Course detail

Machine Level Programming

FIT-ISUAcad. year: 2025/2026

Numeral systems: signed and unsigned integer binary representation, binary arithmetic, real numbers in the IEEE-754 format. Assembly language: assembler, basic functions of a central processing unit (CPU). Specific CPU architecture: registers, memory organization, addressing, interrupt system, coprocessors, instruction set and instruction format. Programming in assembler: common control structures, compilation and linking of the code. Relation to the high-level programming languages: calling conventions, operating system services. Coprocessor: real number format, instruction set, programming of the floating point unit.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Filip Orság, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Intelligent Systems (UITS)

Entry knowledge

Basic knowledge of the C language programming.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

  • mid-term written test
  • tests in computer exercises

  • evaluated tests in the computer exercises
  • tests in the computer exercises missed by a valid proved reason (health issues or other valid reasons) will be compensated within the next computer exercise or another date set by the guarantor of the course

Aims

To acquaint students with computer programming at the lowest level with focus at chosen processor architecture. To introduce and teach how to actively work with numeral systems, representation of the signed and unsigned numbers, arithmetic in the binary numeral system and representation of the real numbers. To familiarise with a specific processor architecture, its instruction format and addressing modes. To teach to actively work with the common control structures in assembler using given instruction set. To show the connection of programming at a low level and high-level programming via libraries and operating system services. To teach how to use floating point unit to calculate with real numbers.
Students acquaint with one specific processor architecture. They learn how to use the most important instructions of the processor and its coprocessor, programming of the control structures and they develop learn to develop simple applications (compilation and linking). They learn about calling conventions, some basic operating system services and how to call them. They learn how to practically use this knowledge. Students learn about processor architecture form the low-level programming point of view, which is one of the very basic skills of an IT professional. They learn how to develop simple applications or libraries in assembler and how to connect them to high-level programming language applications.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Intel® 64 and IA-32 architectures software developer’s manual combined volumes: 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 4. Webové stránky společnosti Intel [online]. [cit. 2022-01-06]. Dostupné z: https://www.intel.com/content/dam/develop/public/us/en/documents/325462-sdm-vol-1-2abcd-3abcd.pdf
The Netwide Assembler: NASM, Quick reference Guide [online]. [cit. 2022-01-06]. Dostupné z: https://www.nasm.us/xdoc/2.15.05/nasmdoc.pdf

Recommended reading

Duntemann, Jeff. Assembly language step-by-step: programming with linux. 3rd ed. Indianapolis: Wiley, 2009. ISBN 978-0470497029.
Intel® 64 and IA-32 architectures software developer’s manual combined volumes: 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 4. Webové stránky společnosti Intel [online]. [cit. 2022-01-06]. Dostupné z: https://www.intel.com/content/dam/develop/public/us/en/documents/325462-sdm-vol-1-2abcd-3abcd.pdf
Irvine, Kip R. Assembly language for x86 processors. Seventh edition. Boston: Pearson, 2015. ISBN 978-0133769401.
Marek, R.: Assembler pro PC - učíme se programovat v jazyce, Computer Press, 2003, ISBN 80-7226-843-0
The Netwide Assembler: NASM, Quick reference Guide [online]. [cit. 2022-01-06]. Dostupné z: https://www.nasm.us/xdoc/2.15.05/nasmdoc.pdf

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Filip Orság, Ph.D.
Ing. Tomáš Goldmann, Ph.D.
Ing. Marta Jaroš, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Introduction, numeral systems, number specification, binary arithmetic.
  2. Basic functions of a processor, machine language, symbolic language, assembler.
  3. Processor architecture - registers, operand, instruction format, memory addressing, interrupts.
  4. Processor architecture - transfers, arithmetical and logical instructions.
  5. Processor architecture - shifts and rotations, control transfer.
  6. Processor architecture - other instructions.
  7. Mid-term written test.
  8. Basics of low-level programming, elementary control structures.
  9. Functions and calling conventions.
  10. Modular programming, libraries, operating system services.
  11. Coprocessor FPU - architecture, real number format, instruction set.
  12. Coprocessor FPU - instruction set, programming, examples.
  13. Compiler for assembler - pseudoinstructions, directives, expressions, operators, operands and macros.

Exercise in computer lab

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. František Grézl, Ph.D.
Ing. Filip Orság, Ph.D.
Ing. Marta Jaroš, Ph.D.
Ing. Tomáš Goldmann, Ph.D.
Ing. Martin Sakin
Ing. Jakub Husa
Ing. Lukáš Semerád, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Numeral systems (numeral system conversions), number representation (signed integers).
  2. Compilation, linking and execution of an application in a command line environment. Debugging in an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and in a standalone debugger.
  3. Working with registers and memory (variables, arrays).
  4. Arithmetical instruction.
  5. Logical instructions, shifts and rotations.
  6. Jump instructions, function calling and parameter passing via registers. Library for basic input/output operations.
  7. Test.
  8. Basic control structures (if-then-else, while, do-while, for, switch-case).
  9. String instructions for array manipulation.
  10. Test.
  11. Function calling and calling conventions. Calling of services and functions of the operating system, calling of functions from the high-level language libraries.
  12. Programming of the FPU coprocessor.
  13. Test.