EasyCode with NASM/YASM

[David BS]

Hi folks,

I had utilized EasyCode with MASM32 successfully - the IDE is really great! Congratulations Ramon!

I would like to know if there is some way to put YASM/NASM within EasyCode. I would like to compile some INTEL source codes (built to YASM/NASM) and adapt them to DLL (they're almost all built to console mode).

If it's not possible, could you recommend any other IDE to work with YASM/NASM, or, any tool to convert source code from NASM to MASM?

Thanks in advance!

[jj2007]

any tool to convert source code from NASM to MASM?

The NASM example here is hilariously complicated, but it looks feasible. If you can post a source with, say, 500 lines, I could give it a try with RosAsm2Masm.

[sinsi]

The NASM example here is hilariously complicated, but it looks feasible.

I weep for the future of ASM

Code: [Select]

        sub     esp, 4          ; Allocate space on the stack for one 4 byte parameter
 
        lea     eax, [fmtStr]
        mov     [esp], eax      ; Arg1: pointer to format string
Pretty sure that nasm has a push instruction...

[jj2007]

I weep for the future of ASM

Just in case the noobs who are reading this don't understand why we are whining here:

include \masm32\include\masm32rt.inc
 
.data
        fmtStr  db 'hello, world',0Ah,0
 
.code
main:
  if 0            ; MASM syntax, "pure" assembler, 14 bytes
      push offset fmtStr
      call crt_printf
      add esp, 4

  elseif 0            ; MASM syntax using invoke, 14 bytes
      invoke crt_printf, chr$("hello, world", 10)

  elseif 1            ; MASM syntax using a macro, 14 bytes
      printf("hello, world\n")

  else            ; NASM example, 21 bytes
        sub     esp, 4          ; Allocate space on the stack for one 4 byte parameter
        lea     eax, [fmtStr]
        mov     [esp], eax      ; Arg1: pointer to format string
        call    crt_printf         ; Call printf(3):
        add     esp, 4          ; Pop stack once

  endif
        ret
end main

BTW the 50% increase in code size is not the fault of NASM but rather of the Wiki author :(

[Gunther]

Code: [Select]

        sub        esp, 4

should be replaced by

Code: [Select]

        sub        esp, byte 4
It's shorter and faster. Works with NASM as well as with YASM.

Gunther

[jj2007]

With MASM syntax for the NASM example, sub esp, 4 uses already the short 3-byte encoding.

[Gunther]

Jochen,

my point was the original code from your link.

Gunther

[dedndave]

i've seen things like that in compiled code
i suppose, under the right circumstances, it might be justified
for example, you have several larger arguments to pass

so - the SUB ESP,x construct is a "cookie-cutter" template for more complex calls
they calculate the total space required for parameters - then fill it in
one that i saw was for COM - there were a few VARIANT structures passed

the problem i see there is crashability - lol
if you are near the stack limit - SUB ESP,x will get you a silent termination   :redface:

[rsala]

Hi David BS,

Thanks for your kind words about Easy Code!

Although the IDE is prepared for working with Masm and/or GoAsm, I guess you could use Nasm/Yasm if you disabled all syntax correction and set the compiler path to the folder where Nasm/Yasm is.

Regards,

Ramon

[David BS]

Although the IDE is prepared for working with Masm and/or GoAsm, I guess you could use Nasm/Yasm if you disabled all syntax correction and set the compiler path to the folder where Nasm/Yasm is.

Hmmm.... I understood everything you wrote guys. Thanks.

But my doubt was really about what Ramon answered: if I could put EasyCode to compile code using Yasm AND having syntax correction and some built-in macros. Of course I would like to get that usefull help...

Thank you Ramon. And congrats for the very nice job.

I really don't know what I'm going to do now: if I'll try to translate INTEL's YASM code to MASM (and have EasyCode working and making easier my life) or try anything else. 

One question: is not clear to me in YASM syntax if I have to define the DLLMain routine/header to build a DLL file - as I do in MASM syntax. It's not clear if it is performed just by the compiler and its parameters or if in addition I must define it is a DLL within the code.  Anyone can help me in that question?

Thanks again to all.
Regards.

[jj2007]

if I'll try to translate INTEL's YASM code to MASM (and have EasyCode working and making easier my life) or try anything else.

That is really your decision. Writing a converter is easy, but are you more hooked on YASM, or are you equally comfortable with MASM syntax?

If you can post a source with, say, 500 lines, I could give it a try with RosAsm2Masm.

[Gunther]

Hi Jochen,

if I'll try to translate INTEL's YASM code to MASM (and have EasyCode working and making easier my life) or try anything else.

That is really your decision. Writing a converter is easy, but are you more hooked on YASM, or are you equally comfortable with MASM syntax?

YASM and MASM syntax are not so far apart. That's a fact. AT&T syntax is another world. There's no doubt about that.

Gunther

[rsala]

Hi,

I am afraid I was to optimistic in my first answer. Easy Code, both Masm and GoAsm, internally write some compiler options, so it might not work with Nasm/Yasm. I think the best you can do (not just for using Easy Code, but for making things simple) is trying to translate the code to Masm or GoAsm syntax.

Regards,

Ramon

[David BS]

 

Thanks you all for the answers.

I feel confortable with MASM and, since I'm a Visual Studio programmer, I suppose I can utilize the internal source code debugger to step-by-step my ASM sources during the debug session (for instance, to see if the Visual Basic call and parameters are being correctly sent/received and so forth). I'm not sure if with YASM I have the same environment.

EasyCode really makes the job easier, since it has a lot of functions/macros to help us. So, the union between MASM and EasyCode is preferable to me.

BUT, unfortunetly, all INTEL source codes are made to be YASM/NASM compiled and I believe the most of them are to be linked with C or C++ (argh!  :icon13:). I hate C/C++ since the language is in my view the worst between two worlds: the High Level and Low Level languages.  I can make a whole system utilizing Visual Basic in just ONE DAY, what sould be impossible utilizing C++ or C.  The sources I send now here are being focused into .LIB files, which Visual Basic does not see!

For instance, one of my doubts is about how make a DLL file in YASM!  I cannot see any source example! May I have to define the DLLEntry point there or YASM/NASM will create it automatically?  And the EXPORT directive, must I define in within the code?  Should I have also to create .DEF files?

In MASM I know how to create them and make the MASM/LINK undertstand them to create a DLL file, but with these samples I'm not getting succes with YASM. Or it creates an EXE file or a LIB file - and none of them are my target.

Can anyone light my way?
Thank you very much.
Regards!

[Gunther]

Hi David,

I hope that link will help you.

Gunther