My questions pertain to the actions that seem to happen between the line when context is changed especially concerning RSP and RBP.
Given this very simple program:
Reading symbols from ./function_call...done.
(gdb) disass main
Dump of assembler code for function main:
0x00000000004004d6 <+0>: push rbp
0x00000000004004d7 <+1>: mov rbp,rsp
0x00000000004004da <+4>: mov esi,0x2
0x00000000004004df <+9>: mov edi,0x1
0x00000000004004e4 <+14>: call 0x4004b6 <add_and_7>
0x00000000004004e9 <+19>: mov eax,0x0
0x00000000004004ee <+24>: pop rbp
0x00000000004004ef <+25>: ret
End of assembler dump.
(gdb) disass add_and_7
Dump of assembler code for function add_and_7:
0x00000000004004b6 <+0>: push rbp
0x00000000004004b7 <+1>: mov rbp,rsp
0x00000000004004ba <+4>: mov DWORD PTR [rbp-0x14],edi
0x00000000004004bd <+7>: mov DWORD PTR [rbp-0x18],esi
0x00000000004004c0 <+10>: mov DWORD PTR [rbp-0x4],0x7
0x00000000004004c7 <+17>: mov edx,DWORD PTR [rbp-0x14]
0x00000000004004ca <+20>: mov eax,DWORD PTR [rbp-0x18]
0x00000000004004cd <+23>: add edx,eax
0x00000000004004cf <+25>: mov eax,DWORD PTR [rbp-0x4]
0x00000000004004d2 <+28>: add eax,edx
0x00000000004004d4 <+30>: pop rbp
0x00000000004004d5 <+31>: ret
End of assembler dump.
(gdb) list
1 int add_and_7( int num1, int num2 ) {
2 int seven = 7;
3 return num1 + num2 + seven;
4 }
5
6 int main() {
7 add_and_7( 1, 2 );
8 return 0;
9 }
All functions start off with push rbp which I as I understand it is preserving the parent context onto the stack. How does the parent function know how to rebuild itself? Are the necessary steps built into call and ret?
Then the rsp is always moved to rbp. As I have read this sets the new stack base to be in the context of the current function. What I can't seem to figure out is when or how stack pointer was set to that point in the first place. My best guess is the assembly function call does this, is that whats happening?
Lastly when a method returns it seems like eax is the register that is used for the parent function to utilize the return of its child function. Is eax explicitly used for this or is this just a convention with my compiler and architecture?
How does the parent function know how to rebuild itself ? Are the necessary steps built into call and ret?
Before calling a function, current status of registers are saved, as well as the return address. call instruction jumps to particular address, where the called function begins. The return address is pushed onto stack. When called function returns, ret instruction pops previously pushed return address and goes to that location.
Then the rsp is always moved to rbp
rbp is previously pushed onto stack to be able to restore rbp's value from caller's function. Then, rsp is moved to rbp to create a new stack frame for callee function. The new base pointer has been set up. So currently, rbp and rsp points to the same addresses. If there are other push instructions, esp is automatically adjusted. When function is done, the pop ebp instruction restores previously pushed stack base pointer address.