Implementing a Stack Data Structure in Assembly Language

High-Level Data Structure: Stack in Assembly (MASM)

A stack forms a linear data structure based on the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO)

paradigm, meaning the last inserted item will be the first removed. LIFO is a

fundamental notion in most computational procedures such as function calls,

expression, and memory management. With this study, a stack was implemented with

the use of x86 assembly language and the Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM).

Simulating basic stack operations such as PUSH and POP, the author manually

monitored the expansion of the stack and the maintenance of consistency in the use of

the memory area.

PUSH and POP instructions were utilized together with registers such as AX, BX,

SP, and BP to emulate stack operations. Explicit stack limits were set up in memory, and

checks were put in place to detect situations of stack overflow and underflow. For

example, before each PUSH operation, the program checked the SP register with the

lower bound of stack memory to prevent writing below the allocated area. A simple

control loop allowed user input of numbers to be pushed onto the stack and then taken

out in a reverse order, thus demonstrating the LIFO nature of the structure.

The annotations in the program contained extensive comments that described

the purpose and meaning of every single statement. Furthermore, the error messages

were incorporated as DOS interrupts, allowing easy testing of user inputs and stack

boundaries.

Design and Development Process

 The development process began with reviewing how high-level stack operations

translate into low-level instructions. I studied how modern compilers use the stack for

temporary variable storage and function call return addresses, then replicated that

structure manually using MASM.

The methodology used was a modular one: first, the stack usage segment was

set up in the memory; second, the reusable procedures for performing the PUSH and

POP operations were built. Macro capabilities of the MASM allowed creating

procedures with parameters and accessing the stack directly through operations on

registers. To perform the input/output operations, interrupts, in particular INT 21h, were

also used, thus allowing interactive performance evaluations of the stack operations.

While enhancing the code, I implemented an interface based on a menu system

in order to allow user interaction and enhanced error handling. An underflow error was

invoked while trying to POP from a stack with no elements, while the overflow error

produced alerts as the stack exceeded its set maximum size limit. This hands-on

debugging experience greatly facilitated my understanding of CPU-memory operations

during runtime and emphasized the key importance of boundary checks in low-level

programming (Irvine, 2015).

The development process was completed in a simulated DOS environment

provided by DOSBox and MASM32, with the ability to see immediate changes in

memory and registers after every operation. This enabled a feedback system that was

necessary for verifying stack operations and ensuring operational accuracy.

Benefits of Using Assembly Language

 The use of a sophisticated data structure, a stack, in assembly language

programming has the specific benefit of understanding the low-level workings of

computer systems. As opposed to high-level programming languages, where memory

management is abstracted, programming in assembly language exposes the

programmer to the true workings of data storage, movement, and manipulation at the

hardware level. This low level of control is important in optimizing system performance

and in system-level programming.

In the field of embedded systems, with their limited resources in terms of memory

and a requirement for real-time performance, the fine-grained optimization of the data

structure in memory can make a big difference between success and failure. An

assembly language-based stack can prove more efficient than a stack built with a

higher-level programming language because it has the advantage of removing the

overhead of runtime checks and garbage collection (Patterson & Hennessy, 2017).

Additionally, the use of assembly as a programming language enables the

development of more secure software programs. In certain situations, like the

development of cryptographic algorithms or the coding of bootloaders, programmers

often use assembly language to hide system internals from potential attacks. In such

cases, the use of manual stack management for return addresses and the prevention of

stack-based buffer overflow exploits becomes necessary.

Assembly Language Proficiency

Throughout the implementation, I demonstrated strong proficiency in x86

assembly by using efficient coding techniques, managing memory effectively, and

organizing the program for readability and scalability. Registers were used efficiently,
and the stack was implemented without relying on any high-level abstractions. The

program was modular, with clear separation between input handling, stack operations,

and display routines.

I used conditional jumps to control the flow of control and incorporated interrupt-

driven input/output mechanisms to simulate user interaction in a realistic fashion. The

code structure followed best practices that included using descriptive labels, modular

subroutines, and well-documented comments explaining the intent of each section.

One particular challenge was the accurate coordination of the stack pointer (SP)

with the set memory boundaries while ensuring the stack grew in a downward fashion—

a feature that can be counterintuitive to beginners. Careful use of memory directives,

along with methodical debugging, helped maintain an operational and secure stack

system.

Organization and Clarity

The assignment's structure follows the systematic progression of the

software development process: starting with problem understanding,
proceeding towards the design of the solution, leading onto implementation
and testing, and concluding with an analysis of its strengths and
weaknesses. Each section builds on the groundwork established by the
previous one, with a cohesive flow taking the reader through individual
technical details as well as larger contexts. Code snippets were used in order
to illustrate explanations better, and references were added to underpin
theoretical insights. Visual representations of stack memory use were
developed during the development phase and can be included in an
additional section when required.

Conclusion

This project offered a valuable opportunity for relating theoretical concepts of

data structures with the practical abilities of low-level programming. Implementing the

stack in the assembly language of MASM gave me hands-on experience in assembly

language programming, while at the same time furthering my understanding of

computer memory management, processing instructions, and execution flows. This

experience highlighted the utmost importance of precision and meticulousness in low-

level programming, especially with regard to managing the memory as well as avoiding

mistakes

The benefits of the project were two-fold in nature: Firstly, it promoted a hands-on

understanding of stack operations through direct interaction with the hardware.

Secondly, it proved the value of assembly language in creating effective and tailored

solutions for the type of systems with major resource constraints. In addition, the

completed project highlighted major areas in which assembly language has great

relevance—embedded systems, security, and the construction of operating systems in

particular.

This experience not only illustrated my ability to translate complex data structures

into assembly language, but it also prepared me for more advanced system-level work.

Learning how to execute and troubleshoot data structures in assembly is a core

competency that sets the stage for a better understanding of the interaction between

modern software and the hardware it runs upon.

References

Irvine, K. R. (2015). Assembly Language for x86 Processors (7th ed.). Pearson.

Retrieved from: https://broman.dev/download/Assembly%20Language%20for

%20x86%20Processors%207th%20Edition.pdf

Patterson, D. A., & Hennessy, J. L. (2016). Computer organization and design

ARM edition: the hardware software interface. Morgan kaufmann. Retrieved

from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375598122_Computer_Organization_a

nd_Design_The_Hardware_Software_Interface_by_David_A_Patterson_and_Jo

hn_L_Hennessy

MIPS Edition: The Hardware/Software Interface (5th ed.). Morgan Kaufmann.

Retrieved from:

https://theswissbay.ch/pdf/Books/Computer%20science/Computer

%20Organization%20and%20Design-%20The%20HW_SW%20Inteface%205th

%20edition%20-%20David%20A.%20Patterson%20%26%20John%20L.

%20Hennessy.pdf