Oct 28, 2023
What is MIPS Assembly?
MIPS assembly refers specifically to the assembly language for the MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages) architecture.
Assembly Language?
Assembly language is another type of programming language. It is different than most mainstream programming languages because it is a low-level language. It is essentially a human-readable version of machine code. Machine code is the set of instructions that a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executes directly. Higher-level languages such as Python, C++, Java and others are languages that must be translated into machine code before being executed.
Why would I even bother with Assembly Language?
Many software engineers and anyone who does coding typically won't ever need to touch Assembly Language. There are definitely situations in which Assembly is useful, though. I have even played a video game in which Assembly Programming is at the center of the gameplay! Below are some ideal examples for Assembly Language use. Usually, the language is used for the optimization of a specific processor.
Performance Optimization: Assembly programming is often used when performance optimization is critical. Programmers can fine-tune code to take full advantage of the capabilities of a particular CPU, which can result in highly efficient programs.
Embedded Systems: Assembly language is commonly used in embedded systems development, where program size and execution speed are critical, and the hardware platform is well-defined.
Operating Systems: Some parts of operating systems, especially the kernel or core components, may be written in assembly language to ensure efficient and precise control over hardware resources.
Device Drivers: Assembly is used in writing device drivers that facilitate communication between the operating system and specific hardware devices, such as graphics cards or network adapters.
Reverse Engineering: Assembly language is often used in reverse engineering to understand the functionality of compiled binary programs and to modify or patch them for various purposes.
Read more about Reverse Engineering on this blog post!
Become one with the CPU…
Learning Assembly can be quite beneficial for programmers of all types because you can develop a better understanding of the computer architecture and, subsequently, how code may be translated into the machine language. This can help greatly with optimization and may give you a perspective on why a certain approach may work better than another…even if they seem nearly exact!