10 Best Assembly Language Courses and Certifications Online

Assembly Language is a low-level programming language that is used to communicate with the computer’s hardware directly. It is an essential language for developers who want to develop and optimize software at a low-level. With the widespread use of technology in various industries, the demand for Assembly Language programmers has increased significantly. Online courses have emerged as a convenient way for individuals to learn Assembly Language at their own pace and convenience. The internet is flooded with a variety of Assembly Language courses that claim to be the best. In this article, we will explore some of the best Assembly Language courses available online.

Here’s a look at the Best Assembly Language Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Assembly Language Courses and Certifications Online

1. x86 Assembly Language Programming Masters Course by Daniel McCarthy (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The x86 Assembly Language Programming Masters Course, taught by Daniel McCarthy, provides instruction in x86 assembly programming. The course covers how processors work and how machine code is possible, starting with an emulator for the legacy Intel 8086 processor. Students learn about registers and the memory segmentation model. Because the course uses an emulator, the instructor can pause the machine and demonstrate what is happening at any moment.

After mastering assembly for the legacy 8086 processor, the course moves on to modern processors. Students learn how to write 32-bit programs for Windows machines and, importantly, how to communicate using assembly language with C programs. The course covers accessing variables, structures, and arrays through assembly code and calling C functions from assembly routines. Prior experience with C programming or another language is recommended to better understand the modern assembly section, which references the C programming language extensively.

The course consists of four sections: Introduction, Legacy 8086 Processor Development, Modern x86 Processor Development, and Conclusion. The course also includes royalty-free music from Bensound.

2. x86 Assembly Language Programming From Ground Up™ by Israel Gbati (Udemy)

The x86 Assembly Language Programming From Ground Up™ course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of x86 processor history, architecture and practical assembly programming. The course includes over 50 engaging video tutorials covering various topics such as x86 instruction sets, SIMD, image processing algorithms, DSP routines, MMX, SSE, AVX, and more. By the end of the course, students will master the x86 core instruction set, MMX extension instruction set, SSE instruction set, and AVX instruction set.

The course curriculum includes an introduction to x86 assembly language, data transfer instructions, arithmetic instructions, conditional branching, the nature of mixing C/C++ and assembly, working with arrays and strings, programming with the floating-point unit (FPU) registers, programming with the x86 MMX extensions, programming with the x86 SSE extensions, programming with the x86 advanced vector (AVX) extensions, and closing.

Students will be able to develop complex image processing algorithms and mathematical algorithms in x86 assembly, as well as write robust programs that mix C++ and x86 assembly files. Additionally, they will learn everyday tasks such as navigating arrays and computing statistical properties of an array, all in assembly language.

The course is taught by Israel Gbati, who will guide students through step-by-step tutorials, providing everything they need to know to succeed as an x86 developer. The course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Assembly Language Adventures: Complete Course by xor pd (Udemy)

The Assembly Language Adventures: Complete Course, taught by xor pd, is a comprehensive program that teaches the x86 Assembly language from the ground up. The course assumes no prior knowledge and covers everything from the basics to advanced programming. The curriculum covers topics such as the binary system, x86 architecture, branching, memory, and debugging. Each lecture is accompanied by an exercise, which is open source and available on Github. It is highly recommended that students complete the exercises to get the most out of the course.

The course is designed for those who want to gain a solid understanding of how computer programs work from the inside. It is ideal for programmers who want to become better at their craft, write faster code, or explore optimizations. It is also valuable for those who want to become reverse engineers or security researchers, read the code of viruses, or search for software vulnerabilities.

The course is structured as a series of video lectures, each of which includes practical examples and exercises. The lectures cover topics such as the binary numeric system, x86 architecture, introduction to FASM, branching, signed and bitwise operations, memory, strings, subroutines and the stack, manuals, debugging, and basic Windows API. The course assumes that students are using a Windows operating system and an x86 processor. The recommended operating system is Windows XP or higher.

The course uses a specific tech stack, including x86 32-bit protected mode assembly flavor, the Flat Assembler (FASM), and the WinDbg debugger. The exercises can be ported to Linux, but the course videos use Windows 7. Students who are unsure if the course is compatible with their system should contact the instructor.

Overall, Assembly Language Adventures: Complete Course is a comprehensive program that teaches the x86 Assembly language from the ground up. It is ideal for those who want to gain a solid understanding of how computer programs work and become better programmers.

4. Learn Assembly Language by Making Games for the Atari 2600 by Gustavo Pezzi, Pikuma .com (Udemy)

This course titled “Learn Assembly Language by Making Games for the Atari 2600” is being offered by Gustavo Pezzi and Pikuma .com. The course aims to teach students how to program games for the classic Atari 2600 console using 6502 Assembly Language. The course is suitable for both complete beginners and pro developers looking to learn something new. The students will learn how to expand their knowledge of computer architecture, low-level programming, and code game elements for the Atari 2600 system using 6502 assembly language. The course does not have any real requirements, and beginners are welcomed. The students only need to know how to work with computers, copy files around, and a code editor.

The course content and sections are divided into Introduction, Hardware & Architecture, 6502 Assembly Programming, 6502 Instruction Set, VCS Memory Map and the TIA, TIA Objects, Horizontal and Vertical Positioning, Clock Cycles, Controller Input, Subroutines, Stack, and Pointers, Starting our Final Project, Project Movement and Positioning, Random Numbers, Object Collision, Digits and Scoreboard, BCD Decimal Mode, Missiles and Macros, Audio, Scanline Analysis and Debugging Tools, Conclusion and Next Steps, and Bonus Lecture.

The course will help the students understand what happens under the hood when they write something as simple as print(“Hello World”) in their favorite high-level language. The students will be able to create their own Atari ROM cartridges and run them with an Atari emulator. The videos will use Linux, but both Atari emulator and Dasm assembler work under Linux, Windows, and macOS. So, the students will be able to use any operating system they want to take this course.

Overall, the course is a refreshing vacation where students can learn something small, nerdy, and fun.

5. Creating A Chip-8 Emulator In C by Daniel McCarthy (Udemy)

The course titled “Creating A Chip-8 Emulator In C” is taught by Daniel McCarthy. The course focuses on teaching students how to create an emulator for the Chip-8, a virtual machine from the 1970s that was designed to simplify game development. The course is suitable for individuals with programming experience who want to create an emulator but require guidance on where to begin or have previously encountered obstacles.

The course covers each stage of emulator development, beginning with project setup and code implementation for emulating display and keyboard functions from the Chip-8 era. It then progresses to simulating the complete Chip-8 instruction set. Upon completion of the course, students will have a fully operational Chip-8 emulator capable of running classic games like space invaders and pong.

The course is divided into five sections, which include an introduction, setup and structure, implementing virtual hardware and essentials, simulating the instruction set, and finishing up.

6. ARM Assembly Language From Ground Up™ 1 by Israel Gbati, BHM Engineering Academy (Udemy)

The ARM Assembly Language From Ground Up™ 1 course is designed to teach students how to build over 50 Assembly Programs, covering the ARM Instruction Set, Peripheral Driver Development, Algorithms, and DSP routines. The course is instructed by Israel Gbati of BHM Engineering Academy.

The course is presented through engaging and fun video tutorials, taking the student step-by-step through the material. This is the most comprehensive ARM assembly course online, covering ARM Systems Design, Architecture, and Practical Assembly Programming.

The course is broken into two parts. The first part of the course will teach students how to master the ARM Instruction Set, the Thumb Instruction Set, and the Thumb-2 Instruction Set. Students will be able to create data structures such as FIFOs and LIFOs in Assembly, create Finite State Machines such as the Moore Machine and Mealy Machine, design complex algorithms for performing Binary Search in assembly, and solve advanced mathematical problems like the Taylor Series and the Bisection Algorithm.

The course comes with a FULL money back guarantee for 30 days, making it a low-risk investment for students. Course Content and Sections include Introduction, ARM Assembly Language, ARM Design Philosophy and RISC Architecture, Assembler Rules and Directives, Load-Store Instructions, Dealing with Constants and Literals, Arithmetic and Logic Instructions, Branch and Loop Instructions, Tables, Stack Instructions, The Floating Point Unit, Mixing C and Assembly, Peripheral Drivers Development, Data Structures, Algorithms Developments, Finite State Machines, and Set up – Keil uVision 5.

Overall, the course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of ARM Assembly Programming, preparing them for success as an ARM embedded developer.

7. ARM Raspberry Pi Assembly Language From Ground Up™ by Israel Gbati, BHM Engineering Academy (Udemy)

The ARM Raspberry Pi Assembly Programming From Ground Up™ course is a comprehensive online course covering ARM Systems Design, Architecture, and Practical Assembly Programming. The course has two versions, with this version using the Raspberry Pi computer as the hardware for creating, assembling, linking, and debugging assembly programs. The course is taught through engaging and fun video tutorials, taking students step-by-step through everything they need to know to succeed as an ARM embedded developer.

By the end of this course, students will have mastered the ARM, Thumb, and Thumb-2 Instruction Sets. They will be able to create, assemble, link, and debug assembly programs in the Raspberry Pi terminal and using Codeblocks on Raspberry Pi. Additionally, students will be able to create data structures, design complex algorithms, and create hardware drivers to configure Raspberry Pi peripherals in assembly.

The course includes an Introduction, Introduction to ARM Assembly Language, ARM Design Philosophy and RISC Architecture, Set up, The Programmer’s Model, Assembler Rules and Directives, Assemble, Link & Run in Raspberry Pi Terminal, Load-Store Instructions, Dealing with Constants and Literals, Arithmetic and Logic Instructions, Branch and Loop Instructions, Tables, Stack Instructions, and a Closing section.

The course comes with a 30-day full money back guarantee, and students have nothing to lose by signing up and starting to write some low level code.

8. Complete x86 Assembly Programming | 120+ Practical Exercises by x86 Assembly Community, Assembly Language (Udemy)

The Complete x86 Assembly Programming course, instructed by the x86 Assembly Community and Assembly Language Course, aims to teach learners the fundamentals of x86 Assembly language. The course offers over 120 practical exercises and covers the bases of 8086, 8088, Pentium, i3, i5, and i7 assembly language. The course focuses on practical exercises to make learning easier and more fun. Upon completion of the course, learners receive a Udemy certificate to add to their CV.

The course is designed for learners of all levels, from absolute beginners with no programming knowledge to experts with extensive programming experience. It is suitable for those interested in hardware and software development, reversing engineering, data security, ethical hacking, networking, operating systems, debugging, and other processor’s assembly language. It is also suitable for university students who want to become experts in their specialty or simply for personal reasons.

The course comprises of 136+ lectures, each averaging four minutes. Lectures are well-explained, detailed and focus on the principles. They come with downloadable resources and are followed by quizzes to test practical knowledge. There are also 11+ assignments to evaluate learners’ skills, a large number of exercises, and over 50 examples to aid in the understanding of concepts.

The course covers a wide range of topics, including the different counting systems, mathematical skills, data representation, general computer architecture, the micro-architecture of the Intel 8086 processor, the core instructions of the Intel 8086 processor, different data types and structures, building an algorithm to solve problems, writing an assembly program, and using 8086emu.

The course is divided into multiple sections and covers topics such as variables and constants, the flags, branching and flow control instructions, text messages, arrays, addressing modes, bit-wise instructions, shift and rotation instructions, stack and procedures, loop, multiplication and division, and dealing with texts.

9. Assembly Language: Learn Assembly Programming Fast In 2020 by Luke’s Programming School (Udemy)

The “Assembly Language: Learn Assembly Programming Fast in 2020” course is offered by Luke’s Programming School. The course is designed to help students learn assembly programming and master assembly language. It includes exercises to improve skills and get hands-on experience.

Even though assembly is not commonly used today, it is important to know how assembly works as it is still used as an intermediary when writing programs in other programming languages. In the course, students will learn how assembly works and how to write programs in assembly.

The course starts with inline assembly, which is assembly code written inside C/C++. This approach is chosen to start simple and then move on to real assembly. The instructor will explain important concepts such as registers, stack, memory access, jumps, and conditional jumps.

The course is divided into several sections, including Introduction, First Steps in Assembly, Registers and Memory, Flags, Conditional Code Execution, Stack, Subroutine, and Pure Assembly. Within each section, there are exercises to help students practice and improve their skills. The instructor is available to help students who get stuck or have questions.

10. x86 64-bit Assembly Language: Step-by-Step Tutorial by x-BIT Development (Udemy)

The x86 64-bit Assembly Language: Step-by-Step Tutorial is a course offered by x-BIT Development. The course aims to teach students about x86 64-bit assembly programming, covering various aspects of computer architecture, low-level programming, and data representation. The course is structured into sections that include engaging videos, downloadable resources, and quizzes to test their knowledge.

The course teaches students x86 assembly language from scratch, general computer architecture, data representation and counting systems, fundamentals of the assembly language, x86-64 core instructions, x64 calling conventions, how to write assembly programs on x86-64 architecture, and how to debug programs at the machine level.

The course content is divided into the Introduction, Computer Architecture, Data Representation, Assembly Language Basics, x86-64 Assembly Language Notes, Data Transfer and Basic Arithmetic Instructions, Flags, Bitwise Instructions, Branch Instructions, Array and Addressing Modes, Multiplication and Division Instructions, Shift and Rotate Instructions, Strings, Stack and Procedures, and Conclusion.