@typhlosion it's got more instructions compared to risc but that means like the density of info is really good when you read it

A risc function might be several pages of asm while a x86 one might be half a page. Like reading x86 over risc is like reading C over x86

As for the old shit, its gone from x64 at least? No OSs use real mode past booting, but its required to boot the system still. Apart from that it's pretty solid. Check the free intel manuals - volume 3A has the architecture layout

@Fuego i dunno, i guess it's just different preferences

@typhlosion yeah density of info is tops for me reading a ton of asm. As for symbolic execution, even if arm is simpler the barrel shifter is a pain in my ass anyhow so it’s not like the simplicity helps

@Fuego it might just be harder for me to comprehend what's going on sometimes because the 'administrative' stuff is kinda complicated and subtle

i'm probably spoiled by 6502 and mips not because they're better in any way but because they're older and way simpler

as always this seems like a good time to insert the disclaimer that i don't actually know anything about anything, i'm always drifting by on a minimum of unapplied hobbyist-level knowledge

@Fuego by administrative stuff i mean... managing rings and flags, i/o, page tables, that kinda stuff that's not necessarily directly related to just calculating stuff

@typhlosion well you certainly know way more than most ;)

But rings, io, and page tables are totally gonna be necessary for modern compartmentalization and are in every processor now...

hey look, at least you only have one pager on modern stuff instead of hundreds of random pagers on your ROM chips for 6502? ;)

Manual 3A is super good for demystifying the less well known processor functionality and why it exists.

@Fuego i'm not saying they're not necessary, i just

asfdhjkasdfhkj that's not what i mean x__x

@typhlosion yeah yeah i just mean they're not a unique complication for x86