Provides a comprehensive introduction to microprocessor architecture and programming concepts, using the Arm¯® Cortex¯®-M0 processor as an example

The Microprocessor offers a supremely accessible and user-friendly introduction to microprocessor basics: instruction set, the exception model, system architecture and microcontroller programming. Explaining the working principles with simplified models, this first-level book builds the base for all onward courses at intermediate and advanced levels.

Filled with exercises that can be executed on the free version of Keil¯® muVision¯® MDK without any hardware, the book explains the essential aspects of microprocessor architecture with simple programming examples in assembly and C. By blending conceptual knowledge with practical exercises, the book offers valuable insights that equip readers to engage with real-world applications in the fields of microprocessor architecture and embedded systems.

The companion website provides additional material, including end-of-chapter questions and the Keil MDK project template for the programming exercises. The website also provides a SEGGER Embedded Studio (SES) template, allowing the same exercises to be carried out on Windows, macOS or Linux environments. Both SES and Keil MDK are free for educational use, and the exercises run on the built-in Cortex-M0 simulators with no hardware or on any Cortex-M hardware already available in a lab or classroom, making the book easy to adopt across a wide range of existing setups.