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CS 162 Project 1

Argument Passing FAQ

Questions

  1. Isn’t the top of stack in kernel virtual memory?
  2. Is PHYS_BASE fixed?
  3. How do I handle multiple spaces in an argument list?
  4. Can I enforce a maximum size on the arguments list?

Isn’t the top of stack in kernel virtual memory?

The top of stack is at PHYS_BASE, typically 0xc0000000, which is also where kernel virtual memory starts. However, before the processor pushes data on the stack, it decrements the stack pointer. Thus, the first (4-byte) value pushed on the stack will be at address 0xbffffffc.

Is PHYS_BASE fixed?

No. You should be able to support PHYS_BASE values that are any multiple of 0x10000000 from 0x80000000 to 0xf0000000, simply via recompilation.

How do I handle multiple spaces in an argument list?

Multiple spaces should be treated as one space. You do not need to support quotes or any special characters other than space.

Can I enforce a maximum size on the arguments list?

You can set a reasonable limit on the size of the arguments.