Assembler viva questions

1.Define the basic functions of assembler.

* Translating mnemonic operation codes to their machine language
equivalents.
* Assigning machine addresses to symbolic labels used by the
programmer.

2. What is meant by assembler directives? Give example.

These are the statements that are not translated into machine instructions, but they provide
instructions to assembler itself.
example START,END,BYTE,WORD,RESW and RESB.
3. What are forward references?
It is a reference to a label that is defined later in a program.
Consider the statement
10 1000 STL RETADR
....
....
80 1036 RETADR RESW 1
The first instruction contains a forward reference RETADR. If we attempt to translate the
program line by line, we will unable to process the statement in line10 because we do not
know the address that will be assigned to RETADR .The address is assigned later(in line 80)
in the program.

4. What are the three different records used in object program?

The header record, text record and the end record are the three different records used in
object program.
The header record contains the program name, starting address and
length of the program.
Text record contains the translated instructions and data of the program.
End record marks the end of the object program and specifies the address in the program
where execution is to begin.
5. What is the need of SYMTAB (symbol table) in assembler?
The symbol table includes the name and value for each symbol in the
source program, together with flags to indicate error conditions. Some times it may contain
details about the data area. SYMTAB is usually organized as a hash table for efficiency of
insertion and retrieval.
6. What is the need of OPTAB (operation code table) in assembler?
The operation code table contains the mnemonic operation code and its
machine language equivalent. Some assemblers it may also contain information about
instruction format and length. OPTAB is usually organized as a hash table, with mnemonic
operation code as the key.
7. What are the symbol defining statements generally used in assemblers?
* 'EQU'-it allows the programmer to define symbols and specify their
values directly. The general format is Symbol EQU value
* 'ORG'-it is used to indirectly assign values to symbols. When this
statement is encountered the assembler resets its location counter to the specified value. The
general format is ORG value

In the above two statements value is a constant or an expression

involving constants and previously defined symbols.

8. Define relocatable program.

An object program that contains the information necessary to perform
required modification in the object code depends on the starting location of the program
during load time is known as relocatable program.

9. Differentiate absolute expression and relative expression.

If the result of the expression is an absolute value (constant) then it is known as absolute
expression.
Eg: BUFEND - BUFFER
If the result of the expression is relative to the beginning of the program then it is known as
relative expression. label on instructions and data areas and references to the location counter
values are relative terms.
Eg: BUFEND + BUFFER
10. Write the steps required to translate the source program to object program.
* Convert mnemonic operation codes to their machine language
equivalents.
* Convert symbolic operands to their equivalent machine addresses
* Build the machine instruction in the proper format.
* Convert the data constants specified in the source program into their internal machine
representation
* Write the object program and assembly listing.

11. What is the use of the variable LOCCTR (location counter) in assembler?
This variable is used to assign addresses to the symbols. LOCCTR is
initialized to the beginning address specified in the START statement. After each source
statement is processed the length of the assembled instruction or data area to be generated is
added to LOCCTR and hence whenever we reach a label in the source program the current
value of
LOCCTR gives the address associated with the label.
12. Define load and go assembler.
One pass assembler that generates their object code in memory for
immediate execution is known as load and go assembler. Here no object programmer is
written out and hence no need for loader.

13. What are the two different types of jump statements used in MASM assembler?
* Near jump
A near jump is a jump to a target in the same segment and it is
assembled by using a current
code segment CS.
* Far jump
A far jump is a jump to a target in a different code segment and it is
assembled by using different segment registers .
14.
15. Differentiate the assembler directives RESW and RESB.
RESW -It reserves the indicated number of words for data area.
Eg: 10 1003 THREE RESW 1
In this instruction one word area (3 bytes) is reserved for the symbol
THREE. If the memory is byte addressable then the address assigned for the next symbol is
1006.
RESB -It reserves the indicated number of bytes for data area.
Eg: 10 1008 INPUT RESB 1
In this instruction one byte area is reserved for the symbol INPUT .Hence the address
assigned for the next symbol is 1009.
16. Define modification record and give its format.
This record contains the information about the modification in the object code during
program relocation. the general format is Col 1 M
Col 2-7 Starting location of the address field to be modified relative to the beginning of the
program
Col 8-9 length of the address field to be modified in half bytes.
17. Write down the pass numbers (PASS 1/ PASS 2) of the following activities that
occur in a two pass assembler:
a. Object code generation
b. Literals added to literal table
c. Listing printed
d. Address location of local symbols
Answer:
a. Object code generation - PASS 2
b. Literals added to literal table - PASS 1
c. Listing printed - PASS2
d. Address location of local symbols - PASS1
18. What is meant by machine independent assembler features?
The assembler features that do not depend upon the machine
architecture are known as machine independent assembler features.
Eg: program blocks, Literals.

19. How the register to register instructions are translated in assembler?

In the case of register to register instructions the operand field contains the register name.
During the translation first the object code is converted into its corresponding machine
language equivalent with the help of OPTAB. Then the SYMTAB is searched for the
numeric equivalent of register and that value is inserted into the operand field.
Eg: 125 1036 RDREC CLEAR X B410
B4-macine equivalent of the opcode CLEAR
10-numeric equivalent of the register X.

20. What is meant by external references?

Assembler program can be divided into many sections known as control
sections and each control section can be loaded and relocated independently of the others. If
the instruction in one control section need to refer instruction or data in another control
section.the assembler is unable to process these references in normal way. Such
references between control are called external references.
21. Define control section.
A control section is a part of the program that maintains its identity after assembly; each
control section can be loaded and relocated independently of the others. Control sections are
most often used for subroutines. The major benefit of using control sections is to increase
flexibility.

22. What is the difference between the assembler directive EXTREF and EXTDEF.
EXTDEF names external symbols that are defined in a particular control
section and may be used in other sections. EXTREF names external symbols that are referred
in a particular control section and defined in another control section.

23. Give the general format of define record.

This record gives information about external symbols that are defined in a particular control
section. The format is
Col 1 D
Col 2-7 name of external symbol defined in this control section
Col 8-13 relative address of the symbol with in this control section
Col 14-73 name and relative address for other external symbols.

24. Give the use of assembler directive CSECT and USE

CSECT - used to divide the program into many control sections
USE - used to divide the program in to many blocks called program blocks

25. What is the use of the assembler directive START?

The assembler directive START gives the name and starting address of
the program.
The format is
PN START 1000
Here
PN - Name of the program
1000 - Starting address of the program.

Basics of system software

1. Define system software.

It consists of variety of programs that supports the operation of the
computer. This software makes it possible for the user to focus on the other problems to be
solved with out needing to know how the machine works internally.
Eg: operating system, assembler, loader.

2. Give some applications of operating system.

• to make the computer easier to use
• to manage the resources in computer
• process management
• data and memory management
• to provide security to the user.
Operating system acts as an interface between the user and the system
Eg:windows,linux,unix,dos

3. Define compiler and interpreter.

Compiler is a set of program which converts the whole high level
language program to machine language program. Interpreter is a set of programs which
converts high level language program to machine
language program line by line.

4. Define loader.
Loader is a set of program that loads the machine language translated by the translator into
the main memory and makes it ready for execution.

5. What is the need of MAR register?

MAR (memory address register) is used to store the address of the
memory from which the data is to be read or to which the data is to be written.

7. Give any two differences between base relative addressing and program counter

relative addressing used in SIC/XE.

8. Define indirect addressing

In the case of immediate addressing the operand field gives the memory
location. The word from the given address is fetched and it gives the address of the operand.
Eg:ADD R5, [600]

Here the second operand is given in indirect addressing mode. First the word in memory
location 600 is fetched and which will give the address of the operand.

 
9. Define immediate addressing.
In this addressing mode the operand value is given directly. There is no need to refer
memory. The immediate addressing is indicated by the prefix ‘#’.
Eg: ADD #5
In this instruction one operand is in accumulator and the second operand is an immediate
value the value 5 is directly added with the accumulator content and the result is stored in
accumulator.

13. What is the name of A and L register in SIC machine and also specify its use.
A-accumulator
Used for arithmetic operation. i.e., in the case of arithmetic operations one operand is in the
accumulator, and other operand may be an immediate value, register operand or memory
content. The operation given in the instruction is performed and the result is stored in the
accumulator register.

L-linkage register
It is used to store the return address in the case of jump to subroutine (JSUB) instructions.

14. What are the instruction formats used in SIC/XE architecture? Give any one
format.
Format 1 (1 byte), Format 2 (2 bytes), Format 3 (3 bytes) & Format 4(4
bytes)
Format 2:
844
OPCODE R1 R2

15. Consider the instructions in SIC/ XE programming

10 1000 LENGTH RESW 4
22
20 ----- NEW WORD 3
What is the value assign to the symbol NEW?
In the line 10 the address is 1000 and the instruction is RESW 4.It
reserves 4 word (3 x 4 =12) areas for the symbol LENGTH. hence 12 is added to the
LOCCTR. Thus the value of the symbol NEW is 1000+12 =100C.

16. What is the difference between the instructions LDA # 3 and LDA THREE?
In the first instruction immediate addressing is used. Here the value 3 is directly loaded into
the accumulator register. In the second instruction the memory reference is used. Here the
address(address
assigned for the symbol THREE) is loaded into the accumulator register.

20. Write the sequence of instructions to perform the operation BETA = ALPHA + 1
using SIC instructions.
LDA ALPHA
ADD ONE
STA BETA
…. ….
ALPHA RESW 1
BETA RESW 1
ONE RESW 1

21. Write the sequence of instructions to perform the operation

BETA = ALPHA+5
using SIC/XE instructions.
23
LDA ALPHA
ADD #1
STA BETA
…. ….
ALPHA RESW 1
BETA RESW 1

22. What is the use of TD instruction in SIC architecture?

The test device (TD) instruction tests whether the addressed device is
ready to send or receive a byte of data. The condition code is set to indicate the result of this
test. Setting of < means the device is ready to send or receive, and = means the device is not
ready.

LOADERS AND LINKERS

1. What are the basic functions of loaders?
* Loading - brings the object program into memory for execution
* Relocation - modifies the object program so that it can be loaded at an address different
from the location originally specified
* Linking - combines two or more separate object programs and also
supplies the information needed to reference them.

2. Define absolute loader.

The loader, which is used only for loading, is known as absolute loader.
e.g. Bootstrap loader

3. What is meant by bootstrap loader?

This is a special type of absolute loader which loads the first program to be run by the
computer. (usually an operating system)
4. What are relative (relocative) loaders?
Loaders that allow for program relocation are called relocating
(relocative) loaders.

5. What is the use of modification record?

Modification record is used for program relocation. Each modification
record specifies the starting address and the length of the field whose value is to be altered
and also describes the modification to be performed.

6. What are the 2 different techniques used for relocation?

Modification record method and relocation bit method.
7. Define Relocation bit method.
If the relocation bit corresponding to a word of object code is set to 1, the program's starting
address is to be added to this word when the program is relocated. Bit value 0 indicates no
modification is required.
8. Define bit mask.
The relocation bits are gathered together following the length indicator in each text record
and which is called as bit mask. For e.g. the bit mask FFC(111111111100) specifies that the
first 10 words of object code are to be modified during relocation.
9. What is the need of ESTAB?
It is used to store the name and address of the each external symbol. It also indicates in which
control section the symbol is defined.
10. What is the use of the variable PROGADDR?
It gives the beginning address in memory where the linked program is to be loaded. The
starting address is obtained from the operating system.
11. Write the two passes of a linking loader.
Pass1: assigns address to all external symbols
Pass2: it performs actual loading, relocation and linking.

12. Define automatic library search.

In many linking loaders the subroutines called by the program being
loaded are automatically fetched from the library, linked with the main program and loaded.
This feature is referred to as automatic library search.

13. List the loader options INCLUDE &DELETE.

The general format of INCLUDE is INCLUDE program_name (library name)
This command direct the loader to read the designated object program
from a library and treat it as the primary loader input.
The general format of DELETE command is
DELETE Csect-name
It instructs the loader to delete the named control sections from the sets of programs loaded.
14. Give the functions of the linking loader.
The linking loader performs the process of linking and relocation. It
includes the operation of automatic library search and the linked programs are directly loaded
into the memory.
15. Define dynamic linking.
If the subroutine is loaded and linked to the program during its first call (run time), then it is
called as dynamic loading or dynamic linking.

16. Write the advantage of dynamic linking.

* It has the ability to load the routine only when they are needed.
* The dynamic linking avoids the loading of entire library for each
execution.
MACRO PROCESSORS

1. Define macro processor.

Macro processor is system software that replaces each macro instruction with the
corresponding group of source language statements. This is also called as expanding of
macros.
2. What do macro expansion statements mean?
These statements give the name of the macro instruction being invoked
and the arguments to be used in expanding the macros. These statements are also known as
macro call.
3. What are the directives used in macro definition?
MACRO - it identifies the beginning of the macro definition
MEND - it marks the end of the macro definition

4. What are the data structures used in macro processor?

DEFTAB - the macro definitions are stored in a definition table i.e. it contains a macro
prototype and the statements that make up the macro body.
NAMTAB - it is used to store the macro names and it contains two
pointers for each macro instruction which indicate the starting and end location of macro
definition in DEFTAB. it also serves as an index to DEFTAB
ARGTAB - it is used to store the arguments during the expansion of macro invocations.
5. Define conditional macro expansion.
If the macro is expanded depends upon some conditions in macro
definition (depending on the arguments supplied in the macro expansion) then it is called as
conditional macro expansion.
6. What is the use of macro time variable?
Macro time variable can be used to store working values during the macro expansion. Any
symbol that begins with the character & and then is not a macro instruction parameter is
assumed to be a macro time variable.
7. What are the statements used for conditional macro expansion?
IF-ELSE-ENDIF statement
WHILE-ENDW statement
8. What is meant by positional parameters?
If the parameters and arguments were associated with each other
according to their positions in the macro prototype and the macro invocation statement, then
these parameters in macro definitions are called as positional parameters.

9. Consider the macro definition

#define DISPLAY (EXPR) Printf ("EXPR = %d\n", EXPR) Expand the macro instruction
DISPLAY (ANS)
Ans.: Printf ("EXPR = %d\n", ANS)

10. What are known as nested macro call?

The statement, in which a macro calls on another macro, is called nested macro call. In the
nested macro call, the call is done by outer macro and the macro called is the inner macro.

11. How the macro is processed using two passes?

Pass1: processing of definitions
Pass 2:actual-macro expansion.

12. Give the advantage of line by line processors.

* It avoids the extra pass over the source program during assembling.
* It may use some of the utility that can be used by language translators so that can be loaded
once.

13. What is meant by line by line processor?

This macro processor reads the source program statements, process the
statements and then the output lines are passed to the language translators as they are
generated, instead of being written in an expanded file.
14. Give the advantages of general-purpose macro processors.
* The programmer does not need to learn about a macro facility for each compiler.
* Overall saving in software development cost and maintenance cost.

15. What is meant by general-purpose macro processors?

The macro processors that are not dependent on any particular
programming language, but can be used with a variety of different languages are known as
general purpose macro processors.
Eg. The ELENA macro processor.
16. What are the important factors considered while designing general purpose macro
processors?
* comments
* grouping of statements
* tokens
* syntax used for macro definitions
17. What is the symbol used to generate unique labels?
$ symbol is used in macro definition to generate unique symbols. Each
macro expansion the $ symbol is replaced by $XX, where XX is the alpha
numeric character.

18. How the nested macro calls are executed?

The execution of nested macro call follows the LIFO rule. In case of nested macro calls the
expansion of the latest macro call is completed first.
19. Mention the tasks involved in macro expansion.
* identify the macro calls in the program
* the values of formal parameters are identified
* maintain the values of expansion time variables declared in a macro
* expansion time control flow is organized
* determining the values of sequencing symbols
* expansion of a model statement is performed

20. How to design the pass structure of a macro assembler?

To design the structure of macro-assembler, the functions of macro pre processor and the
conventional assembler are merged. After merging, the functions are structured into passes of
the macro assembler.