Structure and Principles of Arm Architecture for System Software Development - Part 2 Author's Lecture (2024 Version)

<Notice>

0. 30% discount coupon issued to celebrate exceeding 300 students

To celebrate surpassing 300 students (Parts 1 & 2), we are issuing a 30% discount coupon. Thank you. Limited to the first 100 people.

• Coupon Link: https://inf.run/WsW2h

1. 2024 Latest Course Renewal

I have added the following lectures by discovering the latest Arm architecture features and useful content that can be directly applied to real-world projects. (3 hours and 30 minutes added)

• TRACE32 Program Debugging Content: You can download the educational TRACE32 simulator program from the 'Inflearn Course Materials'. You can use the TRACE32 simulator program yourself to follow along with the debugging process (including assembly instructions) explained in the lecture.

• Debugging Practice Lectures: Armv7-A Exception (35 minutes), Armv8-A Exception (2 hours), AAPCS (60 minutes)

• Memory Dump: 3 cases provided for exception debugging

We plan to continuously discover helpful content for students and update the curriculum accordingly.

2. Roadmap for the Entire Arm Architecture Lecture Series by the Author

This lecture, <Structure and Principles of Arm Architecture for System Software Development - Part 2 Taught by the Author>, is included in the roadmap 'Arm for System Software Developers - basic course'.

If you wish to learn the Arm architecture (Armv8-A, Armv7-A) systematically, it is recommended to take advantage of the roadmap (30% discount on all lectures). For your reference, the Arm Architecture Roadmap (full lectures by the author) consists of two parts: Basic Course and Advanced Course..

In modern system software,
the most important Arm architecture

Arm processors used in smartphones, AI SoC system semiconductors, electric vehicle automotive (autonomous driving, infotainment), cloud servers, and MacBooks are all Armv8-A based 64-bit Cortex-A processors (Cortex-A53, Cortex-A57, Cortex-A72, etc.). It can be said that the Armv8-A architecture is the foundational knowledge most required in the current system software industry.

However, did the latest Arm architectures, Armv8-A and Armv7-A, feel far too difficult?

Attention System Software Developers and Embedded System (BSP) Programmers! 🙋‍♂

Many who aspire to be Linux embedded developers study computer architecture or operating systems. They also study CS theory to some extent. Developers in the rising fields of system semiconductors and electric vehicle system software analyze Linux device drivers, RTOS, or bootloaders. However, they often feel for themselves that that alone is not enough. While they know they must understand the Arm architecture to become professional system software developers, the moment they open the Arm specification documents, they realize it is a challenging path and judge that self-study will be difficult.

We explain the core of the Arm architecture
in an easy-to-understand way!

It is no exaggeration to say that the core of system software development lies in CPU and computer architecture. We have provided easy-to-understand explanations of the core theories regarding the latest Arm architectures (Armv8-A, Armv7-A), which are the most sought-after CPU processors in the IT industry!

The reason Arm architecture is difficult is that it is often taught solely from a hardware processor perspective. This course explains how the components of the Arm architecture are actually used through code analysis and specific case studies. This course will play a pivotal role in helping you become a skilled system software developer.

Lecture Content 📕

It introduces what an exception is in CPU architecture and explains the basic operation of exceptions while reviewing the Arm specifications.

It explains in detail why you need to understand Arm architecture exceptions in real-world projects.

It explains the exception execution flow of the Armv7 architecture step-by-step and provides a detailed analysis of how exceptions are handled via software.

It explains in detail the operation of how memory aborts—either Prefetch or Data Abort—are handled in the Armv7 architecture. It also describes the execution flow for processing IRQ interrupt exceptions.

Explains the execution flow of the Supervisor Call (Software Interrupt) exception triggered when the SVC instruction is executed in the Armv7 architecture. It summarizes the overall execution flow of the exception.

Explains in detail the big picture of how actual Data Abort and Undefined Instruction exceptions are triggered.

Introduces the characteristics of exceptions defined in the Armv8 architecture. Explains the types and classification system of Armv8 architecture exceptions.

Explains the flow of how Synchronous exceptions are handled in the Armv8 architecture.

Explains the big picture of the execution flow for how interrupts are processed at each stage in the Armv8 architecture. It describes the registers updated and the exception handlers involved in this process.

Introduces the interrupt controller and explains the overall structure of the GIC.

Explain the overall structure of the GIC with a big-picture view and describe the key features of each GIC version.

It explains the interrupt sources and types defined in the GIC, as well as how interrupts are handled in SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing) systems.

Explains the GIC programmer's model designed from a software development perspective and describes the physical structure of the GIC.

It explains the structure of the Distributor and the system registers used to control it. It also explains the structure of the CPU interface and the system registers used to control the CPU interface.

Explains the core concepts of IRQ and FIQ and provides a detailed explanation of the execution flow.

Explains the GIC handler routines (Linux kernel, XEN hypervisor) that control the GIC via software.

Introduces the function calling convention and the key features that make up the AAPCS in CPU architecture.

Armv7-A Architecture: Explains in detail the operation of the PUSH and POP instructions, which are core elements of AAPCS.

Armv7-A Architecture: Explains the execution flow of the BL instruction, a core part of AAPCS, and related assembly instructions in detail.

Armv8-A Architecture: Explains in detail the operation of the STP instruction, which is the core of AAPCS, and the operation of the BL assembly.

Armv8-A: Introduces how to solve problems in real-world projects using knowledge related to AAPCS. Explains in detail the skills to prevent stack overflow and stack corruption.

The shortcut to understanding the principles of Arm is
reading and understanding the spec documents yourself!

Arm is by no means easy for beginners. No matter how beneficial the content is, it is difficult to understand. This course was designed to pave the way for you to approach difficult Arm architecture theories more easily. 

Based on book writing and lecturing experience,
deeper and more detailed than anyone else!

I am the author of unprecedented books on 'Arm Architecture (Armv8-A, Armv7-A)' and the 'Linux Kernel' in the domestic system software field (both books were selected as Excellent Academic Books by the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea), and a global author who wrote the book "Reverse Engineering Armv8-A Systems" (in English) through an overseas publisher (Packt) for the first time in Korea. Above all, I am a working developer who is most well-versed in the latest system software trends (electric vehicles, system semiconductors-system software). I am also an educator who is most actively engaged in spreading knowledge in the field of system software.

• Author of the book (English) 'Reverse Engineering Armv8-A Systems: A practical guide to Kernel, Firmware, and TrustZone analysis', (Packt Publishing) - 2025 (tiếng Anh), (Nhà xuất bản Packt) - Năm 2025

• Author of 'Structure and Principles of Arm Architecture for System Software Development' (2024, National Academy of Sciences Outstanding Book Award)

• 'Structure and Principles of the Linux Kernel Learned Through Debugging' (2021, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea Excellent Scholarly Book Award) Author)

• Main Instructor for 'Programmers Dev Course: Linux System and Kernel Expert'

• June 2022, Korea Computer Congress (KCC2022) - Tutorial Presentation [Conquering the Linux Kernel Using ftrace]

• LG Electronics 'Linux Kernel' and 'Armv8 Architecture' Internal Instructor (including domestic and overseas developers) - (2020~2024)

I can confidently say that I am an educator who can explain the core features of Arm architecture (Armv8-A, Armv7-A) better than anyone else in Korea.

Vivid course reviews left by learners

<Structure and Principles of Arm Architecture for System Software Development - Part 1/2 Author's Lecture>