Linux Assembly Language Programming (Prentice Hall Open Source Technology)

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Summary: Learn how to do it right.
Review: Excelent book on how to work assmbler langue to do what you want and need it to do. A Must have for anyone writing device drivers. Perfect for the beginer to advanced programer. He covers every topic clearly and in a way for everyone to understand.

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Summary: not entirely appropriate for beginners
Review: GAS (the Gnu Compiler Assembler) with the AT&T format is what I use, so all the examples felt really short with their NASM syntax. Sorry I didn't bother switching to a different tool, already familiar with the one I use. I suspect that Linux is here in the title to attract wannabe gurus, because the in-depth treatment of the kernel is really light. I recommend Linux kernel internals and the Intel (free) Pentium manuals for a better coverage. If you are novice, then this book may be a way to motivate you to go further in your device driver writer journey. The book doesn't have too many typos/errors and makes up for a pleasant reading.

Rating:
Summary: OK, but not really as good as it promised to be.
Review: GAS (the Gnu Compiler Assembler) with the AT&T format is what I use, so all the examples felt really short with their NASM syntax. Sorry I didn't bother switching to a different tool, already familiar with the one I use. I suspect that Linux is here in the title to attract wannabe gurus, because the in-depth treatment of the kernel is really light. I recommend Linux kernel internals and the Intel (free) Pentium manuals for a better coverage. If you are novice, then this book may be a way to motivate you to go further in your device driver writer journey. The book doesn't have too many typos/errors and makes up for a pleasant reading.

Rating:
Summary: Avoid This Book
Review: I found this book to be almost completely worthless. Despite previous claims, neither the beginner nor the advanced programmer will have much use for this poorly written disappointment. The book's confusing organization and lack of coherency limits it's value to the beginning programmer while the advanced programmer will find nothing new. Intel's online IA32 manuals provide much better documentation at no cost. While those writing Linux device drivers may find the examples interesting, their money would be better spent on the Rubini book.

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Summary: Beginners only?
Review: I'll admit, the title is more than a bit misleading. The book is written for an introductory course in assembly language programming, and that's what it does. All the assembly is in intel syntax, no AT&T, which is what is predominantly used in linux programming. However, it is good at what it is meant for. It teaches the reader about assembly language, and how the operating system works. I found it to be an extremely easy introduction, and I believe knowledge I've gained from it will allow me to move on toward more extensive programming. I've used C and assembly for many years on my own, and I found things in here which made much more clear the reasons behind some of the 'fluff' in my open source programming projects.

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Summary: Not so much about linux assembly
Review: It is a book which should focus on linux assembly. However, I didn't see much of what I want to find about AT&T format. Maybe if you want to write some codes about linux device driver, it is a reference book. But if you try to find some information about AT&T format, try other way.

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Summary: No SSE
Review: Not a bad book for an introduction to linux assemly. However if you are looking for floating point or SSE and SSE2 related material then I recommend going to Intels web site and downloading the material. All in all not a bad book, but it was kinda skimpy. Not enough meat to satisfy the taste buds.

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Summary: This book is not what its title suggests.
Review: Since there are many introductory texts on general Intel assembly programming out there, I expected a book specifically focussed on Linux aspects. This book is rather a first course in assembly language. It does not go deep enough to really get the Reader going with assembly programming under Linux. It is extremely badly structured - the explanation of some instructions is spread over 3 to 4 sections with other aspects constantly interfering and confusing the reader. The worst thing about the book is that it does not even have a short reference on the AT&T assembly syntax which is most frequently used under Linux. Instead, the author just mentions that this syntax exists, remarks that it is "unusual" for programmers used to Intel syntax, and illustrates the difference to Intel syntax with 2 examples. An introduction to using inline assembly with gcc is also missng. For the most obvious application - kernel/driver programming, which requires understanding AT&T assembly code in the kernel -, the book is therefore almost useless. Instead, it comes with a superfluous chapter on DOS assembly programming.

Rating:
Summary: Have to agree with other reviewers...
Review: This book is disappointing to say the least.... No reference on AT&T syntax etc. The information presented is rather disparate & lacks coherency, very confusing & difficult to excogitate. As a neophyte, I would like to be able to access all references in a central location, where I can check the assembly command; see it's syntax; look up the CPU instruction; check it's syntax & see how it relates to the register in question, whilst at the same time I want a brief description of the register; what it's name means & what it does; have a list of system call numbers; their descriptions & functions etc. Kernel internals were briefly discussed but left much wanting. Free documentation served me much better. If you know what you want it's all availible online.

Rating:
Summary: Have to agree with other reviewers...
Review: This book is disappointing to say the least.... No reference on AT&T syntax etc. The information presented is rather disparate & lacks coherency, very confusing & difficult to excogitate. As a neophyte, I would like to be able to access all references in a central location, where I can check the assembly command; see it's syntax; look up the CPU instruction; check it's syntax & see how it relates to the register in question, whilst at the same time I want a brief description of the register; what it's name means & what it does; have a list of system call numbers; their descriptions & functions etc. Kernel internals were briefly discussed but left much wanting. Free documentation served me much better. If you know what you want it's all availible online.