Customer Reviews (3)

Teach yourself OS/390 and z/OS Assembler
Although originally publisched more than 20 years ago, this is still the best textbook on the subject. With access to a S/390 system you can start writing OS/390 assembler programs with essentilally no outside assistance.

The University of Leipzig, Germany, offers students free access to an OS/390 system. Contact http://jedi.informatik.uni-leipzig.de and use Kudlicks book to become an assembler expert. Also note, that of all systems available, S/390 is by far the easiest to program in assembler.

Excellent reference book
I was fortunate enough to have Dr. Michael Kudlick for several undergraduate computer science classes at the University of San Francisco.He is a wonderful teacher, and a wonderful writer!!This book is a greatteaching and reference tool.It is clear and concise ... just what I'dexpect fromDr. Kudlick.

Great Text/Reference for IBM Mainframe Assembler - The bible
Of severial books for the IBM mainframe's assembler this is the one our group at work likes the best.We share 3 copies and even took one apart and put each page in plastic and moved it to a notebook.Assembler is still alive and with a few structured macros we use, 370-Assembler is good stuff...Thank you to Michael Kudlick for doing a great job on this book- Robert, April 1997 ... Read more

Product Description
ABOUT THE BOOK"Assembly Language Programming for INTEL processors family" presents the assembly language for the family of INTEL processors, from the 80286 processor to the Pentium 4 processor.All references made to 386, 486, and later processors of the INTEL family include, implicitly, the Pentium II, III, and IV processors.The first section the internal architecture of the processors: computer system architecture, from the application level to the computer component level; memory architecture; general organization and operating modes of the current superscalar processors, including examples from the INTEL family processors, from 80286 to PENTIUM 4 processors; instruction format of the Intel processors and the addressing modes used to obtain the operands.The second part contains a presentation of the assembly language, accompanied by numerous examples.Category: Programming Languages/AssemblyUser Level: Intermediate through advanced ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Lacks assembly language reference guides
I don't know how these assembly language book authors think. But I will tell you what a great book about assembly language should contain.

On the Intel X86 architecture it should be divided in different chapters holding information of CPU instructions, FPU instructions, MMX and SSE instructions. In each chapter, the instructions described should be further divided by functionality, like aritmetic instructions, data movement instructions, logical operation instructions and so on.

There should also be two reference guides (appendixes) in the book for looking up instructions. The first guide with the same sorting as in the chapters above. For example, if you need a data packing instruction for MMX, you will look up the MMX part and "data packing instructions" subpart in the appendix. You will there find the instruction you need and everything about it. The second guide should have the instructions in alphabetical order, so you will be able to look up an instruction you know about by name and functinality, but do not remember all of it's semantics.

All this books about assembly language tends to be as bad electronic device manuals. You have to skim it from the beginning to end to find what you are looking for. If a book was written as described above, it would be useful for both beginners and professionals.

Just what the title says, however...
I believe that this book will be able to "whet your beak" if you are starting to study the Assembly language, but I wouldn't say that it is a complete beginner's book. It is entirely true that this book is full of typographical errors, however, because it was translated from Romanian, the tone of the text is neutral and the author does not sound pretentious (My library of computer books outweighs 2 average-built people, and it is common for the American software developer writers to sound self-absorbed). I felt that the subjects of this book were covered in detail. I believe this book has the power to widen perspectives on the Intel machine hardware architecture and will be of help in studying the Assembly language itself.

The first part of the book which constitutes to about 150 pages or so is all theory, and we do not see code examples until the mid section of the book. I don't believe a book should be all about code, and felt it was a reasonable approach. Where there is no code, the author gives extensively deep detail about the subjects he is writing about. I was impressed by the introduction that contained detailed information on the history of the processor, and some of the key points that no other book I have talks about.

One thing I would wish for is a closer analysis of the MMX instruction set and more on practical implementation, to which the author dedicates only several pages. He does however talk about it throughout the text here and there.

Another great book that I recommend for beginners is Assembly Language Step By Step by Jeff Duntemann which is also written in a non-pretentious tone and simply is a joy to read whether you are a serious programmer who wants to know details or someone who is interested in how the computer works on a lower level. http://www.amazon.com/Assembly-Language-Step-step-Programming/dp/0471375233

x86 Architecture and Assembly language concentrate
This was my first ASM book I've bought: it was the first original edition in Romanian (didn't read the English translation yet).
I must agree that it has many typographical mistakes and some of the schematics are not very easy to understand.
It is made up of two parts the first one being the Intel processor architecture and the second the assembly language and integration with higher level languages (FPU, SIMD included).
By combining the information in this book and Ralf Brown's Interrupt list one can learn and do almost anything with x86 CPUs without waisting your time with unwanted details found in other ASM books.
If you are a beginner (never touched asm) you should consider reading this after you get bored with those thick ASM books and keep it as reference.

You're probably better off with another text
It has been my experience that the best programming books teach by presenting increasingly sophisticated examples, starting perhaps with the ubiquitous "Hello, World!" and moving on to more complicated topics.In this book, however, the first significant programming example doesn't appear until page 229, over 1/3 of the way into the text.

While it is clear that the author is an expert on the topic, his presentation of the material leaves much to be desired.The book is also rife with typographical errors, and I felt that many of the diagrams were sloppy- both things that might be frustrating to a novice.

For a book on modern computer architecture, I'd suggest the classic text, "Computer Organization and Design" by Patterson and Hennessey.For Intel-specific assembly language programming, check out the book by Kip Irvine.

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Customer Reviews (1)

A useful book for beginners.
A fairly typical primer on 80286/80386 assembly language programming, which starts out with the usual tutorial...reasonably well-paced, and pitched toward MASM. The assembler instructions are then discussedthoroughly, but it is not until the reader reaches the chapter "SimpleProgramming Techniques" that the book starts to shine. I found this auseful book when I moved up from 8-bit arithmetic routines to 16-bitroutines. There are a number of well explained routines set out for thebeginner which I first found useful when writing a fast Syracuse Algorithmprogram. The book is dated now, but much of the material is stillrelevannt, and there is some interesting historical background material onthe mathematics co-processor, and interfacing it with the CPU. A usefuladdition to any assembly language programmers library. ... Read more

Product Description
Runnion makes extensive use of examples to teach assembly language programming to studentspossessing a wide range of skills. The text motivates concepts with applications, presenting a thorough, yet accessible approach to an inherently detailed and complex subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very informative.
We used this book in our college assembly language class.(If you have trouble finding this book, get it at a junior college bookstore.)I found it very useful, but might be difficult for a person who hasn't programmed in assembly language before.(For the rank beginner, Robert Lafore's Assembly Language Primer for the IBM PC and XT, circa 1984, is very easy reading - find it at a library, it may be out of print now.)Runnion's book has information on 32-bit instructions, as well as BCD (big integer) algorithms.The appendices give the syntax for most of the Intel x86 instructions (16-bit as well as 32-bit).Nothing on Windows programming though - all examples run in a DOS window.

I have not read this book
I have not actually read this this book, but it is probably good or no one would publish it ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not recieved, no response!
I discovered the last week in December that the individual I sent this book to,as a gift, did not recieve it. I notified the company and as of this date have recieved no response from the sender or Amazon.
I believe it would be fair to expect at least a note from somebody or a return of my money.
I will not be ordering any more books until I hear form either the company who promised to send it or Amazon.

Sincerely, James A. Chaney ... Read more

Product Description
Structured VAX Assembly Language Programming, Second Edition,provides a complete, up-to-date introduction to VAX programming and the fundamentals of VAX architecture. The book emphasizes sound, structured programming techniques that are modelled in a number of new program examples. The text also features complete chapters on RMS, and the VAX VMS-debugger, including a new discussion of using the debugger in the screen mode. This is a comprehensive, well-organized text and reference for both students and professional programmers.Features * A complete chapter on RMS including the VMS sub-system used in high-level VAX languages for input and output. * Expanded chapter on the VAX-VMS debugger that shows how to use commands efficiently to moniter program execution, and how to use the debugger in screen mode. * Expanded coverage of VAX architecture fundamentals. * A structured approach to assembly language programming that reinforces structured programming concepts. * Many new program examples.This site also contains the two macro files formerly available at ftp://happy.uccs.colorado.edu/macro. That site no longer exists, so the macros have been moved here:iomac.mar iosub.mar 0805371222B04062001 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

He writes like he teaches - excelent!
Dr. Sebesta's textbook is excellent because he goes through the material step-by-step, using easily understood language to explain key concepts. After having him as a teacher in my undergrad days I'm very pleased to seehis skills as a teacher expand to the written word! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Does not cover some key topics in sufficient detail
Contains a lot of useful stuff but the sections in chapter 18 on protected mode operation was too short and the accompanying diagrams were a bit skimpy. Having said that, the example code was useful. There was no harddata on virtual 8086 mode and the paging mechanism which is a key featureon 80386 and subsequent processors. Information on how Windows uses thelater processors' segmentation, task switching and paging features wasnotable by its absence. I wish I could find a book that covers thismaterial. ... Read more

Product Description
-Access Real mode from Protected mode; Protected mode from Real mode Apply OOP concepts to assembly language programs Interface assembly language programs with high-level languages Achieve direct hardware manipulation and memory access Explore the archite

Readers explore the architectural details of Windows at the system level. This book provides the how-to information and example code advanced developers need for the full range of 16- and 32-bit systems-level programming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Don't Bother
This book really didn't live up to expectations. I really should've sent it back and ate the shipping.

Throwback to Windows 3.1
Assembly language is important - you really need it when
a) your compiler is producing instructions different to those you intended with your higher-level language
b) debugging system-level code
c) disassembling some binary file that has no source code
d) presented with a crash address alone.
e) You might even need to write a little assembly when what you are doing simply cannot be written in a higher level language.
There are some excellent books to help learn assembly, and chapters in books and articles by the likes of Pietrek and Robbins.

Kauler is different. He believes you should write your Windows GUI programs straight in assembler - dialogs, menus, windows and all. He thinks this is a good way to write Windows programs. Anybody who wants to follow his advice does not need this book, he needs to learn about modern tools. Modern compilers are really good, and it is ludicrous to suggest replacing their work with yours.

Having undermined the central premise of this book, it is worth commenting on the content. Firstly, it is very heavy going, and somehow clunky. I don't know if it is the font, page layout, or simply trying to cover too much too quickly, but I had to read each paragraph a few times to understand what was being said here. The book has clearly been rehashed from previous Kauler literature, even leaving in the same screen shots from 1992! Several chapters have rambling overviews of Windows architecture or the boot up process, and quite frankly, other books cover this far better. What this stuff has to do with assembly is not explained.

He also seems to be stuck in a time warp, by writing most of his code in 16-bit assembly. There was a time, when I was still young, when you had no choice - 32-bit Windows was still a pipedream. But already for several years this has been obsolete, and the only need to know it is when poking around in the 16-bit underworld of 95, but heaven forbid actually programming in it!

I have to admit that there are some gems here - Kauler has prised open some of the cracks in the Win95 OS, and revealed some amazing tricks. Among them are using DOS interrupts to gain access to low-level services and using CallGates to run Ring0 code from Ring3. However, even this gem is written cock-eyed, with the main program in 16-bit code, and the CallGate callback in 32-bits! Does he want nobody to understand him?

And all this to expose the Win9x OS! It still exists, but is becoming more and more obsolete. XP Home is already upon us, and I doubt any home PCs will be sold with the 9x family installed ever again. The kind of people who want to dig into the OS migrated to NT years ago, while Kauler is still stuck in the 9x days, blinking in denial as he emerges from a 16-bit slumber.

Not for me such stuff. Avoid this book, unless you are a real 9x underworld junkie, think in assembly, have more that just a dash of Windows 3.1 nostalgia, and yearn for the good old days of 16-bit programming.

Windows assembly review by barry kauler
This book is really awkward old, uses old conventiones and does not deal with the properties of any new operating system. Of course it can not deal with the facilities of new processors since they were not on the market and simply not available.

poor
Fragmented and outdated. Like an old compiler, claim to do all but in fact falling far behind promise.

interesting miscellaneous old information
This is interesting stuff. However it's old and a lot of it has a kind of rambling, meandering quality like the author's just mentioning some stuff off the top of his head. A lot of it is geared toward Win3.1 and 16bit vs 32bit, but old info is maybe better than no info, since this is one of the only books out there on this subject. ... Read more

Product Description
Instructs those who have already programmed in high-level languages in programming with the more powerful and versatile assembly or machine language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Decsystem 20 book review
One of best books ever written on Decsystem 20 Assembly Language.Ralph Gorin. It covers the basics to the complex features of the KL-10 instruction instruction set.Gorin writes in a clear, succinct style.There's probably only 1 of these systems still in operation so the book is mostly of nostalgic value, unless you are running one of the Decsystem 20 emulators that run on linux.Then you might find actual use as a die hard programmer modifying the code for VTTrek.:-)
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Customer Reviews (1)

like all TAB books this is not worth the paper it is printed on
TAB became well known for poor schematics, sloppy examples, superficial subject coverage, weak projects and seemingly unedited textual content.the TAB imprint is also famous for sucking-in many an unwary customer with slick covers (not the case here, however), coupled with equally well designed TOCs that give the impression of great value and comprehensive coverage of a given topic (the book ''build your own working robot'' is one *infamous* example).many a customer has run to the checkout after excitedly flipping through the book and seeing lots of tables and illustrations which, taken together, seem to confirm the already mentioned Cover/TOC's implicit claims.

... then said customer arrives home to be shocked at the actual content, much of which can be found (without the typos and inexplicable omissions of crucial data, mind you) in the manufacturer's documentation.redundant (and often unnecessary) tables of resistor color values, hex/dec/oct/bin conversion tables and ASCII value tables ...

this was almost a rite of passage in the 70s, and seemingly everyone i knew at the time was suckered at one point or another.many of us swore on our dead Mothers' graves to never again buy a TAB book, but the publisher eventually noticed and started changing the ''publisher'' listed on the cover, only mentioning '[the publisher] is an imprint of TAB' on the copyright page, in small print.careful examination (after having again purchased a crappy TAB title in disguise) helped us steer clear once more.

pay more than a dollar for a TAB book at your own discretion, but know that my hands are clean : i have tried to warn you ! ... Read more

Product Description
Written for the student in a course of study that seeks to impart a thorough knowledge of programming the Intel family of microprocessors. Contains example programs to demonstrate how to program the Intel microprocessors. Paper. DLC: Intel 80xxx series microprocessors-Programming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Nice Reference book.
Again it is a reference book. I took a class and we were using it there.
However, whoever hadn'thad any programming background it found it a little difficult to use it.

Not for a beginner
I was required to buy this book for a Computer Science class.Most of my classmates and I really hate it.We had to go elsewhere to really learn how to program in assembly. Brey does not give many good examples.I do not recommend this book for first time assembly language programmers.It might serve as a reference for someone who has previously coded assembly. I hope this helps!

Excelent guide to know the internal computer
That book we go to internals computer teaching the architectural,the flow of command and data. Add on , include a comparison and changes of the architectures 286 to 486 of intel. With sumary this a excelent book. ... Read more