Also, i just noticed the post (and didn't read it all) and if the point hasn't been discussed yet, let's try to keep some packages optional. FASMLIB and other custom libraries should probably stay outside the standard downloads, especially since it's probably still under development and being revamped and things like that.

Let's try not change that or even add too much to the point you have to take a course on fasm's macros along with assembly just to use fasm.

include 'c:\asmx86\equates.equ'; ms
;include 'hda1/asmx86/equates' ; unix
;and then start to code
org 0
call vesa1024*32 ;it's a far pointer. or a paged pointer
;all function porting depend on the os and the lib used
call choosemouse.ps2
push ??
push ??
call stdout
invoke printf,esi,?,?    ; it's fom the librairy ??
;etc ...
mov esi,[commandline.current]  ;this symbol and all above are in equate file
jmp debut
include 'myfunction.inc'
include 'mytable.inc'
debut:  ;start
mov esi,mytable
call myfunction
cmp [exit],0   ;here exit is a local semaphore? 
je debut
ret
    

Another idea is to provide package that will be like you say - only stuff no one can argue with, and ANOTHER package that will be load of useful stuff, like MASM32. Such package may be useful to total newbies, who don't know how to set up env variables, don't know how to use linker, etc...

About macros, I need more clarification, what is the problem with them? Note that since fasm provides no built-ins for some constructs like PROC nor some facilities to place locally declared variables and values at some selected location all together, I understand that this package MUST provide macros. Also it must contain, apart of a SDK port (perhaps a lite version with the most essential subset and a big package with a full port), tutorials as it was mentioned already.

Of course some lite package can be made around FASMLIB and this one would be the one that support the "entire galaxy", but it should cover only features supported by FASMLIB, no extra attempts to overextend things too much for now.

vid, you will work with me on this or I will be the only maintainer for now?

So we agree on some idea of "starters" MASM32-like package, question is how much to include, right?

we should keep the beginner package simple..

I agree 100%, fasm's simplicity to install and use must remain the goal, at least for the beginner package.

I like the idea of 2 seperated packages.

kohlrak wrote:

we should keep the beginner package simple..

I agree 100%, fasm's simplicity to install and use must remain the goal, at least for the beginner package.

-CONSOLE IO ONLY

--output string

---convert signed decimal to string

---convert unsigned decimal to string

---convert float to string ;Always signed and decimal from what i've seen

---convert hex-decimal to string ;we'll want it to output the letters, not be another decimal to string

---convert binary to string

--input string

--input int

--input hex

--input binary

--input float

/bin                         ;tools  ...  ?
/doc                  ;interesting documentation / articles we gather... ?
/inc                    ;includes
   /common         ;any platform
   /common32           ;any 32bit platform (proc macros, etc
   /common64
   /win            ;common equates for win32 and win64
   /win32                ;prototypes, structures for 32 bit
   /win64         ;prototypes, structures for 64 bit
   /linux         ;common equates for linux32 and linux64
   /linux32          ;prototypes, structures for 32 bit
   /linux64               ;prototypes, structures for 64 bit
   /fasmlib               ;  
/lib                       ;if we want statical library support too
   /win32
   /win64
   /linux32
   /linux64
   /fasmlib
/examples
   /win32
   /win64
   /linux32
   /linux64
   /fasmlib