My comments here are directed to the OP, but build off the message to
which I am replying.
On Sun, 15 Jan 2023, jer...@shidel.net wrote:
<snip>
I don’t think your ready to tackle assembly under DOS yet. Not only do
you need to know some variant of assembly language. That really does
require some understanding of how DOS, BIOS and the computer itself work
at such a low level. This knowledge is mostly gained through experience
programming for DOS.
Even I would find writing a GUI for DOS a daunting task, and I've written
a lot of code in C (including such complicated things as emulators).
You're trying to swim in mile-deep waters when you can barely tread.
Therefore, you will need to start with one of the higher level
languages. Either a variant of C or Pascal. For Pascal, the most common
for DOS is Turbo Pascal. There are loads of example programs for it in
books and online. However, Turbo Pascal is a closed source compiler.
Nowadays, you can download v5.5 for free from Embarcadero. But being a
closed source compiler, there are many individuals in the open source
community that frown upon using it. That probably make C a better
choice. There are lots of C resources online as well.
C is, in my opinion, the most useful language for programming in DOS. x86
ASM is the second-most useful.
Keep this in mind:
I got by for over 20 years with almost NO knowledge of x86 ASM, and I've
written some complicated programs for DOS, including emulators and an IRC
client.
You seldom, if ever, need ASM for anything more than a speed or size
boost. And C is usually pretty fast and lightweight on its own. Stay in
C as long as you can, before going deeper into the "sea".
(snip)
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