Collection of Tools & Utilities/Collection of Tools and Utilities.iso/asmutil/d86v322.zip/D01.DOC

Text File | 1990-01-25 | 12KB | 264 lines

CHAPTER 1   INTRODUCTION AND LEGAL TERMS


Introduction

D86 is a screen-oriented assembly language debugger for the
IBM-PC, compatibles, and most not-so-compatibles (Wang-PC, TI-PC,
Tandy 2000, Sanyo 55x, Zenith Z-100, and DEC Rainbow).  D86 is
the finest debugger available, at any price under any conditions,
for the following:

1. Learning 8086 assembly language.

2. Exploring the machine state of your computer (memory
   structure, registers, etc.)

3. Doing assembly language program development using my A86
   assembler.

4. Doing any kind of debugging involving the floating point (8087
   or 287) coprocessor.

In contrast to software firms who attempt to restrict the
distribution of their software through protection schemes, I
encourage free distribution, and trust that those who use my
products will pay for them.  Please keep in mind the fundamental
good spirit of free-distribution software as you endure the
following barrage of legalities.  Then evaluate the outstanding
value that the D86 package offers you.  I assure you that you
will not be disappointed.


Legal Terms and Conditions

This package is provided to you under the following conditions:

1. You may copy this entire package, and give it to anyone who
   accepts these terms.  The copies you distribute must be
   complete and unmodified.  You do not have to be registered to
   distribute this package.

2. You may execute the programs in this package, in order to
   evaluate them.  If you decide that any of this package is of
   use to you, you must become a registered user by sending $50
   US ($52 overseas) to:

      Eric Isaacson 416 E. University Avenue Bloomington, IN
      47401-4739

   For your convenience, I now accept Visa and MasterCard, by
   telephone.  My number is [phone].
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   For the convenience of users in Great Britain, I have
   authorized the firm Shareware Marketing to collect
   registrations for me.  (But the printed version of the manual
   is not yet available from them; if you want it, you should
   order directly from me.)  If you don't want the update right
   away you can ask them to give you a voucher good for an update
   in the future. We'll try to keep the prices about the same
   whether you register through me or through them; it's your
   choice.  Their address is 87 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9
   1RX; telephone [phone]. They'll send me a list of
   registered users at the end of every month, and I'll send an
   acknowledgement to each user when I get the list.  So if you
   haven't heard from me by the third week of the month following
   your registration with them, please let me know.

   Your registration includes a single update diskette (5.25
   inch, double density).  You may order further updates for $10
   US, or $12 US if you are overseas.  Once you register for this
   package, you are registered for all future versions.  As long
   as I'm in business, you can get the latest version for just
   the update fee.

   To use D86, you must have the associated assembler, A86.  A
   copy of A86 (without all of its documentation) is included in
   the D86 package.  If you are using D86 to debug only programs
   written in languages other than A86, then you do not need to
   register for A86.  If you are programming in A86, then you
   must register for A86.  There is a discount for combined
   registration of A86 and D86.  Instead of $50+$50 = $100, the
   charge for both packages is $80 ($82 overseas).

   I also offer a printed version of this manual, covering both
   A86 and D86. The manual is printed on sheets 8.5 inches high
   and 7 inches wide, with a plastic ring-style binding so the
   book can lay flat.  If you order with your registration the
   manual is an extra $10 to North America, $15 overseas.  If
   you've already registered and now want the manual, add $10
   ($12 overseas) for the update disk that the manual is bundled
   with.  There is a limit of one manual per computer registered
   (except you may reorder when there is a substantial revision
   to the manual).

   Indiana residents need to add sales tax.  At the current rate
   of 5%, the prices for Indiana residents are $52.50 for one
   product, $63 one product with manual, $84 both products,
   $94.50 both products with manual, $21 manual if already
   registered.

   Educational institutions and training facilities MUST be
   registered in order to use D86 in courses.  Contact me for
   special terms.

   Companies and government agencies MUST be registered in order
   to use D86 for their work.  Again, contact me for special
   terms.
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3. You may not sell this package to anyone.  If you distribute
   this package on a diskette, any fees you collect must be
   specified as materials/handling, and may not exceed $10 for
   the diskette.

4. You are completely responsible for determining the fitness or
   usability of this package.  I will not be liable for any
   damages, of any kind, arising from any failure of any programs
   in this package to perform as expected.


Registration Benefits

Thank you for enduring the legalities.  They are there to protect
me, and also to convince you that this is my business, from which
I expect to make a living.  I'll now return to a softer sell, to
try to make you want to register for my products.

There is a certain amount of ambiguity about when you're still
evaluating D86, and when you're really using D86 and should
register for it.  Some cases are clear (e.g., you're a school
using D86 to teach a course); but many are not.  In practical
reality, it up to you to decide: you are "on your honor". Also in
practical reality, most users who ought to register haven't, yet.
For most, it's not dishonesty but merely procrastination.  So I
have provided some incentives, to prod you into registering.

One incentive is the printed manual, which only registered users
can purchase.  I haven't left anything out of the disk version of
the manual, but the printed version is formatted and bound much
more nicely than if you print it yourself.

Another incentive is a file REG_ONLY.ZIP containing extra tools
that enhance D86's usefulness.  If you program in languages other
than A86, and produce the program with a linker, you can use the
tool MAPD86 to convert a link MAP listing into a SYM file
readable by D86, so you can do symbolic debugging. If you have a
386-based machine, you can add the D command to D86, allowing you
to set memory breakpoints.

Finally, there are the intangible incentives.  You know you've
done the right thing.  You're letting me know that you appreciate
what I've done.  You're letting the world know that quality
software can succeed when distributed as shareware.
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Overview of D86

D86 is a screen-oriented program that allows you to troubleshoot
faulty computer programs written for the IBM-PC and all
compatibles, Wang-PC, TI-PC, Tandy 2000, DEC Rainbow, and Sanyo
computer.  It "freezes" the state of your program, and allows you
to investigate the values of registers, flags, and memory.  You
can monitor your program's execution by stepping it one
instruction or procedure at a time; or you can start your program
running, telling D86 to stop it when it reaches certain
locations.  D86 recognizes the symbol-table output of the A86
assembler, creating a symbolic disassembly of your A86 program,
and allowing you to refer to locations and variables by name.

The primary design criterion for D86 is ease of use.  This is
reflected in the most notable features of D86:

* You don't need to ask D86 what the values of registers and
  flags are.  They are there, automatically, at a fixed location
  on the screen.

* You don't need to ask D86 where in your program you are
  stopped.  A disassembly is always generated, at another fixed
  locatio