.data       #  .data starts the data segment of the program, where all the global variables are held.
prompt1:        .asciiz     "Enter text, followed by $:\n"
outmsg:     .asciiz     "Count: "
ending:     .asciiz     "Quitting..."
        .globl      main
        .text

main:   # sets the program up

    la      $a0,    prompt1
    li      $v0,    4
    syscall                     # Asks user for sequence

    # Declares s0 as '$'
    li      $s0,    36          # Assign 0x24 to s1 (36 in decimal)

    # Jamp to the loop
    j       readloop            # Jumping to readloop

readloop:                           # Reading the char from the terminal

    # Reads a char
    li      $v0,    12
    syscall                     # Reading a character
    add     $s1,    $zero,  $v0     # Receive the character in v0 & move to s1
    beq     $s1,    $s0,    endloop

    # Process counter
    la      $t3,    countersArray
    lw      $t0,    0($t2)          # getting counter
    add     $t0,    $t0,    1       # adding one
    sw      $t0,    0($t2)          # storing counter

    # If the character is '$' the loop finishes
    bne     $s0,    $s1,    readloop    # Branching when char is different from '$'


endloop:

    # Cleanning up the values, just in case
    li      $t0,    0
    li      $t1,    0
    li      $t2,    0
    li      $s1,    0

    j       exit                # Going to the ending

exit:
    # End the program
    la      $a0,    ending
    li      $v0,    4
    syscall

    li      $v0,    10
    syscall