Write Real x86-64 Assembly Programs from the Ground Up
Master x86-64 assembly on Linux using GAS and GCC – from fundamental CPU operations to mixed-language programming.
This course demystifies how computers execute code at the lowest level. You will gain a profound understanding of CPU architecture and memory management. Walk away with the practical skills to write, debug, and optimize low-level programs.
Have a coupon code? Redeem it here
What you'll gain
Decipher the fundamental processes inside your computer. Learn how the CPU executes instructions, manages memory, and interacts with the operating system at a machine level.
Gain the ability to write code with minimal overhead. Directly control system resources and unlock performance impossible with higher-level languages.
Enhance your problem-solving and debugging abilities across all languages. This foundational knowledge makes you a more capable and versatile software developer.
Who this course is for
Students familiar with basic programming concepts will solidify their understanding of computer architecture. You will bridge the gap between high-level languages and the machine, preparing for advanced systems courses.
Developers working with performance-critical applications can optimize hot paths. Gain insight into system calls and memory management to build more efficient and robust server-side software.
Engineers seeking a deeper understanding of system internals will gain invaluable insights. Learn how compilers work, how operating systems manage processes, and how to debug at the machine level.
What you'll learn
This curriculum guides you from the absolute basics of binary arithmetic and x86-64 architecture to advanced programming techniques. You begin by setting up your development environment and understanding fundamental program structure. Progress through memory addressing, loops, and procedures, culminating in mixed-language programming with C and exploring modern Linux system internals. Each module builds practical skills for writing and debugging robust assembly code.
Module 1
Foundations of Assembly Language
4 lessons
▾
Module 2
Structure of a GAS Program
3 lessons
▾
Module 3
Memory Addressing and Arithmetic
3 lessons
▾
Module 4
Loops, the Stack, and Procedures
3 lessons
▾
Module 5
Arrays, Strings, and Debugging
3 lessons
▾
Module 6
System Calls and C Integration
3 lessons
▾
Module 7
Advanced Programs and the Modern System
3 lessons
▾
Learn by doing
Practical application is central to mastering assembly language. The course features nine integrated hands-on labs, challenging you to apply concepts immediately using GDB, GCC, and the Linux terminal. You will write, debug, and optimize real assembly programs from day one.
- Verify your Linux development environment has GCC, Binutils, and GDB installed, then write, assemble, and run a minimal GAS program that exits cleanly
- Use Linux terminal commands to navigate the filesystem, compile with GCC, and confirm your binary executes without errors
- Write a GAS program with .text, .data, and .bss sections that declares static integers and a string, then build and run it with GCC
- Use mov to load values into registers and transfer data between them, then verify register contents using GDB
- Write an assembly program that performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on integer operands and writes the results using a syscall
- Implement a conditional branch using cmp and a signed conditional jump, then inspect the flags register in GDB after each comparison to verify the result
- Write a counter-controlled loop that iterates N times and accumulates a running sum, using cmp and a conditional jump to exit the loop
- Refactor the loop body into a callable procedure that accepts a parameter on the stack and returns a value in rax, then use GDB to inspect the stack frame during the call
- Declare an integer array in .data and write a procedure that traverses it using indexed addressing to find the maximum value
- Set breakpoints in GDB to step through your array traversal, inspecting the index register and current element at each iteration
- Implement a complete bubble sort program in assembly that declares an integer array in .data, sorts it in place using nested loops and swap logic, and prints the sorted result using printf
- Trace one full pass of the sort in GDB, observing the comparison and swap at each step, and verify the final sorted array in memory using the examine command
- Write a console program using raw Linux system calls that reads a string from stdin and echoes it back to stdout
- Rewrite the program I/O using printf and scanf called from assembly with correct stack alignment, then link the binary with GCC and confirm it runs correctly
- Implement the Fibonacci sequence in assembly using two approaches — an iterative version using a loop and a recursive version using call and ret — and print the first 10 values in each case using printf
- Use GDB to step through the recursive version, observing how each call frame is pushed onto the stack and how the return values propagate back up the call chain
- Build a complete console application in assembly that reads integer input from the user, performs a computation using at least two procedures and an array, and writes formatted output using printf
- Analyze your compiled binary with objdump to view the disassembly and use readelf to inspect section headers and the symbol table
Destin Learning
Destin Learning creates practical, project-driven courses for developers, IT professionals, and tech enthusiasts who want to build real skills — not just pass a certification exam.
Every course is built around hands-on labs, working code, and real-world tools. Our students learn by doing: writing programs, configuring systems, and solving problems in environments that mirror what they'll encounter on the job.
Our courses cover systems programming, Linux administration, cloud infrastructure, AI and machine learning, and foundational computer science — all taught with the same philosophy: understand it deeply, build it yourself, and know why it works.
Destin Learning · destinlearning.com
Start Writing Assembly Code Today
Lifetime access, self-paced video lessons, and nine hands-on labs are included with your enrollment.
Have a coupon code? Redeem it here