Unlike high-level languages such as Java and C++, assembly language is much closer to the machine code that actually runs computers; it's used to create programs or modules that are very fast and efficient, as well as in hacking exploits and reverse engineering Covering assembly language in the Pentium microprocessor environment, this code-intensive guide shows programmers how to create stand-alone assembly language programs as well as how to incorporate assembly language libraries or routines into existing high-level applications Demonstrates how to manipulate data, incorporate advanced functions and libraries, and maximize application performance Examples use C as a high-level language, Linux as the development environment, and GNU tools for assembling, compiling, linking, and debugging

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments. Contents. Introduction. Chapter 1: What Is Assembly Language? Chapter 2: The IA-32 Platform. Chapter 3: The Tools of the Trade. Chapter 4: A Sample Assembly Language Program. Chapter 5: Moving Data. Chapter 6: Controlling Execution Flow. Chapter 7: Using Numbers. Chapter 8: Basic Math Functions. Chapter 9: Advanced Math Functions. Chapter 10: Working with Strings. Chapter 11: Using Functions. Chapter 12: Using Linux System Calls. Chapter 13: Using Inline Assembly. Chapter 14: Calling Assembly Libraries. Chapter 15: Optimizing Routines. Chapter 16: Using Files. Chapter 17: Using Advanced IA-32 Features. Index.

About the Author

Richard Blum has worked for a large U.S. government organization for more than 15 years. During that time, he has had the opportunity to program utilities in various programming languages: C, C++, Java, and Microsoft VB.NET and C#. With this experience, Rich has often found the benefit of reviewing assembly language code generated by compilers and utilizing assembly language routines to speed up higher-level language programs. Rich has a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University, where he worked on many assembly language projects. (Of course, this was back in the eight-bit processor days.) He also has a master of science degree in management from Purdue University, specializing in Management Information Systems.