Talk:MASM
Illegal?
Combuster... i Read the license at that link and though it prohibits writing software for non-Microsoft Operating System's it does not prohibit it's use in Operating System Development. Which part of the license are you Refering to? -- Tyler 11:33, 23 July 2007 (CDT)
- 4. You cannot use the MASM32 Project to write software for Non-Microsoft Operating Systems. Because an operating system does not run on Windows, it's illegal. --Alboin
- Yes... as i said in my original question, and i quote, "it prohibits writing software for non-Microsoft Operating System's". Using it to write an Operating System (at least the Kernel) is not using it to write software for a non-Microsoft Operating System. Clearly no Operating System, is not a Non-Microsoft Operating System, and therefore no problem. -- Tyler 19:53, 24 July 2007 (CDT)
- The kernel is a piece of software, and it is part of an operating system. Arguably, you could see the OS as an abstract concept, and the kernel the most basic piece of software for that OS. Besides, you should know from the formulation that they intend to prohibit kernel development with that clause as well, which might be cause for the judge to favor microsoft anyway. Disclaimer: If you want to be sure seek legal council - I'm not a lawyer. Your best bet is still not to use MASM anyway - Combuster 08:16, 27 July 2007 (CDT)
- Yeah, that would seem logical, except Microsoft can afford lawyers, and there is no such thing as intention in a license. So i asked a software lawyer and he says (by my definition of Kernel, we didn't check the legal one) that the license does not prohibit use. I still wouldn't use it though! -- Tyler 19:23, 27 July 2007 (CDT)
- The kernel is a piece of software, and it is part of an operating system. Arguably, you could see the OS as an abstract concept, and the kernel the most basic piece of software for that OS. Besides, you should know from the formulation that they intend to prohibit kernel development with that clause as well, which might be cause for the judge to favor microsoft anyway. Disclaimer: If you want to be sure seek legal council - I'm not a lawyer. Your best bet is still not to use MASM anyway - Combuster 08:16, 27 July 2007 (CDT)
- Considering that the MASM project itself != the MASM32 project, there may be a loophole in that rule. As long as you don't use the MASM32 project itself, you might not be in the realm of illegality. --Troy Martin 03:20, 10 February 2010 (UTC)
- Yes... as i said in my original question, and i quote, "it prohibits writing software for non-Microsoft Operating System's". Using it to write an Operating System (at least the Kernel) is not using it to write software for a non-Microsoft Operating System. Clearly no Operating System, is not a Non-Microsoft Operating System, and therefore no problem. -- Tyler 19:53, 24 July 2007 (CDT)
There is a stipulation to the legality issue; If you purchase a copy, the rules are different. I cannot be precise about what they are, as there are so many different versions of the licence out there, and they do not specify which assembler version they apply to. Of course, if you purchase a copy, you will have the correct licence to go with it, and you may interpret it as you see fit. More than likely, it would alter the "open source" rule. Still, MASM may be used to write utilities that may be used for OS development (an example). I edited it, more or less for the syntax. If someone wants to convert a piece of MASM source to some other language, it may help. DednDave
MASM vs. MASM32
Aren't MASM and MSAM32 entirely different things? This forum post seems to imply that MASM is just fine to use with OS development!
The link for the MASM homepage also links to the MASM32 homepage, further adding to the confusion. --Mikeroz 20:26, 9 August 2009 (UTC)
MASM is, of course, the assembler from Microsoft. MASM32 is a project started by Steve Hutchesson that includes libraries and macros, as well as tutorials, reference material, examples, and a forum.DednDave