# using a frame pointer to handle stack growing during function execution

f:
    begin                # move frame pointer
    push  $ra            # save $ra on stack

    li    $v0, 5         # scanf("%d", &length);
    syscall

    mul   $v0, $v0, 4    # calculate array size
    sub   $sp, $sp, $v0  # move stack_pointer down to hold array

    # ... more code ...

    pop  $ra             # restore $ra
    end
    jr   $ra             # return