IA-32: Pushing a byte onto a stack isn't possible on Pentium, why?
- by Tim Green
Hi,
I've come to learn that you cannot push a byte directly onto the Intel Pentium's stack, can anyone explain this to me please?
The reason that I've been given is because the esp register is word-addressable (or, that is the assumption in our model) and it must be an "even address". I would have assumed decrementing the value of some 32-bit binary number wouldn't mess with the alignment of the register, but apparently I don't understand enough.
I have tried some NASM tests and come up that if I declare a variable (bite db 123) and push it on to the stack, esp is decremented by 4 (indicating that it pushed 32-bits?). But, "push byte bite" (sorry for my choice of variable names) will result in a kind error:
test.asm:10: error: Unsupported non-32-bit ELF relocation
Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated during this troubled time. I am first year undergraduate so sorry for my naivety in any of this.
Tim
