Everything about Microassembler
A microassembler is a computer program that helps prepare a microprogram, called firmware, to control the low level operation of a computer in much the same way an assembler helps prepare higher level code for a processor. The difference is that the microprogram is usually only developed by the processor manufacturer and works intimately with the computer hardware. On a microprogrammed computer the microprogram implements the operations of the instruction set in which any normal program is written. The use of a microprogram allows the manufacturer to fix certain mistakes, including working around hardware design errors, without modifying the hardware. Another means of employing microassembler-generated microprograms is in allowing the same hardware to run different instruction sets. After it is assembled, the microprogram is then loaded to a control store to become part of the logic of a CPU's control unit. Wikipedia →
🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path
- Read the overview: MicroassemblerA 5-minute orientation
- Pick up a classic book: Robotic micro-assemblyThe most-reprinted book on the subject
- Read the landmark paper: An Eclipse microassemblerCited 6 times
- Go sideways: MicrocodeA closely related topic
- Go sideways: Control storeA closely related topic
📖 Definitions
Noun An assembler that operates on microcode.
🗂️ The subject at a glance
No outline available.
🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)
📚 Books worth reading
Robotic micro-assemblyStephane Regnier · 2010
Capillary Forces in MicroassemblyPierre Lambert, Lambert, P. Professor · 2007
Micro-Assembly Technologies and ApplicationsSvetan Ratchev, Sandra Koelemeijer · 2008
The World Market for Electronic Integrated Circuits and MicroassembliesPhilip M. Parker · 2005
The World Market for Parts of Electronic Integrated Circuits and MicroassemblesPhilip M. Parker · 2005
Microrobotics and microassembly IIBradley J. Nelson · 2000- 📕Robotic Micro-AssemblyMichael Gauthier, St Regnier · 2010
- 📕Actuators and MicroassemblyClive Loughlin · 2002
Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.
🔗 Related topics
- Microcode In computer architecture, microcode is a layer of low-level control data or instructions used to implement a processor's instruction set architecture or…
- Control store A control store is the part of a CPU's control unit that stores the CPU's microprogram. It is usually accessed by a microsequencer. A control store implementati…
- Floating-point unit A floating-point unit (FPU), numeric processing unit (NPU), colloquially math coprocessor, is a part of a computer system specially designed to carry out…
- Control unit In computer architecture, the control unit (CU) is a component of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) that directs the operation of the processor…
- MikroSim MikroSim is an educational computer program for hardware-non-specific explanation of the general functioning and behaviour of a virtual processor running…
- Microsequencer In computer architecture and engineering, a sequencer or microsequencer generates the addresses used to step through the microprogram of a control store…
- Firmware In computing, firmware (FW) is software that provides low-level control of computer hardware. For a relatively simple device, firmware may perform all…
- Microarchitecture In electronics, computer science and computer engineering, microarchitecture, also called computer organization and sometimes abbreviated as μarch or uarch…