Lexicon Entry
AArch64
See ARM64 / AArch64. The 64-bit state of the ARMv8-A architecture and later, featuring 31 general-purpose registers and fixed-width instructions.
Related Knowledge & Cross-References
Write a Compiler from Scratch in C: Build a Working Toy Compiler
Learn how to write a compiler from scratch in C. Build a complete toy compiler with a hand-written lexer, recursive descent parser, and code generator targeting x86-64 and ARM64 assembly.
Register Allocation in Compilers: How Variables Fit into CPU Registers
Discover how compilers solve register allocation — mapping thousands of virtual registers to 16 (x86-64) or 31 (ARM64) physical ones. See graph coloring, spilling, and rematerialization with real Godbolt examples.
Compiler Code Generation: How LLVM Turns IR into x86-64 and ARM64 Assembly
Between the hardware-agnostic world of LLVM Intermediate Representation (IR) and the raw binary bytes your CPU executes lies the backend pipeline—the most platform-specific, meticulously engineered phase of the compiler. In our previous deep dive into LLVM IR, we explored how the compiler represents your logic using an infinite number of virtual registers and generic instructions.…
The Ultimate Guide to Compiler Optimization Passes: Boosting Performance with -O2
You’ve been there. You write a complex calculation in C, compile it, and it feels a bit sluggish. You open your `Makefile`, add `-O2` to your `CFLAGS`, recompile, and suddenly your program is executing three times faster. But what actually is the compiler doing under the hood? Is it magic? Is it just removing debug…
LLVM IR Tutorial: The Hidden Language Between Your C Code and Assembly
Master LLVM IR in this hands-on tutorial. Learn SSA form, basic blocks, and PHI nodes with real Clang output and Godbolt examples — from C to IR to x86-64 and ARM64.
Compiler Lexer & Parser Demystified: How Compilers Read Your C Code
Learn how a compiler lexer and parser transform C source into tokens and ASTs. Hands-on with Clang's -dump-tokens and -ast-dump across real examples.
How a C Program Becomes Machine Code: The C Compilation Process Explained
Trace the complete C compilation process from source code to executable binary. See each stage — preprocessing, compilation, assembly, and linking — with real GCC and Clang output across x86-64 and ARM64.
Build a Debugger from Scratch: Ultimate 3 OS Guide (Part 8)
Understanding the bridge between your code and the kernel is the final key to demystifying how software works. Up to this point in my Assembly Series, you've mastered how to load a process, how calling conventions manage functions, how memory is laid out, and finally, how to talk directly to the hardware via system calls.
System Calls Demystified: 4 Essential Facts About the User-Kernel Bridge
How does your program actually *do* anything? We dive deep into the `syscall` instruction, kernel mode transitions, and the differences between Linux, macOS, and Windows system calls.
Executable File Formats: ELF, PE, and Mach-O Explained
How does the operating system know how to take that file and turn it into a running process? The answer lies in the Executable File Format.
Process Loading & Creation: The Life of a Binary
Curious about process loading? We trace the journey from disk to execution, covering the OS loader, ASLR, and dynamic linking on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Stack Frames & Function Prologues Demystified: x86-64 & ARM64 Guide
Master stack frame prologue and epilogue patterns across x86-64 and ARM64 architectures. Learn how function calls work at the assembly level on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
x86-64 & ARM64 Calling Conventions Demystified
Learn x86-64 and ARM64 calling conventions across Linux, macOS, and Windows. Master parameter passing, stack frames, and register preservation with hands-on assembly examples.
Windows Assembly Toolchain: The Native MASM Guide
Set up the Windows native assembly toolchain with Visual Studio. Learn ml64.exe (MASM) for x64 and armasm64.exe for ARM64, plus key syntax differences from GNU tools.
Assembly Hello World: Windows Edition (x64 & ARM64)
Learn Windows assembly programming for x64 and ARM64. Build Hello World using both Kernel32 APIs and direct syscalls with MASM (ml64.exe) and armasm64.exe toolchains.
Assembly Hello World: A Cross-Platform Syscall Deep Dive
Master assembly syscalls across Linux & macOS for x86-64 and ARM64 architectures. This comprehensive assembly syscall tutorial provides working code examples for write and exit syscalls.