From: raymoon@ms1.dgsys.com (Raymond Moon)
Newsgroups: alt.lang.asm,comp.lang.asm.x86,news.answers,alt.answers,comp.answers
Subject: x86 Assembly Language FAQ - General Part 3/3
Supersedes: <70vrnf$1p4$3@news.dgsys.com>
Followup-To: alt.lang.asm,comp.lang.asm.x86
Date: 23 Nov 1998 18:08:39 GMT
Organization: MoonWare
Lines: 985
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
Distribution: world
Expires: Sun, 20 Dec 1998 23:59:59 GMT
Message-ID: <73c8b7$nos$3@news.dgsys.com>
Reply-To: raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Summary: This is the FAQ for the x86 Assembly Language programmers for
 the alt.lang.asm and comp.lang.asm.x86 newsgroups.  This particular
 section of the FAQ is part three of three parts that contain x86
 assembly language information common to all assemblers.
Keywords: x86 Assemby Language ASM FAQ General


Archive-Name: assembly-language/x86/general/part3
Posting-Frequency: monthly (21st of every month)
Last-modified: 1998/11/23

------------------------------

Subject: 26. WWW Assembly HomePages                             REVISED

26.1  CAUTION

All of the web sites listed here are maintained by individuals.  I will
strive to maintain this list current but do not be surprised if the
addresses no longer are current.

26.2 ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE RELATED HOME PAGES

Randy Hyde's Assembly Language Page
    http://cuda.ucr.edu/Page_asm
        Excellent tutorial, Art of Assembly Language
        ASM Style Guide

Christian Ludoff's 80x86 Sandpile Page
    http://www.sandpile.org Basic Page
    http://www.sandpile.org/80x86/overview.shtml
        The second page is where you should kept you link.  Much good
            information is available at this site.

EG3 Electronic Communication's Electronic Engineer's Toolbox
    http://www.eg3.com/softd/assembly.htm
        Assembly Language Hot Lists and Major Resources.

Robert Collins' x86 Monthly Digest
    http://www.x86.org/
        Intel processor bugs
        Intel data sheets and programming manuals
        In-Depth articles
        Productivity ehancements and programming tips
        Rober Collins' Dr. Dobb's Journal Undocumented Corner.
        Much more

Jannes Faber's Assembly home page
    http://www.fys.ruu.nl/~faber/Amain.html
        List of ASM Books with short reviews
        A few hints and tricks
        Complete source code to some of his programs
        A listing of EMS Professional Shareware products

Ray Rose's HTML For Assembler home page
    http://www.alaska.net/~rrose/assembly.htm
        An extensive list of ASM books without descriptions
        Links to alt.lang.asm, comp.lang.asm.x86, and
alt.msdos.programmer
            newsgroups.
        Link to the Yahoo/Computers and Internet/Languages/Assembly page
            (see below)

NASM: The Netwide Assembler Project
    http://www.cryogen.com/nasm
    A group of programmers are writing a new assembler.  This home page
        describes the project and where to download the latest version.

Michael Babcock's Programming Home Page (many broken links on pages)
    http://w3.tyenet.com/mbabcock/mtb.programming.html
        This home page has links to:
            Optimizing 803/4/586 ASM Programming
                http://w3.tyenet.com/mbabcock/prg.optimize.html
            ASM Tutorial
                http://w3.tyenet.com/mbabcock/prg.asmtut1.html
            Utilities
                http://w3.tyenet.com/mbabcock/prg.utils.html

The Official Web Shareware Site
    http://www.jumbo.com/pages/programming/dos/asmutl/
        This site appears to have a few asm files not on SimTel.

Dr. ASM's Assembly Home Page
    http://web.syr.edu/~dbgrandi/assembly.htm
    Some answered questions and links to other assembly related sites.

James Vahn's 80xxx Snippets - 80x86 Assembly Language Enthusiasts
    http://www.cet.com/~jvahn
        Download snippets & Booklist

Kip Irvine's Assembly Language Sources
    http://www.nuvisionmiami.cim/kip/asm.htm

Gavin Estey's Home
    http://www.strangecreations.com/library/assembly/index.htm
        His ASM tutorial, other ASM Links, FAQs and Optimizations

Grzegorz Mazur's x86 CPU Stuff
    http://grafi.ii.pw.edu.pl/gbm/x86/index.html
        x86 CPU identification algorithms
        Cyrix/IBM5x86/6x86 (and 486) control program
        Links to other information on x86 family CPUs

Heath Holcomb's x86 Assembly Page
    http://www.wfu.edu/~holcojh5/x86asm/x86asm.html
       Some pointers on what is assembly language, what is assembly
       good for, and what do you need to get started.
       Pointers to ASM Tutorial, this FAQ, other ASM web pages
       
Eric Isaacson's A86 Assembler and D86 Debugger Page
    http://eji.com/a86/index.htm
        Overviews of a86 and a386 assemblers, d86 and d386 debuggers,
            download and purchase of a86 and d86.

Tore Nilsson's Assembly Tutorial Page
    http://www.ice-digga.com/programming/
        VLA's Assembly and DMA programming tutorials, Asphyxia's VGA
            tutorials, and some graphics and sound programming
            information.

Gerd Kortemeyer's 387/486DX/Pentium/Floating Point Processor Stuff
    http://www.nscl.msu.edu/~kortemey/copro.html
        A collection of assembler routines written for Turbo Pascal
        and C++.  Most of the comments are in German after an English
        introduction.

Cameron's 386+ Programming Page             NOT CURRENTLY WORKING
    http://free.prohosting.com/~cameron/
        32 bit DOS extender/Utilities/pmode extender
        File formats and specifications/Game programming
        Knowledge Base with ASM tutorials, Denthor's VGA Trainer and
            Univ. of Guadalajara ASM tutorial 

Peter's PMODE Home Page
    http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Peaks/1231/
        Pmode tutorials and programming related files

Niko Komin's Assembler for PCS page
    http://www.inx.de/~nkomin/html/assembe.htm
        Shareware, pmode, x86 mnemonics, ASM related links.

Alexandre Zvenigorosky III's Programs for PC 386+
    http://www.cpod.com/monoweb/zveni/prg.html
        Zvenigorosky's assembler and debugger, currently
            documentation only in French.

Rich Elber's ValArrow (286 Assembler) Page
    http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/7052/valarr2.html
        Links to Arrowsoft Assembler, ZD86 debugger, discussion of
            Arrowsoft's Assemblers deviations from MASM.

Kurt I. Groenbech's Alab Homepage
    http://www.nano.no/~espeng/alab/
        Home page for the Assembler Laboratory that is an IDE for
            assemblers

Christian Kurzke's Advanced x86 Assembly Programming
    http://wwwcip.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/user/cnkurzke/hwkmcs/index.html
        Excerpts from lessons given at Adalbert Stifter Gymnasium in
            1989

Bob Richardson's PC Assembly Language Page
    http://lexitech.com/bobrich/
        Eighteen topics taken from his SELFIN PC Assembly Language
            Group.

Jesper Pedersen's Processor Information Page
    http://www.imada.ou.dk/~jews/PInfo/intel.html
        List of instructions and opcodes used by Intel, AMD, Cyrix
            and Nexgen.

Quantasm's x86 and Pentium Programming Tips and Info
    http://www.quantasm.com/freeinfo.html

Steve Kemp's Assembly Language Programming Index  (Not currently
working)
    http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/skx/asm/index.html
        Assembly Language Newbie information.  A86 Source Code

Ferdi Smit's Assemble It! Page
    http://www.xs4all.nl/~smit/
        His own source code, 3D programming, his own ASM tutorial,
            optimization and other information.

Paul Hsieh's x86 Assembly Language Page
    http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/9498/asm.html
        Feature articles, Optimization and General
            Programming/References

Jaap Harm's 80x86 Assembly Page             (Not currently working)
    http://home.worldonline.nl/~jaapharm/
        Tutorial, source code and links

Charles Winner s ASM Resources              (Not currently working)
    http://www.cse.utoledo.edu/%7Ecwinner/assembly.html

G. Adam Stanislav's Whiz Kid Technomagic
    http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/7394/
        Win95 Assembly Language source code examples

John Eckerdal's Assembly Page
    http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/6452/index.html
        Nice collection of Assembly Gems.

Gaz's Little Web Programming Page
    http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/fatbit/427/programming.html
        Protected Mode Tutorial and large library of NASM source code
        written for the WDosX 32 bit DOS extender

Christopher Giese's Triple Fault Club
    http://www.netwurx.net/~geezer/os/index.htm
        NASM and DJGPP Code, Protected Mode Code, OS Code

The Bass Demon's Operating System Theory Page
    http://home.c2i.net/tkjoerne/os/index.htm
        Information on Hard Disks, Partitioning and Booting, FAT
        specific filesystem information, Filesystem theory article,
        Available assembler source codes and Memory Management

OS Development Page
    http://milkyway.isa.net.au/os-dev/index2.html
        Documentation, Links, Source files, Bulletin Board

The NASM Advocate
    http://people.mw.mediaone.net/nasm/index.html
        NASM source code, documentation (HTML format), NASM specific
        IDE, NASM Links, NASM Mailing List and NASM Mailing List
        Archives

Anthony's Programming Page:
    http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/4311/
        Home of ALINK.  ALINK is a linker that I am writing, to link
        object files into executable programs. The ultimate purpose
        is to write a free and portable linker to go with NASM, which
        can link all the NASM output formats into any one of a number
        of possible executable formats, so that the pair provide a
        portable assembler and linker for Intel CPUs on any OS.

Craig Peacock's Interfacing the PC Page
    http://www.senet.com.au/~cpeacock/
        Much information about interfacing with the parallel and
        serial ports, information about IRQs and AT keyboards, and
        many links to more technical information.

Chris Dragan's Home Page
    http://ams.ampr.org/cdragan/
        His own programs and assembler source code, Win32 programs.

David Lindauer's Computer Page
    http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/5196/treasure.html
        Windows Assembly Demo for TASM

David Lindauer's LADSoft Computer Page                          NEW
    http://members.tripod.com/~ladsoft/

Jan Wagemakers' Linux and Assembler Home Page
    http://bewoner.dma.be/JanW/eng.html

Brennan's Guide to Inline Assembly
    http://www.rt66.com/~brennan/djgpp/bgtia.html
        Information on AT&T syntax

Dr. Carter's PC Assembly Programming Code Page
    http://www.comsc.ucok.edu/~pcarter/pcasm/code/
        Much NASM code

Gustavo Net's ASM page
    http://www.gustavo.net/programming/asm.shtml
        Links to tutorials, Programmer's Forum, source code, and
            more.

Henry S. Takeuchi's Windows 95 Assembly Language Programming
    http://www.eskimo.com/~htak/win95asm/win95asm.htm
        Source code and tutorial

Glenn Strycker's The International Brotherhood of Assembly/Machine
Programmers (IBAMP)                                             NEW
    http://www.members.kconline.com/strycker/IBAMP/index.html
        Assembly Chat and Forum, links, source code

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 23 Nov 98

------------------------------

Subject: 27. Common Reason Why Memory Allocation Fails

27.1 BACKGROUND

A common error received when first learning to use Int 21h Function
48h, allocate memory, is error code 8, insufficient memory available. 
Usually, the programmer then writes a small program that only
allocates memory, and the program still fails.  This situation is
quite puzzling because there should be hundreds of kilobytes of
memory available but this function reports that there is insufficient
memory for a few hundred bytes.  The reason is that DOS generally
allocates all available memory above the loaded program to that
program.  Therefore, there is no more memory to allocate, so the
request fails.

27.2 .COM FILES

Since a .COM file does not contain any header information, the DOS
loader has no way of determining how much memory is required for a
program beyond the physical size of the program.  Even this number is
deceptive because it does not include a stack.  Therefore, DOS always
allocates all available memory above the program to the program.

To use the allocate memory function, the programmer must release that
extra memory using Int 21h Function 4ah, Set Memory Block Size. 
Given that generally there is more that 64 Kbytes of memory, the DOS
sets Stack Top to just under that value, it is generally safe to
release all memory above 64 Kbytes.

27.3 .EXE FILES

The amount of memory the DOS allocates to the loaded program depends
upon a value in the .EXE header.  This value is called Maximum
Allocation and is a word starting at offset 12.  This value specifies
the number of 16-byte paragraphs beyond the image size wanted by the
program to execute.  This value must be equal or greater than the
Minimum Allocation, which is the number of 16-byte paragraphs beyond
the image size required by the program to execute.  This space
generally contains uninitialized variables and the stack.

The value of Maximum Allocation is set by the /CPARM Option for the
Microsoft Linker.  By default, the linker sets this value to 0ffffh
which will causes DOS to allocate the largest block of available
memory.  This memory can be used as a heap, print buffer, etc.

27.4 DETERMINING HOW MUCH MEMORY IS AVAILABLE TO A PROGRAM

In the PSP, at offset 02h, DOS loads a word which is the segment
address of the next Memory Control Block or Arena.  Subtracting the
PSP from that value at offset 02h will be the number of memory
paragraphs allocated to the program.  The number of bytes can be
calculated by shifting that number to the left by 4 bits, multiplying
by 16, the size of a memory paragraph.

27.5 HOW TO DEALLOCATE MEMORY AT THE START OF A PROGRAM

If you want to load and execute another program, you must release
memory to make room for the program.  Also, since the largest chunk
of memory is allocated already to the program, all requests to
allocate memory generally fail.

Again, to use the allocate memory function, the programmer must
release the extra memory above the program use as for a .COM file
above.  The problem here is where is the end of the program.  The
answer is not as simple as with the .COM file.  There are two basic
solutions.

1.  If you use the .dosseg option, the Microsoft Linker will define a
label, _end, at the end of the DGROUP.  Since the .dosseg option also
places any FAR data segments between the code and DGROUP segments,
you can release all memory above that label.

2.  If you do not want or are unable to use the first option, use an
include file which declares all segments used by your program. 
Define a label in the last segment and use it as the _end label in
the first example.

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 26 Dec 95

------------------------------

Subject: 28. Volume Serial Numbers

28.1 VOLUME SERIAL NUMBER FORMAT

The volume serial number was introduced with DOS 4.0 as part of an
extended boot record and is created through you either FORMAT a disk
or use DISKCOPY to create another disk.  The serial number is a
function of the time/date of the formatting or the diskcopying.  Note
that DISCOPY generates a new volume serial number so a DISKCOPY is
not an exact image of the source diskette.

28.2 CALCULATING THE VOLUME SERIAL NUMBER

For example, say a disk was formatted on 26 Dec 95 at 9:55 PM and
41.94 seconds.  DOS takes the date and time just before it writes it
to the disk.

Low order word is calculated:               Volume Serial Number is:
    Month & Day         12/26   0c1ah
    Sec & Hundrenths    41:94   295eh               3578:1d02
                                -----
                                3578h

High order word is calculated:
    Hours & Minutes     21:55   1537h
    Year                1995    07cbh
                                -----
                                1d02h

Note that DOS interrupt 21h Functions 2ah, Get DOS Date, and 2ch, Get
DOS
Time, are particularly suited to getting the date and time for
calculating the Volume Serial Number.

28.3 READING AND SETTING THE VOLUME SERIAL NUMBER

To read the Volume Serial Number, use the IOCTL call, int 21h
function  440dh Minor Code 66h, Get Media ID.  To write the Volume
Serial Number,  use the IOCTL call, int 21h function 440dh Minor Code
46h, Set Media ID.

WARNING!  These IOCTL calls use a structure that also contain the
volume  label and file system type.  So that you do not create errors
with these  values, I recommend that you always Minor Code 66h to
initialize the  structure before setting the Volume Serial Number to
a new value and  writing it back to the disk. 

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 17 Feb 96

------------------------------

Subject: 29. .obj File Format                                   REVISED

29.1 INTEL

There are two sources for this information.  The first is available
from Intel.  The Tools Interface Standards Committee has prepared the
following  documents:

    ftp://ftp.intel.com/pub/tis/omf11g.zip

The readme file in each .zip file states that the document is the
Relocatable Object Module Format Specification, V1.1.

Unfortunately, both files unzip into documents formatted for
Postscript printers.  Adobe's Acrobat can not display them, but
Ghostscript can.  If you need GhostScript, you can get it from the
following site.  Read the   ftp://ftp.cs.wisc.edu/pub/ghost/aladdin 

29.2  MICROSOFT

The second is from Microsoft.  This file is located at:

    ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/ss0288.exe

This file expands into ascii text files that are the Microsoft
Product Support Services Application Note: Relocatable Object Module
Format.  These files date from 1992.  Also included is the .lib file
format and the CodeView extensions. 

29.3  COFF format

This information is specific for DJGPP COFF but is this the same as
used by Microsoft (I believe)
    http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/doc/coff/

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 25 Oct 98

------------------------------

Subject: 30. Rebooting from Software

30.1 WARM AND COLD REBOOT

Within DOS, there are two types of rebooting.  There is the warm
reboot that is evoked by pressing the "Ctrl-Alt-Del" key combination. 
During this reboot, all Power On System Tests, POSTs, are performed
with the exception of the memory tests.  In addition to the POSTs,
interrupt vectors are reinitialized and system timers reinitialized. 
In other words, the BIOS code initializes the computer system to such
a state that the computer system is ready for loading the operating
system.  The loading of the operating system is done by issuing an
interrupt 19h.

The second type of rebooting is a cold reboot that occurs when the
system is turned on.  The only difference between a cold reboot and a
warm reboot is the performing of the memory tests.

30.2 PERFORMING A REBOOT FROM SOFTWARE

Whether a cold or warm reboot is performed depends upon the value if
the the reset flag in the ROM BIOS data area.  If this flag is set to
1234h, a warm reset is performed.  An any other value results in a
cold reboot.  Usually a zero is loaded for the cold reboot.  Code
snippets to do this are:

ROMBIOS_DATA    segment at 0400h
    org 72h
ResetFlag   dw  ?
ROMBIOS_DATA    ends

ROMBIOS     segment at 0f000h
    org 0fff0h
Reset   label   far
ROMBIOS ends

In your code:

    mov ax, seg ROMBIOS_DATA
    mov ds, ax
ASSUME ds:ROMBIOS_DATA
    mov ResetFlag, 1234h        ; or 0 if cold reset is desired
    jmp Reset

30.3 WARNINGS!

Neither the warm nor the cold boot flushes buffers, system, smartdrv,
and
EMM386, or notifies TSRs.  This can lead to lost of data.  The best
source code that takes most of this into account is:

    ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/bootutil/reboot33.zip

Full souce code is available.

30.4 JUST USING INT 19H

Using this interrupt alone will only reload the operating system onto
a computer system that may not be properly initialized for it.  The
interrupt vectors are not reset but the TSRs that have hooks into the
interrupt table may be overwritten.  Obviously, this can lead to the
system hanging if one of these hooked and overwritten interrupts is
called.  Other problems can be timers not reset or add-on cards not
reinitialized properly.  So, do NOT use int 19h to reboot the
computer.

30.5 USING F000:E05B INSTEAD OF F000:FFF0 AS THE JUMP ADDRESS

In the original IBM ROM BIOS, the instruction at f000:fff0 was a long
jump to f000:e05b.  Some programs skipped the jump at f000:fff0 and
went directly to the second address which is the start of the reset
procedure in ROM BIOS.  I checked my 386 with non IBM BIOS, and the
start of the reset procedure is at the same address.  I believe that
using the second address is dangerous because there is not any
guarantee that it will stay the same.  Also, if you are rebooting the
computer what is the reason in saving a few cycles!  Stay with the
address f000:fff0 as the jump there always will take the execution
path to the correct code.

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 20 Dec 96

------------------------------

Subject: 31. Other FAQs

31.1 COMP.OS.MSDOS.PROGRAMMER

This excellent FAQ is posted every 20 days to
comp.os.msdos.programmer,
comp.answers and news.answers newsgroup.

It is available from

    ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.os.msdos.programmer/

31.2 COMMUNICATIONS FAQS

The following websites contains many links to communication and
hardware  related FAQs, e.g., serial port, game port, keyboard, modem,
and LANs.  Most of these FAQs are not approved FAQs so are not found
at rtfm.mit.edu but that is not to say that these are not quality
FAQs.  There is much good information.

    http://www.webcom.com/~llarrow/comfaqs.html
    http://www.repairfaq.com/filipg/LINK/F_LINKIN.html#LINKIN_003
    http://www2.psyber.com/~tcj/faqnfile.html

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 25 Oct 98

------------------------------

Subject: 32. Pseudo Random Number Generator in Assembly Language

Mark Adler wrote a set or pseudo random number generators based upon
algorithms from Knuth's "Art of Computer Programming", vol 2, 2nd ed. 
The file comes with full assembly source and .obj files for all major
memory models.  While written to link with Turbo C, the .obj files
when linked with Microsoft C worked well, except for the procedure
that return a double random number.  The reason was because the return
protocol is different between Borland C and Microsoft C.  Once the
code was modified to work with Microsoft C, the code worked well.

To test the algorithms, I created an array of 100 random numbers and
then generated random numbers and tried to determine if the original
pattern was ever repeated.  My program kept the length of the longest
matching series.  For real or double, the longest matching series was
one after more that a billion random numbers.  For ints, 0 and 1 as
the only selections produced the longest matching series of 31 matches
after more than a billion random numbers.  Increasing the range of
acceptable numbers quickly reduced the longest matching series to 2 in
over 250 million random numbers.  My short testing revealed that the
longest matching series seldom increased after this number.

Lastly, to test the distribution, I counted the number of hits for
each number between 0 and 100.  I collected about 100,000 hits for
each number.  The standard deviation was only 319 or less than 0.33%.

While my testing was not a rigorous mathematical testing of the
algorithm and its implementation, I believe for most uses, these
procedures are adequate.

The file is available:
    ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/turbo_c/tcrnd11.zip

Note that the description of this file is inaccurate.

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 4 May 96

------------------------------

Subject: 33. Command Line Arguments

33.1  WHERE IS THE COMMAND LINE

DOS loads the command line into the PSP.  The length of the command
line is stored in a byte at offset 80h.  The command line is stored in
the next 127 bytes starting at 81h.  As, generally, there is a space
between the filename and the start of the command line argument, a
space usually is the first character in this string.  The string is
terminated with a carriage return character, 0dh.

At startup for both .COM and .EXE format programs, DS and ES point to
the  PSP.

33.2  HOW TO ACCESS THE COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS

See Subject #8, How to Redirect Stderr to a File.  I have written a
demonstration program that contains assembly language startup code
that parses the command line arguments onto the stack and provides
them as argc and *argv[] to the main procedure.  Anyone interested in
accessing command line arguments should look at this code.

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 15 Jun 96

------------------------------

Subject: 34. Free 32 bit and DJGPP Assemblers

34.1  Brennan Underwood's Guide to Inline Assembly under DJGPP.

This is an introduction to inline assembly under DJGPP and is based
upon GCC.  The AT&T/UNIX syntax is explained.  The URL is:

    http://www.rt66.com/~brennan/djgpp/bgtia.html

34.2  DJGPP QUICK ASM PROGRAMMING GUIDE

Andrew Ly has a web page covering:
    URLs to FAQs
    AT&T x86 ASM Syntax
    Some inline ASM information
    converting .obj/.lib files

The URL to this page is:
    www.castle.net/~avly/djgpp.html

34.3 FREE 32-BIT X86 ASSEMBLER FAQ/LINUX X86 ASSEMBLY HOWTO

Francois-Rene Rideau has authored a FAQ on free 32-bit assemblers or
Linus x86 Assembly HowTo.  It is available:

    http://www.eleves.ens.fr:8080/home/rideau/Assembly-HOWTO

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 19 Jun 96

------------------------------

Subject: 35. TERSE Programming Language

Jim Neil has just announced his TERSE Programming Language.  TERSE
gives all of the control available in assembly language with the
look-and-feel and ease-of-use found in high-level languages.

It is available:
    http://www.terse.com

Contributor:  Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last changed: 19 Aug 96

------------------------------

Subject: 36. Assembly Language IDEs

36.1    ASMEDIT

ASMEDIT is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Assembly
Language programmers.  This IDE has a build in editor that provides
syntax coloring, editing of files up to 256 Mbytes, dissammembly of
short code pieces, and shelling to run external assemblers, linkers,
debuggers and make programs.

The real benefit of ASMEDIT is its extensive help.  This help covers:
    80x86 ASM mnemonics up to 686 including FPU and MMX;
    Complete Opcode Tables;
    BIOS Interrupts;
    DOS Interrupts and DOS Functions;
    EMS and Mouse Functions;
    BIOS and DOS Data Structures;
    Diagnostic Codes; and
    VGA programming information.

ASMEDIT is available from simtel or any of its mirrors:

    ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/asmutl/aedt182.zip

36.2 ALAB

Assembler Laboratory is an assembler IDE, packed with nice features
such as: 

    syntax and error highlighting 
    proc, macro and data browsers 
    tasm, masm, a86 and dlink support
    heuristic scan 
    opcode help, extended ascii chart, scan codes, calculator 
    much more!

The latest version is available from the author's homepage:
    http://www.nano.no/~espeng/alab/

36.3 ASMIDE

The latest version of ASMIDE, 4.01, has the following features:
    contains all the features of a conventional editor, such as
        Finding, Replacing, Cutting, Copying, Pasting.
    has the ability to open multiple files, allowing you to transfer
        text between the files. Multiple windows can be Tiled or
        Cascaded, and features Scroll bars.
    has mouse support.
    features a simple, 4 function, 3 mode calculator, and an Ascii
        Chart.
    has menu systems allowing you to assemble, link, run and debug
        your program.  Short cut keys are also provided.
    allows you to specify your own assembler, linker and debugger in
        the configuration file.
    features setup dialogs that provide support for TASM, TLINK, MASM
        and LINK.

ASMIDE is available:
    http://www.inx.de/~nkomin/files/asmide.arj

36.4 NASMIDE

NASM-IDE is a front end for NASM which allows multiple files to be
worked on within the same editing environment.  Written in Turbo
Pascal and Turbo Vision, the NASM-IDE interface is clear and
straightforward.  Features include:

    Turbo Vision point-and-click style interface
    Automatic syntax highlighting of source code
    An ASM Assistant to guide users through the creation of assembler
        projects
    On-line help system
    Support for three main output file formats - flat file binary and
        DOS 16 bit and Win32 object files

Learn more about NASIDE and download it from:

    http://www.inglenook.co.uk/nasmide/index.html

36.5 MicroASM

MicroASM is written by Ole Saether.  It is a Windows 95 & NT windows
editor with support for MS-DOS command line assemblers.

With MicroAsm you can: 

    Create and edit text files. 
    Run the files through your favorite command-line assembler.
    Automatically highlight lines containing errors.

To learn more about it and download it, visit:
    http://home.eunet.no/~oleset/microasm.htm 

36.6 TASM IDE

Joost Vrielink has developed a Turbo Assembler IDE.  It is free for
downloading from his web site:
    http://www.angelfire.com/in/tasm

The IDE is an editor just like WordPad, but compile/link/run/debug can
be accomplished with just one click  It also has a built-in
dec/hex/bin/oct converter, and syntax highlighting is almost finished. 
It is perfectly suited to make simple 16-bit DOS programs within the
Windows 95/98 environment.  Changes are being added quite often, so
remember to return and check every now and then.

Contributor: Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 19 Sep 98

-----------------------------

Subject 37.  Dissassemblers

38.1 Review of Disassemblers

Jerzy Tarasiuk has reviewed some commercial and shareware
disassemblers.  The shareware assemblers are available in this
directory.  The review is available:

    ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/disasm/aabstrct.txt

Contributor: Raymond Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 13 Oct 96

-----------------------------

Subject: 38.  How to Optimize for the Pentium

39.1 PENTIUM OPTIMIZATION SITE

The below site is updated as new information becomes available and
contains information not found elsewhere.
    http://announce.com/agner/assem

38.2 LITERATURE AVAILABLE FROM INTEL

Much useful literature can be downloaded for free from Intel's www
site:
    http://www.intel.com

The documents are in various different file formats.  If a particular
document is in a format not supported by your word processing software
then you may seek an appropriate file viewer somewhere on the
Internet.  Many software companies are offering such file viewers for
free to support their file formats.

Tutorials for Optimizing the Pentium, and Pentium Pro/Pentium II can
be downloaded from:
    http://developer.intel.com/design/perftool/cbts/pentopt/index.htm
    http://developer.intel.com/design/perftool/cbts/pproopt/index.htm

Manuals for the Pentium and Pentium Pro processors can be downloaded
from:
    http://developer.intel.com/design/pentium/manuals/
    http://developer.intel.com/design/pro/manuals/

Detailed information on the MMX processors can be found in the
documents:
"MMX Technology Developers Guide", and "Programmers Reference Manual",
both of which are available from:
    http://developer.intel.com/drg/mmx/manuals/

Many other sources other than Intel also have useful information.  I
would particularly recommend:
    http://www.x86.org.

Contributor: Ray Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 20 Dec 97

-----------------------------

Subject: 39. Assembly Language Programming Style Guidelines

Randy Hyde has done it again.  He has written a style guide that will
help you write more readable and maintainable assembly language code. 
The URL is:

    http://cuda.ucr.edu/Page_softeng/sample.html

Contributor: Ray Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 21 May 97

-----------------------------

Subject: 40. Other Assembly-Related Newsgroups

Here are some other assembly language newsgroups that may be of
interest.

    news:msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.masm
    news:forums.borland.com/borland.public.tasm
    news:fido7.talks-asm
    news:alt.os.assembly
    news:alt.os.development

Contributor: Ray Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 26 Dec 97

-----------------------------

Subject: 41. ZD-86 Debugger

41.1  DESCRIPTION

ZD86 is a full featured Assembler Debugging Environment, that provides
Symbolic Debugging for most common Assemblers, including A86, MASM,
TASM, etc.  The symbolic debugging capability displays and highlights
your statement labels and variable names where you have placed them in
your code.  It is a powerful tool for the advanced assembly language
programmer yet friendly enough for someone just starting with assembly
language.

41.2  AVAILABILITY

The ZD86 Debugger is available from:

    ftp://cet.cet.com/pub/80xxx/zd86-101.zip

Contributor: Ray Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 22 Jun 97

-----------------------------

Subject: 42. Links to x86 Processor Manufacturers

AMD
    http://www.amd.com/K6/k6docs/index.html

Intel
    http://developer.intel.com/design/PentiumII/manuals/

Cyrix
    http://www.cyrix.com/developers/dv-home.htm

Contributor: Ray Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 25 Oct 98

-----------------------------

Subject: 43. Linkers

43.1 Microsoft's 16-bit linker

Microsoft has its 16-bit DOS linker available from its FTP site.  The
linkers URL is:
    ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/lnk563.exe

43.2 ALINK

ALINK is a linker that I am writing, to link object files into
executable programs. The ultimate purpose is to write a free and
portable linker to go with NASM, which can link all the NASM output
formats into any one of a number of possible executable formats, so
that the pair provide a portable assembler and linker for Intel CPUs
on any OS. Thus ALINK is written in ANSI C, in order to be fully
portable. 

At the moment, ALINK can only link OBJ (Microsoft/Intel OMF) and LIB
format files (as generated by Borland's compilers, and NASM and DOS
versions of Microsoft compilers) into MS-DOS COM files, and MS-DOS EXE
files, and (PE)Win32 EXE and DLL files. 32-bit records are supported.
The aim is to support generation of Win16 program files (New
Executable), OS/2 Linear Executable files, a.out executables, ELF
executables, and raw binary files.

Also available is IMPLIB, a Win32 import library generator, as a
companion to ALINK.

These are available form Anthony's Programming Page:
    http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/4311/index.html

Contributor: Ray Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 25 Oct 98

-----------------------------

Subject: 44. ASM Mailing Lists                                  NEW

44.1  NASM MAILING LIST

Michael Darling has started a NASM mailing list.  You can subscribe to
the list on the following web page:
    http://nasm.home.ml.org

44.2 X86 ASM MAILING LIST

Michael Ware has created an x86 ASM mailing list.  You can subscribe
to the list on the following web page:
    http::www.eGroups.com/list/assembly

Contributor: Ray Moon, raymoon@moonware.dgsys.com
Last Changed: 23 Nov 98

-----------------------------

Subject: 45. Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge all the people who have assisted me or any
of the contributors.  For their time and effort, this FAQ is a better
product.

David Boedicker, Barry Brey, Paolo Ciccone, Giuseppe De Marco, Morten
Elling, Kris Heidenstrom, Alan Illeman, Don Krull, Chabad Lubavitch,
Thanh Ma, Jeff Owens, Ed Parry, Keith Petersen, Michael Roberts,
Russell Schulz, Rocky Seelbach, Janos Szamosfalvi and Cedric Ware


