8080A/8085 Assembly Language Programming

Lance Leventhal's 8080A/8085 Assembly Language Programming is a technical guide focused on assembly language programming for Intel's 8080A and 8085 microprocessors. The book serves as both an introductory text and reference manual for programmers working with these early microprocessor architectures. The content progresses from basic concepts to advanced programming techniques, covering instruction sets, addressing modes, and standard programming methods. Each chapter includes practical examples and exercises that reinforce key programming concepts through hands-on implementation. The book features extensive appendices with reference materials, including instruction summaries, ASCII codes, and conversion tables essential for assembly language programming. Sample programs demonstrate real-world applications and common programming tasks for these processors. This work stands as a fundamental text in early microprocessor programming education, highlighting the transition period when assembly language formed the backbone of microcomputer software development. Its structured approach to teaching low-level programming concepts influenced subsequent programming instruction methods.

Readers consistently mention this book as a learning resource for 8080/8085 assembly programming in the 1970s-80s, particularly in university courses. Liked: - Clear explanations of instructions and addressing modes - Detailed examples for each concept - Progressive difficulty from basic to complex topics - Complete program listings - Quality diagrams and memory maps Disliked: - Dense technical writing style - Some printing errors in code examples - Limited coverage of practical applications - Pages fall out of binding in some editions Reviews from forums and discussion boards indicate many programmers used it as their first assembly language text. One reader on a retrocomputing forum noted: "The exercises helped cement the concepts, even if the examples feel dated now." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating VintageComputing.com forum: Multiple positive mentions but no numerical ratings

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📘 The 8080A/8085 microprocessors discussed in this book were the heart of the groundbreaking Altair 8800, one of the first personal computers that sparked the PC revolution. 🔍 Author Lance Leventhal wrote over 20 technical books during the early microcomputer era, becoming one of the most prolific and respected authors on assembly language programming. 💻 The book was part of an influential series that covered assembly language for various processors, including the 6502 (used in Apple II and Commodore 64) and the Z80 (used in TRS-80 and many CP/M computers). 🎓 This text became a standard reference in many university computer science programs during the late 1970s and early 1980s, helping train a generation of programmers who would shape the personal computer industry. ⚡ The 8085 processor covered in this book was an enhanced version of the 8080A that required fewer support chips and only a single 5V power supply, making it a popular choice for early portable computing devices.