Microcomputers and Assembly Language
CSC 231, Fall 2013
Judy Franklin
of the Computer Science Department at Smith
Professor:
Judy Franklin
Ford Hall, 355
email: jfrankli at smith.edu
Class Times: Lectures: Monday, Wednesday 1:10 - 2:30 p.m., Ford Hall 241
Gavi Levy Haskell Thursday 7:00pm-9:00pm in Ford 241 Julia Edwards Sunday 7-9 in Ford 241 Monday 7:30-9:30 in Ford 241
Introduction:
CSC231, Microcomputers and Assembly Language, is a 4-credit course required for the Computer Science major and is an elective for Engineering.
It is usually offered in the fall, and is the third computer course most CS majors will select, after having taken CSC111 and
CSC212, both prerequisites for CSC231.
Like CSC111 and CSC212, Micro and
Assembly Language is a programming intensive class, where
students learn how the high-level constructs of Python, C, C++, or Java
programs are executed by the computer: procedure calls and
parameter passing, stack use and recursion. The class is also an
introduction to the organization of the Intel 80X86/Pentium family
of processors, and to the architecture of the IBM PC.
Students write
programs that directly control the microprocessor and the
different hardware components inside the computer,
The programming environment is Linux, and we use the
NetWide Assembler (NASM) to assemble programs. Working on homework
assignments will require using computers in one of several ways:
In short, any PC compatible in Ford Hall, or in Bass
Hall, or connected to one of the Novell networks on
campus can be used to access our Unix environment and work on CSC231 assignments.
Prerequisites: Students should also have a good understanding of the binary and hexadecimal systems, which will be reviewed briefly during class.
Schedule:
The class meets twice a week, and
programming assignments are given regularly. About 10
homework assignments can be expected.
There will be an in-class midterm exam and a final take-home
exam. There will be a final project that involves research into another
processor and its intruction set.
The course covers the following topics:
Textbooks:
On-line Textbooks and tutorials:
Additional Sources:
Other Sources of Material: Check the Class Homepage for additional links to assembly-related sources.
Lateness Policy:
Your grade will decrease by one
whole grade for each day your assignment is late
(except in case of
documented illness or personal difficulties).
The assignments are tentatively scheduled to be due every Monday evening
at midnight.
Grading: Homework assignments 60%, Midterm 15%, Final 15%, Final Project 10%