Answer:

No. The value in $t0 might have been changed by somesub, since $t0 (according to convention) is a register that a subroutine is free to use.

      add    $t0,$s5,$s3   # calculate an important sum
      jal    somesub       # call a subroutine
      nop                  # branch delay
      mul    $s4,$t0,$v1   # multiply the sum by the result

Simple Linkage Convention

H ere is an example of a calling convention. This convention is very simple and is not suitable for a serious program. But it illustrates some ideas that will be used later on in more complex conventions. Let us call it the Simple Linkage Convention . You have already seen most of the rules of this convention:

A subroutine is called using jal.
A subroutine will NOT call another subroutine.
The subroutine returns to its caller using jr $ra.
Registers are used as follows:
- $t0 - $t9 — The subroutine is free to change these registers.
- $s0 - $s7 — The subroutine must not change these registers.
- $a0 - $a3 — These registers contain arguments for the subroutine. The subroutine can change them.
- $v0 - $v1 — These registers contain values returned from the subroutine.
The main routine returns control by using the exit service (service 10) of the SPIM exception handler.

Since a subroutine may not call another subroutine (in this Simple Linkage Convention) programs will consist of a main routine that calls any number of subroutines. But the subroutines do not call other subroutines and always return directly to main.

Answer:

Simple Linkage Convention

QUESTION 9: