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From: smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (S. Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer,alt.msdos.programmer,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,rec.games.programmer
Subject: Looking for Disassembler
Message-ID: <1990Nov14.232131.12753@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 14 Nov 90 23:21:31 GMT
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I am trying to decide between the various disassemblers on the
market.  I am not that concerned about how much each costs as
I am about what each one can do.  Since I am new to programming
I need one that will allow me to easily (hah!) understand
and trace the execution of a program.  I intend to use the
disassembler in conjunction with learning assembly through a
class at my university (I'm learning Pascal now).

Features wanted:

1) Should be able to run on anything from XT to 386, with the
   ability to work with 8088/86, 286, and 386/387 specific instructions.

2) Should be able to disassemble .COM, .EXE, RAM/ROM and BIOS.
   I/O port, DOS functions, etc. would be nice additions.

3) Good documentation in the manual, and good commentation in
   operation.  These are important. 

4) OS/2 and unlimited file size capability would be nice.  We
   won't be using DOS forever.

5) Must have editing and search capabilities.


If anything of the above doesn't make sense it's because I don't
know enough about assembly to ask the right questions. :)  

I've seen ads for Sharpe Systems' Master*Key disassembler.
Unfortunately it doesn't document 386/387 opcodes.  Otherwise
the ads seem to emphasize the features I would like.  Other
disassemblers I've seen advertised include:

   Re:Source (Genesoft)
   Dis/Doc Professional (RJ Swantek & Assoc.)
   Sourcer 486 (V Communications)

If someone can point me to a good source that compares current
disassemblers, please do.  I don't mind reading through a lot of
stuff.  Since I don't subscribe to any programming magazines I'm
sure there are plenty of recent articles that cover this.  I'm
a magazine freak (I read PC Magazine, PC Sources, PC World, BYTE,
Computer Shopper, Compute, and PC Computing) so just give me
the name and issue number and I'll be on cloud nine.

You can email or post responses.  Since this may be a topic of
general interest I will post a summary.

Thanks a bunch!

Steve Smith
<smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu>