Do something

[T. Ment]

In another thread, I said

Do something worthwhile. Learn assembly

If that's too hard, start with something easier. Here's an archive of PC
Magazine source code:

http://mpolibbs.steptail.com/software/MISC/PCMAG/

with many projects to choose from.

[R.Wieser]

T,

Post by T. Ment
http://mpolibbs.steptail.com/software/MISC/PCMAG/

If only there was a description of what is inside all those featureless
zipfiles ...

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[Sjouke Burry]

Post by R.Wieser
T,

Post by T. Ment
http://mpolibbs.steptail.com/software/MISC/PCMAG/

If only there was a description of what is inside all those featureless
zipfiles ...
Regards,
Rudy Wieser

Just downloaded the lot.

Quite a few files seem to be missing.

General contents:sourcecode, exe's and com's, and batchfiles.
Also a lot of zips inside the zip files.

Not much info, for that you need the magazines, i presume.

[T. Ment]

Post by Sjouke Burry

Post by T. Ment
http://mpolibbs.steptail.com/software/MISC/PCMAG/

General contents:sourcecode, exe's and com's, and batchfiles.

VOL7N06, CALC.DOC:

Purpose: A pop-up programmer's calculator with base conversion,
bit-shifting, logical operator, and mod functions, and 32-bit number
representation that also supports a 2-decimal place integer arithmetic
calculations.

Post by Sjouke Burry
Not much info, for that you need the magazines, i presume.

The CALC.ASM source code is enough info. Some hackers don't even need
that. They read machine code and disassemble it in their mind. How much
info you need, depends on your skill level.

[R.Wieser]

T,

Post by Sjouke Burry
Not much info, for that you need the magazines, i presume.

The CALC.ASM source code is enough info. [snip]

You start with "If that's too hard, start with something easier." and now
follow it up with "you figure it out yourself". Make up your mind please.
:-)

Also, for a beginner that particular sourcecode is /way/ to big and complex
to be in any measure comfortable with. And thats regardles of the ammount
of remarks in there.


Bottom line: those files (as is) might be usefull as a "how do other people
do it?" kind of reference, /after/ you already got the (very loosely put)
"basics" down.

And as such (a "how do other people do it?" reference) I have to thank you
for posting that link. :-)

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[JJ]

Post by R.Wieser
Also, for a beginner that particular sourcecode is /way/ to big and complex
to be in any measure comfortable with. And thats regardles of the ammount
of remarks in there.

I'd have to agree. Most PCMag's Assembly based DOS tools are intermediate to
advanced levels, for those who are learning Assembly. Because they involve
DOS environment and sometimes, DOS internals. They're not like average
"Hello World" level projects.

[T. Ment]

Post by JJ
Most PCMag's Assembly based DOS tools are intermediate to
advanced levels, for those who are learning Assembly. Because they involve
DOS environment and sometimes, DOS internals. They're not like average
"Hello World" level projects.

People don't need to understand all the code to assemble and link it.
Learning how to use the build tools comes first. Then you can use the
finished product. Some are useful in themselves.

You can fix bugs and add features later, as skills advance. Get started,
and dismiss the negative critics, those who always complain and never do
anything.

[R.Wieser]

T,

Post by T. Ment
People don't need to understand all the code to assemble and link it.

That might be a good approach if you are only interrested in the end result,
but definitily not for an aspiring programmer - for which the road towards
the goal probably is more important than the goal itself.

It might be used by a teacher as a "look, this is how easy it is" show
preliminary to doing something yourself, but not much more.

Post by T. Ment
Learning how to use the build tools comes first.

I disagree there. You first create the need for a tool, and than explain
how its used (best way: Have them ask how to do a certain thing). The
lesson will be remembered /much/ better that way.

Post by T. Ment
You can fix bugs and add features later, as skills advance.

In my experience its the other way around : Its the challenge to figure out
how to add a certain feature is what advances their skills. And I've often
used fixing "bugs" as a challenge to learn new stuff.

Than again, I've never had the displeasure to have to instruct kids who
didn't want to learn to program, so my experiences might be different from
the ones of teachers infront of a disinterrested classroom.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[R.Wieser]

Sjouke,

Post by Sjouke Burry
Just downloaded the lot.

I downloaded the first two, and I do not consider any of the three contained
assembly files as novice-grade examples. Such examples should be
self-contained or come with a "this is the expected output" description.

Post by Sjouke Burry
Not much info, for that you need the magazines, i presume.

You might hope so ...

Regards,
Rudy Wieser