1st Post

[JBP]

Just wanted to make my first post but wasn't really sure where to put it so here goes (MODS feel free to move this posting if necessary). I've been interested in programming for many years and finally decided to sit down and give it an honest go. I would like to become as proficient C++ and Assembly language as I possibly can. I'm open to any suggestions that will help a complete beginner at programming (other than a couple .BAT for automating backups  ) If anyone has any suggestions on an ASM IDE that'd be great. I already use Visual Studio for C++ but that's a topic for another forum. Thanks all. And thanks hutch for helping me with my registration problem

FYI - I'm not a BOT

[hutch--]

Hi Josh, thanks for posting.

[fearless]

Hi JBP

There are a couple of IDE's you can use for assembly development, including visual studio. Just seen the other day an updated page relating to setting up visual studio for use with masm: http://kipirvine.com/asm/gettingStartedVS2013/index.htm, so if your more comfortable using that IDE that might be an option.

Hutch has a IDE included with the MASM32 download

I use RadASM v2.2.2.0 myself, but the main site went down, and the mirror is for v2.2.1.6 which should be fine though: http://www.oby.ro/rad_asm/
I did find another mirror for v2.2.2.0, although my anti-virus triggered a false positive on it: http://www.assembly.com.br/download/radasm.html

Few of the other chaps around here probably can direct you to some useful reference material and hints & tips to getting started (JJ and/or Dave usually have links for that stuff)

[dedndave]

welcome to the forum Josh   :t

[jj2007]

useful reference material and hints & tips to getting started (JJ and/or Dave usually have links for that stuff)

Hi Josh,

Here is a two-pager with essential stuff (you can ignore everything in green).

If that is really your first experience in programming, prepare for a steep learning curve. Assembler looks very complicated at the beginning, but you have to learn only a handful of instructions to do essential things. On the other hand, C++ needs a 1,000 pages manual... go figure, it's an elephant.

P.S.: You should get JWasm from here.

[Siekmanski]

Hi Josh,

Welcome to the forum.  :t

Marinus

[JBP]

Thanks for the tips everyone.. What is the general consensus on Randall Hydes - Art of Assembly Language 2nd Edition? Is it a good way to get started with assembly? I know it uses his own high-level assembler but from what I read it does that go ease the learning curve that comes inherit to assembly language.

[JBP]

Hi JBP

.....

I use RadASM v2.2.2.0 myself, but the main site went down, and the mirror is for v2.2.1.6 which should be fine though: http://www.oby.ro/rad_asm/
I did find another mirror for v2.2.2.0, although my anti-virus triggered a false positive on it: http://www.assembly.com.br/download/radasm.html

.....

Thanks for the link... I downloaded a copy of v2.2.2.0 and firefox blocked it as a potential malware..I turned that off in about:config and downloaded it again and scanned it with MS Security Essentials and BitDefender and didn't get a hit so I'm going to trust that it is clean. Also I'll save a copy of it (and other hard to locate tools) and their associated files to my website so that another mirror is available if necessary someday.

[jj2007]

What is the general consensus on Randall Hydes - Art of Assembly Language 2nd Edition?

HLA works, of course, but it seems not be widely used. You might have problems finding support, as it is like a different language.

Masm32 offers a wide range of easy-to-use macros. Have a look at \Masm32\help\hlhelp.chm

[JBP]

What is the general consensus on Randall Hydes - Art of Assembly Language 2nd Edition?

HLA works, of course, but it seems not be widely used. You might have problems finding support, as it is like a different language.

Masm32 offers a wide range of easy-to-use macros. Have a look at \Masm32\help\hlhelp.chm

Thanks and I definitely will.. Also is it beneficial to have a separate programming environment such as WinXPProSp3 within a VirtualBox instance? The only reason I ask is because I noticed some forums mentioned that it may be necessary to run older development software such as Turbo Assembler ect.. with in the Dosbox emulator with Win7/8-x64.

[jj2007]

Don't worry, nothing special required. Any standard Windows installation will do, from XP onwards.

[rrr314159]

Hi JBP,

FORTRANS and I are in a minority of two, we like Randall Hyde's book. However I don't know anything about 2nd edition, and am very suspicious of anything like an "HLA". Just makes it harder to learn MASM by covering it up with more stuff to learn. Admittedly I haven't looked at it.

Anyway this question came up on another thread and here's the link I gave there,

The Art of Assembly Language Programming by Randall Hyde.

Note some of the chapters can be skipped: anything about the UCR  "Standard Library" is obsolete. When he starts talking about "finite state automata" and "iterators" you should probably turn the page.

Some people think the DOS info is obsolete, I don't agree, it's still a good book / tutorial.

[jj2007]

Hi JBP,

FORTRANS and I are in a minority of two, we like Randall Hyde's book. However I don't know anything about 2nd edition, and am very suspicious of anything like an "HLA".

There are at least three fans of the book - I like it, too. But that's the 1st edition. After that, Randy Hyde started working on a new medium level language, a missing link between assembler and high level languages. And as far as I can see, the resonance is not overwhelming.

[JBP]

Hi JBP

There are a couple of IDE's you can use for assembly development, including visual studio. Just seen the other day an updated page relating to setting up visual studio for use with masm: http://kipirvine.com/asm/gettingStartedVS2013/index.htm, so if your more comfortable using that IDE that might be an option.

.....

I think I'm going to give this book a go.. Especially since I plan on using Visual C++ primarily anyways and it'd probably be easier if I can stick with one IDE most likely..

[Gunther]

Hi Josh,

welcome to the forum.

Gunther