First step in assembly programming

Thread View: comp.os.os2.programmer

2 messages

[T] Back to Threads [V] Tree View [G] Group Articles

2 total messages Started by Ping Chou -- Biochemistry and Bi... Thu, 16 Apr 1992 04:05

#725

Author: Ping Chou -- Biochemistry and Bi...
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 04:05

18 lines
1274 bytes

        I know it's kind of alien to write my own assembler on one DOS
        machine and use it on a pure OS/2 2.0 box, but things are going
        quite smoothly and I would probably be able to use it right after
        my copy of OS/2 arrived.

        I am aware of GNU assembler, but can't get used to its symbols.
        And there is probably some assemblers specific for OS/2 (2.0 ?),
        but are they free?

        So, how can I make system call from within an assembly program?
        I do have a ABIOS reference book. Can I call those functions as
        people done to BIOS on a PC/DOS system?

        Will I absolutely need the bunch of books from 'IBM OS/2 2.0
        Technical Library'?

Ping

Re: First step in assembly programming

#738

Author: Michael D Kretzer
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 02:56

36 lines
2814 bytes

From article <1992Apr16.040558.7516@talon.ucs.orst.edu>, by choup@bionette.cgrb.orst.edu (Ping Chou -- Biochemistry and Biophysics):
>         I am aware of GNU assembler, but can't get used to its symbols.
>         And there is probably some assemblers specific for OS/2 (2.0 ?),
>         but are they free?

MASM 6.0 isn't a free assembler, but it's relatively inexpensive (as far
as programming languages go, around $80-$100 mail order) and it's a great
assembler for producing 32-bit apps for OS/2 2.0 (of course, you still have
to buy the IBM Developer's Toolkit to get the libraries and header files).

>         So, how can I make system call from within an assembly program?
>         I do have a ABIOS reference book. Can I call those functions as
>         people done to BIOS on a PC/DOS system?

OS/2 has a totally different method of making system calls.  No more INT??
crap!!!  Unless you want to stick with DOS executables, you will have to
learn the OS/2 way of making system calls (which are by pushing parameters
on the stack and calling library procedures, even in Assembly language).

>         Will I absolutely need the bunch of books from 'IBM OS/2 2.0
>         Technical Library'?

No, not 'absolutely', but if you are not familiar with OS/2 1.x programming
methods, I can guarantee that the OS/2 2.0 Developer's Toolkit's online
documentation won't be enough to get you up to speed.  For general programming
(i.e. not 'special' stuff like writing device drivers) you can probably
skip spending $1000+ for the Technical Library and depend on third-party
OS/2 programming books.  The problem at the moment is that I haven't seen
any OS/2 2.0-specific introductory programming books.  The 1.x books will
work fine at getting you up to speed (the example programs will compile just
fine), but be aware that OS/2 2.0 has an extended API (just browse through
the Toolkit's online docs).  Some good 1.x books are Advanced OS/2 
Programming by Ray Duncan (yes, I know it says 'advanced' in the title, but
it's a GREAT introduction to OS/2 kernel programming) and Programming the
OS/2 Presentation manager by Charles Petzold.  These two books are OS/2 1.1
books, but they are the best 1.x books that I have come across.

Thread Navigation

This is a paginated view of messages in the thread with full content displayed inline.

Messages are displayed in chronological order, with the original post highlighted in green.

Use pagination controls to navigate through all messages in large threads.

Back to All Threads