Chapter 1 The Professional Development System

The Microsoft Macro Assembler Professional Development System is a collection of tools designed to increase DOS and OS/2 programming efficiency. The system offers

The Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM)

A customizable editor that can accept user extensions

A source-level, window-oriented debugger

A project-management (“make”) utility

A source-level browser

A complete online reference system

The Programmer's WorkBench (PWB) integrates these tools, creating an environment in which you can edit, assemble, link, and debug your programs.

This book is a general introduction to MASM. This chapter introduces some of the features of the Professional Development System. Chapter 2 describes how to install the Professional Development System. Chapter 3 introduces the Programmer's WorkBench. Chapter 4 shows how to use the online reference system—a complete reference to the Professional Development System and the MASM language that is accessible both within PWB and at the OS/2 or DOS command line.

NOTE:

Microsoft documentation uses the term “OS/2” to refer to the OS/2 systems— Microsoft Operating System/2 (MSÒ OS/2) and IBM OS/2. Similarly, the term “DOS” refers to both the MS-DOS and IBM Personal Computer DOS operating systems. The name of a specific operating system is used when it is necessary to note features that are unique to that system.

If you'd like further information about a topic as you read through this book, you can consult

The Microsoft Macro Assembler Programmer's Guide

The Microsoft Macro Assembler Reference

The online reference system (discussed in Chapter 4 of this book)