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MIPS is a family of microprocessors with a checkered business past and a good number of shining technical successes. MIPS seems to have stabilized and acquired a world-class real-time programming environment in the form of an excellent, stable, and well-supported port of Gnu since the early 1990's. If you're eager to introduce yourself to the MIPS architecture and programming model from one tightly packed and expertly written book, you should consider See MIPS Run by Dominic Sweetman.
Of course, there is no such thing as "studying" a microprocessor. You build a board, make it work, and then program it, your fingers bleeding from thumbing through the manufacturer-supplied documentation. All the truth is there, but only once, and if you miss it reading quickly, you’ll have a hard time finding it again.
The value of general introductory volumes to an architecture is that they exist to satisfy the reader, who is challenged by a novel playing field and eager to acquire breadth. Sweetman has been programming MIPS for 15 years and is considered a "convert" to MIPS by John L. Hennessy, founder of MIPS Technologies, Inc. in the foreword to the book. Sweetman is quite familiar with the product line. He knows what's right about his favored MIPS and what's wrong, and why, and he shares it all disarmingly with the reader.
Who but the author and "us programmers" can get excited about the subject of Appendix A.4 "Avoiding Coprocessor 0 Hazards? How Many nops?" But it is exciting! It's exciting to be toured around MIPS, which is historically a reference implementation for the RISC architecture in the real world, by such a capable and knowledgable guide. It's knowing that books like this are available that allows programmers to lie so daringly on their resumes, "Yeah, I did MIPS some, a while back, was brushing up, just was reading a book..."
This is a densely-packed book. The numerous code examples ring with authenticity garnered from long experience employing the target chip in complex real-world systems. Sweetman also exhibits a gift for locating his truths within the wider reference of general computer engineering in a modest number of words, managing to artfully wedge into the discussion:
See MIPS Run also contains a complete guide to the MIPS instruction set. It is attractively printed and bound, and clearly will have a long, useful life on the shelf of the intermediate MIPS designer and programmer.
-- Jack Woehr
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Explanation of ERCB rating scale: No stars = unacceptable, 1 Star = marginal, 2 Stars = average, 3 Stars = above average, 4 Stars = exceptional.