“Why study assembly language?” asks the author. Modern compilers for high-level programming languages like C++ or Java generate extremely efficient code. Hardware drivers, real-time operating systems, computer games, and embedded systems are no longer written in assembly. Why study a cumbersome, outdated, and hardware-dependent programming language? Because of its educational value, argues the author. Assembly programming can give insight into the architectural details of a computer processor and its peripherals, insight that a high-level language cannot teach. Assembly language is one of the finest tools to study computer architecture. And, I would add, writing assembly code for micro-controllers gives programmers the special pleasure of ingenious tinkering that programming for our modern touch screen and tablet computers does not to offer. But perhaps I am just a romantic.

The book contains 14 logical chapters, covering all important aspects of assembling programming, from logical operations and control structures to data representation, stacks (and how they can be used for making function calls), interrupt handling, and external device communication.

Assembly languages are programming tools to generate byte sequences representing machine instructions and data, so they are hardware dependent. The author had to decide on a specific machine and language to be used in the book, and chose a family of 8-bit micro-controllers produced by the Atmel Corporation. The book makes reference to an inexpensive evaluation board for these micro-controllers, available by mail order. The layout of the board changed since the printing of the book. I was not able to get my hardware up and running offhand, and needed to seek further help from the Internet. Alternatively, the numerous assembly language examples and exercises can also be coded, executed, and debugged on a PC with a software simulator that can be downloaded and used for free. All of this is explained in the book.

The author had many years of teaching experience as a university professor, and that experience is reflected in the book. Well written, nicely structured, and didactically elaborate, it leaves little to be desired. Perhaps a few more illustrations would have been helpful. I recommend this book to computer science students in particular. Assembly languages might not be in vogue in these times of easier alternatives, but it was never so easy to learn them, thanks to this book. Unfortunately, the author passed away since the publication of the book. Hopefully, there will be a worthy follower who keeps this fine work up to date for upcoming editions.