Itanium Architecture for Programmers

Book excerpt: Step-by-step guide to assembly language for the 64-bit Itanium processors, with extensive examples Details of Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC): Instruction set, addressing, register stack engine, predication, I/O, procedure calls, floating-point operations, and more Learn how to comprehend and optimize open source, Intel, and HP-UX compiler output Understand the full power of 64-bit Itanium EPIC processors Itanium(R) Architecture for Programmers is a comprehensive introduction to the breakthrough capabilities of the new 64-bit Itanium architecture. Using standard command-line tools and extensive examples, the authors illuminate the Itanium design within the broader context of contemporary computer architecture via a step-by-step investigation of Itanium assembly language. Coverage includes: The potential of Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) Itanium instruction formats and addressing modes Innovations such as the register stack engine (RSE) and extensive predication Procedure calls and procedure-calling mechanisms Floating-point operations I/O techniques, from simple debugging to the use of files Optimization of output from open source, Intel, and HP-UX compilers An essential resource for both computing professionals and students of architecture or assembly language, Itanium Architecture for Programmers includes extensive printed and Web-based references, plus many numeric, essay, and programming exercises for each chapter.