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mfnerd · Beginner Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 8 Topics: 6

Could anyone please recommend a good book for learning Assembly Language.
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Thanks,
Mfnerd.

Manas Biswal · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 4:46 am Post subject:

Hi mfnerd,
You can refer to the following IBM manual -

http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/ASMP1001/CCONTENTS?DT=19950208120226

Regards,
Manas

DaveyC · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 6:30 am Post subject:

Just as important and the best reference for assembler is the MVS Principles of Operation, otherwise known as POPS. That is where you will find the reference for the instructions. Plus a whole lot more...
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Dave Crayford

semigeezer · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 11:13 am Post subject:

It is probably out of print, but I always liked Sharon Tuggle's book.

nxn00 · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 5:19 pm Post subject:

I agree with Dave about getting Principles of Operations! If I were doing any Assembler development now, I'd have a hard copy of that manual.

When I was learning Assembler in the mid 70's, I used to read POPs for fun - at the beach, in the bath, on the stoop. That basic knowledge still helps me when doing COBOL.
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Natalie

semigeezer · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 5:51 pm Post subject:

What the PoP can't teach you is good programming practice or 'neat tricks'. Some of the education oriented books are good for that.

mfnerd · Beginner Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 8 Topics: 6

Thanks folks for your valuable suggestions !!
_________________
Thanks,
Mfnerd.

nxn00 · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 6:14 pm Post subject:

Semigeezer,

I agree that an educational book is also needed. But... DO NOT IGNORE THE FINE MANUALS!

We just found instances of COBOL compile errors in some existing programs that were being recompiled due to copy book changes. We're on a new compiler! The smart, well trained programmers (not being sarcastic here; they are GOOD) apparently never read the IBM COBOL Langurage Reference for some instrucitons.

Get training, get an instructional book, and get the IBM manual!
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Natalie

semigeezer · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 9:11 pm Post subject:

Absolutely. I've even had to go to te PoPs to find problems in code that compilers generated incorrectly. My only only point is that the 'art' of programing is more than knowing the building blocks. One other suggestion I'd have is to look at good code. I suggest the source for SHOWMVS. It is clean, concise and a good example.

DaveyC · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2003 12:48 am Post subject:

And if you want to read a dump, pops will help you do that...
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Dave Crayford

zatlas · Beginner Joined: 17 Dec 2002 Posts: 43 Topics: 4

The only problem with the POPS in the last few years is that it is not written in ol' simple English anymore. There are passages there that I, a pretty experienced Assembler programmer, can tell that these passages are written in English, but am not able to make any sense of them. This is far cry from the old 360 and 370 versions of the POPS that were written in relatively simple and straight forward English.
ZA

blowbeat · Beginner Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 6 Topics: 0

Advanced Assembler Language and MVS Interfaces - Carmine A. Cannatello