From: Matthew Mastracci <mmastrac AT acs DOT ucalgary DOT ca>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: NASM Propaganda
Date: Sat, 19 Apr 1997 22:58:56 -0600
Organization: The University of Calgary
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Reply-To: Matthew Mastracci <mmastrac AT acs DOT ucalgary DOT ca>
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On 15 Apr 1997, John Beppu wrote:

> [The Shortcomings]
>  
>     At the moment, NASM lacks
>         |
>         +-- macro support
>         |   |
>         |   +-- use a preprocessor like "cpp" or "m4" instead

As of v0.94, the lastest version, NASM includes a macro processor that
supports a context stack, single and multi-line macros and macro
functions.  It's quite impressive if you see it.

>         +-- an easy way to align data
>             |
>             +-- hand-align or try the kludge mentioned in docs

With the macro processor, you can do it a little easier (still a kludge,
though):

%define align times ($$-$) & 3 nop    ; pad with NOPs to 4-byte boundary

And you can just do:

align
_Blah__Fv:
	ret
align
_Blah2__Fv:
	ret

I guess MASM and TASM use PROC directives to control alignment, but I
prefer the less structured approach NASM takes, even though it makes
auto-alignment of data more difficult.

>     I ask that anyone who hasn't given NASM a chance to please
>     do so.  NASM is a very usable assembler.
>  
>     NASM binaries are small, so please keep it around even if you
>       don't want to use it.
>  
>     NASM is another fine product from the UK.

Don't forget another few important points:

 - NASM is blindingly *fast*

 - NASM works really well with DJGPP (even in RHIDE)

[.plug]
A great intro for using NASM with DJGPP is available:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~mmastrac/djgppasm.doc

[impressive code munged]

/\/\att /\/\astracci                  mmastrac AT acs DOT ucalgary DOT ca

GCS/GE    d- s+:+ a--- C++++ UA P+ L E-- W+ N++ o K+ w+ O M- V 
          PS++ PE++ Y+ PGP t+++ 5+++ X++ R++ tv+ b+++ DI++++ I 
          G++ e h r* z?