What This Document Is
This document presents lecture material from CPEG 222: Microprocessor Systems at the University of Delaware, specifically focusing on the translation process from high-level C code to MIPS assembly language. It explores the underlying structure of programs and how they are represented and executed at different levels – from the code you write to the binary instructions the processor understands. This lecture provides a foundational understanding of the compilation process and program memory organization.
Why This Document Matters
This material is essential for students seeking a deeper understanding of how software interacts with hardware. It’s particularly valuable for those wanting to optimize code performance, debug at a lower level, or design embedded systems. This resource is best utilized during or after lectures on computer architecture and assembly language programming, and serves as a strong base for more advanced topics in microprocessor systems. It will be helpful when working on assignments that require understanding the relationship between code and machine execution.
Topics Covered
* The compilation process from high-level languages to machine code.
* Program memory layout and organization.
* The distinction between code and data within a program.
* The levels of program code abstraction (high-level, assembly, hardware).
* The role of assemblers and compilers in creating executable programs.
* Object module creation and linking processes.
* Program loading and execution.
What This Document Provides
* A hierarchical overview of C code translation.
* An explanation of the relationship between assembly and machine language.
* Insights into the components of an object module (header, data segments, relocation info, symbol table).
* A discussion of program loading and the initialization of key registers.
* An introduction to dynamic linking concepts and their benefits.
