NOP is most certainly a NOP on modern x86 CPUs. Yes, the encoding matches what would be XCHG EAX,EAX (or AX,AX or RAX,RAX) but it hasn't been that for quite some time as it could create a pipeline stall waiting for [RE]AX to be ready for the following instruction.
As for JNE not being a GOTO, it most certainly is. It just so happens to only happen under certain circumstances (along with the other conditional jumps, and yes, that's how they are described). Compare:
IF X <= 45 GOTO THERE
with
CMP EAX,45
JLE THERE
Not much of a difference if you ask me. Also, the LOOP instruction is more of a FOR loop than a DO/WHILE, as the ECX register is decremented as part of the instruction.
And let me assure you, when writing assembly, you almost always use labels. A disassembly will show you the absolute/relative address because that's all it has to go by.
As for JNE not being a GOTO, it most certainly is. It just so happens to only happen under certain circumstances (along with the other conditional jumps, and yes, that's how they are described). Compare:
with Not much of a difference if you ask me. Also, the LOOP instruction is more of a FOR loop than a DO/WHILE, as the ECX register is decremented as part of the instruction.And let me assure you, when writing assembly, you almost always use labels. A disassembly will show you the absolute/relative address because that's all it has to go by.