Ask HN: What's the best resource for learning modern x64 assembly?

Article summary

The article asks for resources to learn modern x64 assembly, noting that there are fewer resources available for x64 compared to x86. The author mentions a course on Pentester Academy that covers x64 assembly and shellcoding. The goal is to find a comprehensive resource for learning x64 assembly. The discussion that follows provides various recommendations and insights from experienced programmers.

Main themes

• x64 assembly learning
• programming resources
• assembly language
• computer architecture
• x86 vs x64

What commenters say

• Learning x86 assembly is a good foundation for learning x64 assembly, as the skills are largely transferable.
• The main differences between x86 and x64 assembly are the added instructions, modes, and memory address changes in x64.
• Some old instructions, such as x87 floating point, are still available in x64, but may not be commonly used by compilers.
• The Intel software manuals are a valuable resource for learning x64 assembly, as they provide detailed documentation of the architecture and instructions.
• Using compiler output, such as from gcc, can be a helpful way to learn assembly by seeing how C code translates to assembly.
• Some programmers recommend starting with older assembly languages, such as 8086, to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context and evolution of assembly language.
• There are various tools and resources available for learning and working with x64 assembly, including assemblers, debuggers, and virtualization software.