_how_to_build.txt

How to Build ABox2.

ABox2 only builds for Win32 machines running at least a Pentium 1 or better.
It will build and run just fine on a Win64 system -- but as a 32 bit app.
ABox is built from a command line. Here is how to do it.


_short_answer_

    On a command line, navigate to where you unpacked the ABox2 source code.

    If you have nmake:                              nmake RELEASEBUILD

    If you have Python3.3 and MASM32:               makeabox.py

    If you have Python3.3 but don't have MASM32:    edit makeabox.py to match what you do have

    If you have MASM32 but don't have Python3.3:    buildabox.bat


_long_answer_

You will need several items:

    a) The source code.
    b) A MASM 6.14 compatible assembler and compatible linker.
    c) Win32 link libraries.
    d) A script, batch file or make tool to manage the build.

Details:

    a) If you're reading this you probably have the source code. Unpack,
    preserving the directory structure, if you haven't already done so.

    b) The assembler must be at least MASM 6.14 compatible. The Microsoft
    assembler is called 'ML.EXE'. ABox2 has been built on later versions
    (ver 9.0) with no problems. Ver 6.14, however, is sufficient.

    Typicaly, if you have ML.EXE, you will also have a matching linker
    LINK.EXE. ABox has been linked successfully with ver 9.0, but version 5.12
    is sufficient.

    There are several different ways to get the assembler and linker.

        i) Purchase a Microsoft VisualStudio package. Double check before
        hand that the MASM assembler is included. This is usually the case in
        a Visual C package.

        ii) Download and install a Microsoft SDK or a 'Lite' version of a
        VisualStudio. Again, double check that MASM is included. Typically a
        Platform SDK (PSDK) with Visual C will include MASM. Typically a
        Device Driver SDK (DDK) will include MASM. Be sure to check the Win32
        link libraries (see below) are included too.

        iii) <RECOMENDED> Download and install the MASM32 software suite from

            <masm32.com>

        Masm32 is an on-line comunity of assembler programmers dedicated to
        the X86 langugage and the Win32 API. The downloadable Masm32 package
        includes MASM ver 6.14, LINK ver 5.12 and the Win32 libraries. It also
        includes many instructional documents about assembly langague and
        MASM, as well as a large collection library code, examples and custom
        tools.

    c) ABox2 can not be built without the Win32 link libraries. Obtaining
    the .lib files can be problematic. Not all Microsoft free VisualStudio
    packages include them. The PSDK or DDK _may_ include them, but it is a
    good idea to check first -- if the package doesn't include Win32 link
    libraries, then don't bother with it.

    The MASM32 package _DOES_ include and install the Win32 link libraries.

    d) If you have installed one of the Microsoft VisualStudio, SDK, or DDK,
    then you probably have NMAKE.EXE.

        nmake RELEASEBUILD

    MASM32 does _not_ include nmake. If you have Python3.3 (or better)
    installed on your system, you can run

        makeabox.py

    makeabox.py is configured for MASM32 installed at its default location.
    If you installed it someplace else, edit makeabox.py accordingly. Note
    that makeabox.py is a hastily hacked together script that barely gets
    the job done. It does, however, check for newer/later file times -- so it
    can make do for a develoment tool (where you're editing source code), but
    it certainly doesn't try to live up to nmake or make.

    If you're not using MASM32, but have Python3.3, you can edit makeabox.py
    to use a different assembler and linker. Depending on what you're using,
    you may have to re-work the _args dictionaries to match your tools.

    If you have MASM32 but don't have Python, there is a dos batch file that
    blugeons its way through a build.

        buildabox.bat

    Although the batch file is not suitable for a development tool, it will
    allow you to at least build the code. If you don't have MASM32, but have
    some other assembler, the .bat file can be edited accordingly.


That's it -- Happy Building
--A