Assembly Language

graph LR
    A[High-level Programming Language] -->|Translator 1| B(Assembly Language 1)
    A -->|Translator 2| C(Assembly Language 2)
    A -->|Translator 3| D(Assembly Language 3)
    B --> E[Processor 1]
    C --> F[Processor 2]
    D --> G[Processor 3]

• Machine language: binary representation for computer system (hardware dependent)
• Assembly language: symbolic representation for human (hardware dependent)
• High level language: hardware independent (translate to assembly)

Purpose

• Additional Layer of abstraction

Advantage

• Speed
  • Not require compiler
  • Exploit some hardware feature
• Special requirements:
  • Embedded system that needs custom control system

Drawback

• Machine-specific
• lengthy code → time consuming
• Harder to write

Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)

RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Architecture)

• A small set of simple instructions;
• build more complex functions based on this set;
• example: ARM, MIPS

CISC (Complex Instruction Set Architecture)