All high-level languages are ultimately translated into machine instructions that control a computer's hardware. Introduction to Computer Organization: ARM reveals exactly how that hardware works 'under the hood.' Written for anyone familiar with basic programming concepts, the reader is taken through the machine's architecture from the bottom up and the software on down - with a special focus on the ARM instruction set commonly found in smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Beginning with an exploration of modern computing's mathematical foundations - including the binary system and Boolean algebra - the book introduces hardware components such as circuits, CPU, and memory. Later chapters discuss how software controls hardware, providing an in-depth look at the basic programming constructs in low-level languages like C and C++. Finally, readers are shown how the computer's compiler translates code into assembly language that can directly access the instruction set architecture.

"Forged in the furnace of the classroom, this book enables students to synthesize, comprehend and create their own assembler programs. The process [Robert Plantz] leads them though is quite elegant, building from the basics . . . to infinity and beyond.
There are 10 kinds of people who understand binary. When finished with this book you will know what camp you are in."
—Dale Phillips, Professor of Computer Science at Modesto Junior College

"Provides an excellent introduction to the ARM assembly language. It contains the perfect mix of theory and examples to help students understand and apply the concepts. I highly recommend this book."
— Duy Nguyen, Professor of Computer Science at Palomar College

Robert G. Plantz started his career designing electronics for the Gemini spacecraft and Apollo Lunar Module. Plantz earned his PhD in electrical engineering at UC Berkeley and was a professor of computer science at Sonoma State University for 21 years.