Rewrite Intel-style assembly code into GCC inline assembly - gcc

How to write this assembly code as inline assembly? Compiler: gcc(i586-elf-gcc). The GAS syntax confuses me. Please give tell me how to write this as inline assembly that works for gcc.
.set_video_mode:
mov ah,00h
mov al,13h
int 10h
.init_mouse:
mov ax,0
int 33h
Similar one I have in assembly. I wrote them separate as assembly routines to call them from my C program. I need to call these and some more interrupts from C itself.
Also I need to put some values in some registers depending on which interrupt routine I'm calling. Please tell me how to do it.
All that I want to do is call interrupt routines from C. It's OK for me even to do it using int86() but i don't have source code of that function.
I want int86() so that i can call interrupts from C.
I am developing my own tiny OS so i got no restrictions for calling interrupts or for any direct hardware access.

I've not tested this, but it should get you started:
void set_video_mode (int x, int y) {
register int ah asm ("ah") = x;
register int al asm ("al") = y;
asm volatile ("int $0x10"
: /* no outputs */
: /* no inputs */
: /* clobbers */ "ah", "al");
}
I've put in two 'clobbers' as an example, but you'll need to set the correct list of clobbers so that the compiler knows you've overwritten register values (maybe none).

First, keep in mind GCC doesn't support 16-bit code yet, so you'll end up compiling 32-bit code in 16-bit mode, which is very inefficient but doable (it is used, for example, by Linux and SeaBIOS). It can be done with the following at the begging of each file:
__asm__ (".code16gcc");
Newer GCC versions (since 4.9 IIRC) support the -m16 flag that does the same thing.
Also, there's no mouse driver available unless you load it previous to your kernel running init_mouse.
You seem to be using an API commonly available in several x86 DOS.
asm can take care of the register assignments, so the code can be reduced to:
void set_video_mode(int mode)
{
mode &= 255;
__asm__ __volatile__ (
"int $0x10"
: "+a" (mode) /* %eax = mode & 255 => %ah = 0, %al = mode */
);
}
void init_mouse(void)
{
/* XXX it is really important to check the IDT entry isn't 0 */
int tmp = 0;
__asm__ __volatile__ (
"int $0x33"
: "+a" (tmp) /* %eax = 0*/
:: "ebx" /* %ebx is also clobbered by DOS mouse drivers */
);
}
The asm statement is documented in the GCC manual, although perhaps not in enough depth and lacks x86 examples. The outputs (after first colon) have a distinctively obscure syntax, while the rest is far easier to understand (the second colon specifies the inputs and the third the clobbered registers, flags and/or memory).
The outputs must be prefixed with =, meaning you don't care the previous value it may have had, or +, meaning you want to use it as an input too. In this context we use that instead of an input because the value is modified by the interrupt and you're not allowed to specify input registers in the clobbered list (because the compiler is forbidden from using them).

Related

Confusion about different clobber description for arm inline assembly

I'm learning ARM inline assembly, and is confused about a very simple function: assign the value of x to y (both are int type), on arm32 and arm64 why different clobber description required?
Here is the code:
#include <arm_neon.h>
#include <stdio.h>
void asm_test()
{
int x = 10;
int y = 0;
#ifdef __aarch64__
asm volatile(
"mov %w[in], %w[out]"
: [out] "=r"(y)
: [in] "r"(x)
: "r0" // r0 not working, but r1 or x1 works
);
#else
asm volattile(
"mov %[in], %[out]"
: [out] "=r"(y)
: [in] "r"(x)
: "r0" // r0 works, but r1 not working
);
#endif
printf("y is %d\n", y);
}
int main() {
arm_test();
return 0;
}
Tested on my rooted android phone, for arm32, r0 generates correct result but r1 won't. For arm64, r1 or x1 generate correct result, and r0 won't. Why on arm32 and arm64 they are different? What is the concrete rule for this and where can I find it?
ARM / AArch64 syntax is mov dst, src
Your asm statement only works if the compiler happens to pick the same register for both "=r" output and "r" input (or something like that, given extra copies of x floating around).
Different clobbers simply perturb the compiler's register-allocation choices. Look at the generated asm (gcc -S or on https://godbolt.org/, especially with -fverbose-asm.)
Undefined Behaviour from getting the constraints mismatched with the instructions in the template string can still happen to work; never assume that an asm statement is correct just because it works with one set of compiler options and surrounding code.
BTW, x86 AT&T syntax does use mov src, dst, and many GNU C inline-asm examples / tutorials are written for that. Assembly language is specific to the ISA and the toolchain, but a lot of architectures have an instruction called mov. Seeing a mov does not mean this is an ARM example.
Also, you don't actually need a mov instruction to use inline asm to copy a valid. Just tell the compiler you want the input to be in the same register it picks for the output, whatever that happens to be:
// not volatile: has no side effects and produces the same output if the input is the same; i.e. the output is a pure function of the input.
asm (""
: "=r"(output) // pick any register
: "0"(input) // pick the same register as operand 0
: // no clobbers
);

Calling printf in extended inline ASM

I'm trying to output the same string twice in extended inline ASM in GCC, on 64-bit Linux.
int main()
{
const char* test = "test\n";
asm(
"movq %[test], %%rdi\n" // Debugger shows rdi = *address of string*
"movq $0, %%rax\n"
"push %%rbp\n"
"push %%rbx\n"
"call printf\n"
"pop %%rbx\n"
"pop %%rbp\n"
"movq %[test], %%rdi\n" // Debugger shows rdi = 0
"movq $0, %%rax\n"
"push %%rbp\n"
"push %%rbx\n"
"call printf\n"
"pop %%rbx\n"
"pop %%rbp\n"
:
: [test] "g" (test)
: "rax", "rbx","rcx", "rdx", "rdi", "rsi", "rsp"
);
return 0;
}
Now, the string is outputted only once. I have tried many things, but I guess I am missing some caveats about the calling convention. I'm not even sure if the clobber list is correct or if I need to save and restore RBP and RBX at all.
Why is the string not outputted twice?
Looking with a debugger shows me that somehow when the string is loaded into rdi for the second time it has the value 0 instead of the actual address of the string.
I cannot explain why, it seems like after the first call the stack is corrupted? Do I have to restore it in some way?
Specific problem to your code: RDI is not maintained across a function call (see below). It is correct before the first call to printf but is clobbered by printf. You'll need to temporarily store it elsewhere first. A register that isn't clobbered will be convenient. You can then save a copy before printf, and copy it back to RDI after.
I do not recommend doing what you are suggesting (making function calls in inline assembler). It will be very difficult for the compiler to optimize things. It is very easy to get things wrong. David Wohlferd wrote a very good article on reasons not to use inline assembly unless absolutely necessary.
Among other things the 64-bit System V ABI mandates a 128-byte red zone. That means you can't push anything onto the stack without potential corruption. Remember: doing a CALL pushes a return address on the stack. Quick and dirty way to resolve this problem is to subtract 128 from RSP when your inline assembler starts and then add 128 back when finished.
The 128-byte area beyond the location pointed to by %rsp is considered to
be reserved and shall not be modified by signal or interrupt handlers.8 Therefore,
functions may use this area for temporary data that is not needed across function
calls. In particular, leaf functions may use this area for their entire stack frame,
rather than adjusting the stack pointer in the prologue and epilogue. This area is
known as the red zone.
Another issue to be concerned about is the requirement for the stack to be 16-byte aligned (or possibly 32-byte aligned depending on the parameters) prior to any function call. This is required by the 64-bit ABI as well:
The end of the input argument area shall be aligned on a 16 (32, if __m256 is
passed on stack) byte boundary. In other words, the value (%rsp + 8) is always
a multiple of 16 (32) when control is transferred to the function entry point.
Note: This requirement for 16-byte alignment upon a CALL to a function is also required on 32-bit Linux for GCC >= 4.5:
In context of the C programming language, function arguments are pushed on the stack in the reverse order. In Linux, GCC sets the de facto standard for calling conventions. Since GCC version 4.5, the stack must be aligned to a 16-byte boundary when calling a function (previous versions only required a 4-byte alignment.)
Since we call printf in inline assembler we should ensure that we align the stack to a 16-byte boundary before making the call.
You also have to be aware that when calling a function some registers are preserved across a function call and some are not. Specifically those that may be clobbered by a function call are listed in Figure 3.4 of the 64-bit ABI (see previous link). Those registers are RAX, RCX, RDX, RD8-RD11, XMM0-XMM15, MMX0-MMX7, ST0-ST7 . These are all potentially destroyed so should be put in the clobber list if they don't appear in the input and output constraints.
The following code should satisfy most of the conditions to ensure that inline assembler that calls another function will not inadvertently clobber registers, preserves the redzone, and maintains 16-byte alignment before a call:
int main()
{
const char* test = "test\n";
long dummyreg; /* dummyreg used to allow GCC to pick available register */
__asm__ __volatile__ (
"add $-128, %%rsp\n\t" /* Skip the current redzone */
"mov %%rsp, %[temp]\n\t" /* Copy RSP to available register */
"and $-16, %%rsp\n\t" /* Align stack to 16-byte boundary */
"mov %[test], %%rdi\n\t" /* RDI is address of string */
"xor %%eax, %%eax\n\t" /* Variadic function set AL. This case 0 */
"call printf\n\t"
"mov %[test], %%rdi\n\t" /* RDI is address of string again */
"xor %%eax, %%eax\n\t" /* Variadic function set AL. This case 0 */
"call printf\n\t"
"mov %[temp], %%rsp\n\t" /* Restore RSP */
"sub $-128, %%rsp\n\t" /* Add 128 to RSP to restore to orig */
: [temp]"=&r"(dummyreg) /* Allow GCC to pick available output register. Modified
before all inputs consumed so use & for early clobber*/
: [test]"r"(test), /* Choose available register as input operand */
"m"(test) /* Dummy constraint to make sure test array
is fully realized in memory before inline
assembly is executed */
: "rax", "rcx", "rdx", "rsi", "rdi", "r8", "r9", "r10", "r11",
"xmm0","xmm1", "xmm2", "xmm3", "xmm4", "xmm5", "xmm6", "xmm7",
"xmm8","xmm9", "xmm10", "xmm11", "xmm12", "xmm13", "xmm14", "xmm15",
"mm0","mm1", "mm2", "mm3", "mm4", "mm5", "mm6", "mm6",
"st", "st(1)", "st(2)", "st(3)", "st(4)", "st(5)", "st(6)", "st(7)"
);
return 0;
}
I used an input constraint to allow the template to choose an available register to be used to pass the str address through. This ensures that we have a register to store the str address between the calls to printf. I also get the assembler template to choose an available location for storing RSP temporarily by using a dummy register. The registers chosen will not include any one already chosen/listed as an input/output/clobber operand.
This looks very messy, but failure to do it correctly could lead to problems later as you program becomes more complex. This is why calling functions that conform to the System V 64-bit ABI within inline assembler is generally not the best way to do things.

gcc arm -- ensuring args are retained when inlining functions with inline asm statements

I have a series of functions that are ultimately implemented with an SVC call. For instance:
void func(int arg) {
asm volatile ("svc #123");
}
as you might imagine, the SVC operates on 'arg' which is presumably in a register. if i explictly add a 'noinline' attribute to the definition, everything works as you'd expect.
but, were the function inlined at a higher optimization level, the code that loads 'arg' into a register would be omitted -- as there is apprently no reference to 'arg'.
I've tried adding a 'used' attribute to the declaration of 'arg' itself -- but gcc apparently yields a warning in this case.
I've also tried adding "dummy" asm statements such as
asm ("" : "=r"(arg));
But this didn't appear to work in general. (maybe i need to say volatile here as well???)
Anyway, it seems unfortunate to have an explicit function call for a routine whose body essentially consists of one asm statement.
A relevant recipe is in the GCC manual, in Assembler Instructions with C Expression Operands section, that uses sysint with the same role of your svc instruction. The idea is to define a local register variable with a specified register, and then use extended asmsyntax to add inputs and outputs to the inline assembly block.
I tried to compile the following code:
#include <stdint.h>
__attribute__((always_inline))
uint32_t func(uint32_t arg) {
register uint32_t r0 asm("r0") = arg;
register uint32_t result asm("r0");
asm volatile ("svc #123":"=r" (result) : "0" (r0));
return result;
}
uint32_t foo(void) {
return func(2);
}
This is the disassembly of the compiled (with -O2 flag) object file:
00000000 <func>:
0: ef00007b svc 0x0000007b
4: e12fff1e bx lr
00000008 <foo>:
8: e3a00002 mov r0, #2
c: ef00007b svc 0x0000007b
10: e12fff1e bx lr
func is expanded inline and the argument is put in r0 correctly. I believe volatile is necessary, because if you don't make use of the return value of the service call, then the compiler might assume that the assembly piece of code is not necessary.
You should have a single asm block, compiler is still free to treat two asm blocks individually until otherwise specified. Meaning requirements put on second asm block won't have any effect on the first one.
You are assuming registers will be in their right places because of the calling convention.
What about something like this? (didn't test)
void func(int arg) {
asm volatile (
"mov r0, %[code]\n\t"
"svc #123"
:
: [code]"r" (code)
);
}
For more information, see ARM GCC Inline Assembler Cookbook.

Loading SSE registers

I'm working on homework project for OS development class. One task is to save context of SSE registers upon interrupt. Now, saving and restoring context is easy (fxsave/fxsave). But I have problem with testing. I want to put same sample date into one of registers, but all I get is error interrupt 6. Here is code:
// load some SSE registers
struct Vec4 {
int x, y, z, w;
} vec = { 0, 1, 2, 3 };
asm volatile ( "movl %0, %%eax"
: /* no output */
: "r"( &vec )
:
);
asm volatile ( "movups (%eax), %xmm0" );
I searched on internet for solution. All I got is that it might something to do with effective address space. But I don't know what it is.
You need to use a memory operand as a constraint in the inline assembly. This is much better than generating the address by yourself (as you tried with the & operator) and loading in in a register, because the latter will not work if the address is rip relative or relocatable.
asm volatile ( "movups %0, %%xmm0"
: /* no output */
: "m"( vec )
:
);
And you need to use two "%%" before register names.
Read more about gcc's constraints here: http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Simple-Constraints.html#Simple-Constraints . The title is somewhat misleading, as this concept is far from simple :-)
I found out what is problem. Execution of SSE instructions must be enabled by setting some flags in CR0 and CR4 registers. More info here: http://wiki.osdev.org/SSE
You're making this way harder than it needs to be - just use the intrinsics in the *mmintrin.h headers, e.g.
#include <emmintrin.h>
__m128i vec = _mm_set_epi32(3, 2, 1, 0);
If you need to put this in a specific XMM register then use the above example as a starting point, then generate asm, e.g. using gcc -S and use the generated asm as a template for your own code.

Any constraints to refer to the high half of a register in gcc inline assembly?

In my C code there are some inlined assembly calling PCI BIOS service. Now the problem is that one of the results is returned in the %ah register, but I can't find a constrant to refer to that register.
What I want is to write like following:
asm("lcall *%[call_addr]" : "something here"(status) :);
and the variable status contains the value of %ah register.
If I use "=a"(status) and add a mov %%ah, %%al instruction it will work. But it seems ugly.
Any suggestions?
I don't think there is a way to specify %ah in a constraint - the GCC x86 backend knows that sub-registers contain particular parts of values, but doesn't really treat them as independent entities.
Your approach will work; another option is to shift status down outside the inline assembler. e.g. this:
unsigned int foo(void)
{
unsigned int status;
asm("movb $0x12, %%ah; movb $0x34, %%al" : "=a"(status) : );
return (status >> 8) & 0xff;
}
...implements the (status >> 8) & 0xff as a single movzbl %ah, %eax instruction.
A third option is to use a small structure:
unsigned int bar(void)
{
struct { uint8_t al; uint8_t ah; } status;
asm("movb $0x12, %%ah; movb $0x34, %%al" : "=a"(status) : );
return status.ah;
}
I'm not sure whether this is nicer or not - it seems a little more self-documenting, but the use of a small structure with a register constraint looks less obviously correct. However, it generates the same code as foo() above.
(Disclaimer: code generation tested with gcc 4.3.2 only; results may well differ on other versions.)

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