Convert C/C++ code to assembly language

Here we will see how to generate assembly language output from C or C++ source code using gcc.

The gcc provides a great feature to get all intermediate outputs from a source code while executing. To get the assembler output we can use the option ‘-S’ for the gcc. This option shows the output after compiling, but before sending to the assembler. The syntax of this command is like below.

gcc –S program.cpp

Now, let us see how to output will be look like. Here we are using a simple program. In this program two numbers are stored into the variables x and y, then store the sum into another variable, after that print the result.

Example

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
main() {
   int x, y, sum;
   x = 50;
   y = 60;
   sum = x + y;
   cout << "Sum is: " << sum << endl;
}

Output

.file "test_cpp.cpp"
.text
.section .rodata
.type _ZStL19piecewise_construct, @object
.size _ZStL19piecewise_construct, 1
_ZStL19piecewise_construct:
.zero 1
.local _ZStL8__ioinit
.comm _ZStL8__ioinit,1,1
.LC0:
.string "Sum is: "
.text
.globl main
.type main, @function
main:
.LFB1493:
.cfi_startproc
pushq %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_offset 16
.cfi_offset 6, -16
movq %rsp, %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_register 6
subq $16, %rsp
movl $50, -12(%rbp)
movl $60, -8(%rbp)
movl -12(%rbp), %edx
movl -8(%rbp), %eax
addl %edx, %eax
movl %eax, -4(%rbp)
leaq .LC0(%rip), %rsi
leaq _ZSt4cout(%rip), %rdi
call _ZStlsISt11char_traitsIcEERSt13basic_ostreamIcT_ES5_PKc@PLT
movq %rax, %rdx
movl -4(%rbp), %eax
movl %eax, %esi
movq %rdx, %rdi
call _ZNSolsEi@PLT
movq %rax, %rdx
movq
_ZSt4endlIcSt11char_traitsIcEERSt13basic_ostreamIT_T0_ES6_@GOTPCREL(%rip),
%rax
movq %rax, %rsi
movq %rdx, %rdi
call _ZNSolsEPFRSoS_E@PLT
movl $0, %eax
leave
.cfi_def_cfa 7, 8
ret
.cfi_endproc
.LFE1493:
.size main, .-main
.type _Z41__static_initialization_and_destruction_0ii, @function
_Z41__static_initialization_and_destruction_0ii:
.LFB1982:
.cfi_startproc
pushq %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_offset 16
.cfi_offset 6, -16
movq %rsp, %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_register 6
subq $16, %rsp
movl %edi, -4(%rbp)
movl %esi, -8(%rbp)
cmpl $1, -4(%rbp)
jne .L5
cmpl $65535, -8(%rbp)
jne .L5
leaq _ZStL8__ioinit(%rip), %rdi
call _ZNSt8ios_base4InitC1Ev@PLT
leaq __dso_handle(%rip), %rdx
leaq _ZStL8__ioinit(%rip), %rsi
movq _ZNSt8ios_base4InitD1Ev@GOTPCREL(%rip), %rax
movq %rax, %rdi
call __cxa_atexit@PLT
.L5:
nop
leave
.cfi_def_cfa 7, 8
ret
.cfi_endproc
.LFE1982:
.size _Z41__static_initialization_and_destruction_0ii,
.-_Z41__static_initialization_and_destruction_0ii
.type _GLOBAL__sub_I_main, @function
_GLOBAL__sub_I_main:
.LFB1983:
.cfi_startproc
pushq %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_offset 16
.cfi_offset 6, -16
movq %rsp, %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_register 6
movl $65535, %esi
movl $1, %edi
call _Z41__static_initialization_and_destruction_0ii
popq %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa 7, 8
ret
.cfi_endproc
.LFE1983:
.size _GLOBAL__sub_I_main, .-_GLOBAL__sub_I_main
.section .init_array,"aw"
.align 8
.quad _GLOBAL__sub_I_main
.hidden __dso_handle
.ident "GCC: (Ubuntu 7.3.0-16ubuntu3) 7.3.0"
.section .note.GNU-stack,"",@progbits