Why Learning Assembly Language Is Still Good

nickirelan writes "Why Learning Assembly Language Is Still a Good Idea by Randall Hyde -- Randall Hyde makes his case for why learning assembly language is still relevant today. The key, says Randall, is to learn how to efficiently implement an application, and the best implementations are written by those who've mastered assembly language. Randall is the author of Write Great Code (from No Starch Press)."

Comments

As somebody who has done DSP algorithms

[earthforce_1]

Assembly language will always be needed to optimize certain types of algorithms, that don't translate efficiently into C. Try writing a FFT algorithm on C using a DSP, and compare it to what can be done in native assembly. The difference can be an order of magnitude or more. Some processors have special purpose modulo registers and addressing modes (such as bit reverse) that don't translate well into C, at least not without extending the language. Fixed point arithmatic operations are not supported in ANSI C either, but are a common feature on special purpose processors.

For low power/embedded applications, efficiency makes sense as well. Every CPU cycle wasted chips away at battery power. A more efficient algorithm means a smaller ROM size, and the CPU can either be clocked slower (can use cheaper memory and/or CPU) or put into a halted state when it isn't needed. (longer battery life) Coding small ISRs in assembly makes sense as well, as C compilers often must make worst case assumptions about saving processor context.

That being said, only a fool would try and re-write printf or cout in assembly, if they have a C/C++ compiler handy. Hand optimization is best used as a silver bullet, for the most computationally intensive or critical functions.