This book is a comprehensive, introductory text/reference for electrical and computer engineers and students with little experience with a high-level programming language. It systematically teaches the programming of a microcontroller in assembly language, as well as C and C++. This books also covers the principles of good programming practice through top-down design and the use of data structures. It is suitable as an introductory text for a first course on microcomputers that demonstrates what a small computer can do. It shows: how a computer executes instructions; how a high-level programming language converts to assembler language; and, how a microcontroller is interfaced to the outside world. It includes hundreds of examples, experiments, 'brain-teasers' and motivators; and more than 20 exercises at the end of each chapter. Complete solutions manual is available for Instructors. The CD includes example code from book as well as the MetroWerks CodeWarrioro C++ compiler.