Microprocessor Fundamentals: using qemu emulation of ARM architecture, the gnu toolchain, and gdb

This book is written primarily for undergraduate electrical and computer engineering students, though it could be used by anyone interested in understanding microprocessors at a 'bare metal' level or building a foundation for further work in embedded systems. Microprocessor fundamentals are covered independent of hardware whenever possible; and free open source tools (i.e. gnu toolchain) that are applicable to a wide range of processors are utilized. Studying the processor is accomplished by first learning its language (machine/assembly). Once the fundamentals have been thoroughly covered in assembly language, the C programming language is introduced as a portable assembler. Most of work can be done utilizing a virtual environment (emulation). The approach involves a simple processor design based on ARM architecture, in a standard cortex emulation image created with the open source tool qemu. Learning the methods by which the processor acquires, transforms, and outputs data is done via systematic interactions and exploring the processor's inner workings using the gdb program.

Arlen Planting, lecturer emeritus of electrical and computer engineering at Boise State University, has over 35 years of experience in industry and academia. Arlen came to academia after 25 years of working in industry. He has written code in over two dozen different languages for a wide variety of processors. His industry experience in assembly language includes providing operating system customizations and applications development in assembly, involving half a dozen different platforms ranging from main frames to microcontrollers. Arlen also worked extensively with the C language during his career, including a decade of teaching its application to microprocessors as well as assembly.