DOS-Assembly-Starter

A ready-to-use 16-bit x86 assembly environment with NASM (v2.16.03) and AFD (v2.0). Designed for learning and working with 16-bit x86 assembly, it provides the necessary tools to skip the lengthy setup process and start writing assembly code immediately.

Note

This repository focuses on simplifying 16-bit assembly programming under DOS. DOSBox is required but not included—download it separately from the official website.

Tip

For an in-depth guide on assembly language and environment setup, check out my website.

Getting Started

Follow these steps to set up and start working with this environment:

1. Clone or Download the Repository

   • Clone the repository using Git:

     git clone https://github.com/tis-starlight/DOS-Assembly-Starter.git

   • Alternatively, download it as a ZIP file and extract it.

2. Move to the Correct Location

   • Move the DOS-Assembly-Starter folder to C:\ drive. The final path should be: C:\DOS-Assembly-Starter

3. Install DOSBox

   • Download the latest stable version of DOSBox (v0.74-3) from the official site.
   • After installation, locate and run the DOSBox 0.74-3 Options.bat file in the DOSBox installation directory. This will open the DOSBox configuration file. At the end of the file, add the following lines:

     MOUNT C C:\DOS-Assembly-Starter
     C:
     

4. Assembling and Running Code

   • Open DOSBox and navigate to your working directory (C:\DOS-Assembly-Starter). Use the following commands to work with your assembly programs:
     • Assemble code (e.g., test.asm):

       nasm test.asm -o test.com -l test.lst

     • Run the program:

       test.com

     • Debug step by step using AFD:

       afd test.com