that will appeal to anyone who wants to begin programming in modern x64 Assembly language on Windows. The code in the listed steps within the book is color-coded, making it easier for beginners to grasp. There are complete step-by-step example programs that demonstrate each aspect of coding, together with screenshots that illustrate the actual output when each program is executed.

Includes free, downloadable source code to get you started straightaway!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840789522
Publisher:	In Easy Steps Limited
Publication date:	11/09/2021
Series:	In Easy Steps
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.38(w) x 8.88(h) x 0.39(d)

About the Author

Mike McGrath now lives in South-east Europe, on the sun-kissed shores of the Aegean Sea. Mike gained his extensive knowledge of computer languages while working as a developer contracting to companies around the world. His interests include coins of ancient Greece, dining-out with friends, and the ongoing evolution of the world wide web.

Table of Contents

1 Beginning Basics 7

Introducing Assembly 8

Inspecting Architecture 10

Addressing Registers 12

Numbering Systems 14

Signing Numbers 16

Storing Characters 17

Using Boolean Logic 18

Summary 20

2 Getting Started 21

Installing Visual Studio 22

Exploring the IDE 24

Creating a MASM Template 26

Configuring the Linker 28

Adding a Source Code File 30

Moving Data into Storage 32

Stepping into Instructions 34

Fixing Constant Values 36

Exchanging Data 38

Summary 40

3 Performing Arithmetic 41

Adding & Subtracting 42

Incrementing & Negating 44

Multiplying & Dividing 46

Multiplying Signed Numbers 48

Dividing Signed Numbers 50

Modifying Bits 52

Shifting Bits 54

Rotating Bits 56

Summary 58

4 Directing Flow 59

Observing Flags 60

Making Unconditional Jumps 62

Testing Bit Values 64

Making Conditional Jumps 66

Comparing Values 68

Comparing Signed Values 70

Looping Structures 72

Summary 74

5 Addressing Options 75

Addressing Modes 76

Addressing by Offset 78

Addressing by Order 80

Addressing Source Index 82

Addressing Destination Index 84

Summary 86

6 Handling Strings 87

Moving Characters 88

Storing Contents 90

Loading Contents 92

Scanning Strings 94

Comparing Strings 96

Summary 98

7 Building Blocks 99

Stacking Items 100

Calling Procedures 102

Passing Register Arguments 104

Passing Stack Arguments 106

Using Local Scope 108

Calling Recursively 110

Summary 112

8 Expanding Macros 113

Injecting Text Items 114

Adding Parameters 116

Making Decisions 118

Repeating Loops 120

Iterating Loops 122

Attaching Labels 124

Returning Values 126

Varying Argument List 127

Summary 128

9 Floating Points 129

Streaming Extensions 130

Packing Lanes 132

Aligning Data 134

Exacting Precision 136

Handling Scalars 138

Handling Arrays 140

Saturating Ranges 142

Using Specials 144

Managing Vectors 146

Fusing Operations 148

Summary 150

10 Calling Windows 151

Calling Convention 152

Writing Output 154

Reading Input 156

Grabbing File Handles 158

Creating Files 160

Writing Files 162

Reading Files 164

Opening Dialogs 166

Summary 168

11 Incorporating Code 169

Splitting Code 170

Making Code Libraries 172

Calling Assembly Code 174

Timing Assembly Speed 176

Debugging Code 178

Embedding Intrinsic Code 180

Running SSE Intrinsics 182

Running AVX Intrinsics 184

Summary 186

Index 187