Always keep an instruction set reference handy

Always keep an instruction set reference handy!

When working with system crash dumps, you will be working with code that was most likely originally written in C. In the best of scenarios, you'll have access to the source code, but even then, it is assembly language that you will see when using adb , not C. Therefore, it is important to feel comfortable with the native language of the processor on which you're working.

We don't expect anyone to learn assembly language overnight! However, we know from our own experience that it's always very helpful to have a assembly language reference handy for those times when you do need to remember the instruction set. If your own system is not a SPARC Version 8 processor and you haven't done so already, get your hands on some sort of assembly language instruction set cheatsheet and keep it handy! Write your own, if you have to. During system crash dump analysis, you are going to need it.