Assembler Language "Boot Camp", Part 1 of 5

Project and Program: Application Architecture Development and Integration, LE and Programming Languages

Tags: Proceedings , 2011 , SHARE in Orlando 2011

Are you having difficulty maintaining existing Assembler Language applications, or learning the language? Even if you don't, understanding the elements of Assembler Language and the processor architecture is important for programs written in any language.

This top-rated session is the first of a sequence of five; they provide a quick and easy introduction to the most important elements of the IBM mainframe's Assembler Language. Each session covers key concepts to help you understand and write simple assembler programs, and provides illustrative examples.

Your learning will be enhanced if you can bring a PC-compatible laptop; but if you can't, the lab sessions will give you an opportunity to try out some sample programs. We will provide a CD or USB 'flash drive' with the ASSIST/I assembler and execution emulator you can use to write, test, and print your programs.

Topics to be covered in Part 1 include:

o Binary, hex, and decimal; number representations (1s complement, 2's complement, unsigned), and conversions among them
o Basic hardware data types: binary, decimal, character (EBCDIC)

o Main storage organization
o Basic forms of binary arithmetic
o How to get started with ASSIST/I

If you are familiar with fixed-point binary and hex arithmetic, you may safely start with Lecture 2.

Presenter(s): Dan Greiner, IBM Corporation

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