Clemson University -- CPSC 231 -- Fall 2007 -- Study Guide for Exam 3

Covers chapters 5 through 9 (only sections 1 to 7 in chapter 9).

1. Be able to define and discuss these terms:

        signed load
        unsigned load

        text (code) section     .text
        data section            .data
        bss section             .bss
        heap
        stack

        stack frame
        stack pointer
        frame pointer

        local variables
        global variables
        static variables

        array storage
        row-major
        column-major

        register windows
        save
        restore

        subroutine
        return address
        parameters

        actual parameters
        formal parameters

        call by value
        call by result
        call by value-result
        call by reference

        leaf subroutine

        instruction format
        PC-relative address
        set
        sethi

        position-independent code

        global symbol
        .global

        .align
        .asciz
        .skip
        .word


2. Be able to explain the addressing arithmetic for array element access,
   including cases with nonzero origin indexing.

3. Be able to explain different types of variables and where they would be
   placed in memory.  (I.e., globals, locals, dynamic)

4. Be able to identify five basic components of a stack frame and explain
   why each is necessary.  (I.e., parameters, return address, saved frame
   pointer, saved registers, local variables)

5. Given a C program and its generated assembly language from gcc -S,
   identify the frame pointer relative addresses of the local variables
   and/or explain instructions used to enter or exit the procedure.

6. Be able to explain parameter-passing mechanisms and identify which is
   used in sample assembly language segments.