Using HLA with MASM or FASM

[indiocolifa]

I've both FASM and MASM available to use with HLA.

THere is any difference on using FASM or MASM?

[Evenbit]

I believe the manual says something about MASM having difficulty processing source that defines large arrays or something of that nature.  Otherwise, I don't believe there is any real advantage/disadvantage with either choice.

Nathan.

[Randall Hyde]

I believe the manual says something about MASM having difficulty processing source that defines large arrays or something of that nature.  Otherwise, I don't believe there is any real advantage/disadvantage with either choice.

Nathan.

Actually, I have a "fix" for the large array problem. I assemble the .asm file with MASM to produce an OMF file rather than a COFF file and then let the linker convert it to a COFF file for me. This solves the speed problem with MASM.

There are two main reasons, and one minor reason, for providing the FASM version in addition to the MASM version:

1. Some people just hate Microsoft and anything Microsoft and will refuse to use a product like HLA that depends on Microsoft products (like MASM).

2. MASM is a copyrighted program and I cannot legally include it as part of the HLA package (well, without obtaining permission, which I'm not inclined to try and do). By creating a FASM version of HLA, I can put together a freely distributable version of HLA that includes the back-end assembler.

3. For those wanting to move on to FASM after learning HLA, having the FASM output from HLA to observe is a nice feature.
Cheers,
Randy Hyde