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flat assembler VS 86Box

Compare flat assembler VS 86Box and see what are their differences

flat assembler logo flat assembler

A fast and efficient self-assembling x86 assembler for DOS, Windows and Linux.

86Box logo 86Box

86Box is a hypervisor and IBM PC system emulator that specializes in running old operating systems...
  • flat assembler Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28
  • 86Box Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-19

flat assembler features and specs

  • Size and Speed
    Flat Assembler (FASM) is known for its small size and fast execution, making it an excellent choice for developers looking for efficiency in both development and runtime.
  • Low-Level Control
    FASM provides developers with in-depth control over the hardware, allowing for optimization and manipulation at a granular level, which can be critical for performance-sensitive applications.
  • Cross-Platform Capabilities
    FASM supports multiple platforms, enabling developers to write assembly code that can be compiled on different operating systems without significant changes.
  • Integrated Assembler and IDE
    It comes with an integrated development environment that simplifies assembling and linking processes, which can enhance productivity.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The assembler is well-documented with comprehensive guides, reducing the learning curve for new users and providing valuable resources for advanced programming.

Possible disadvantages of flat assembler

  • Learning Curve
    FASM requires a good understanding of assembly language and low-level programming, which can be a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Limited High-Level Features
    As a low-level assembler, FASM lacks the abstractions and conveniences of high-level programming languages, which can make complex application development cumbersome.
  • Community and Support
    FASM has a smaller community compared to more mainstream programming tools, which can result in less available support and fewer third-party libraries.
  • Platform-Specific Optimization
    While cross-platform, achieving optimal performance can require platform-specific adjustments, adding complexity to the development process.
  • Debugging Difficulty
    Debugging assembly code can be challenging and time-consuming due to the low-level nature of the language and the increased possibility of hard-to-trace bugs.

86Box features and specs

  • Hardware Emulation
    86Box offers comprehensive emulation of various hardware components, allowing users to run a wide range of legacy software and operating systems accurately.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, 86Box allows users to contribute to its development and customize the emulator to meet specific needs, fostering a community-driven approach.
  • Active Development
    The project is actively maintained and updated, ensuring compatibility with new systems and incorporating user feedback and bug fixes regularly.
  • Wide Compatibility
    It supports a wide range of CPUs, sound cards, and graphics systems, providing flexibility in emulating different historical hardware setups.

Possible disadvantages of 86Box

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up 86Box can be challenging for beginners due to the detailed configuration required for different system components.
  • Resource Intensive
    The emulation can be resource-intensive, requiring significant computer resources to run smoothly, especially for complex setups.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is community support, official documentation can be sparse, making it difficult for new users to troubleshoot issues independently.
  • Niche Application
    Primarily focused on enthusiasts of retro computing, 86Box may not fulfill the needs of users looking for modern virtualization solutions.

flat assembler videos

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86Box videos

Windows 3.0 30th anniversary special - Installing Windows 3.0 in 86Box

More videos:

  • Review - Tuhan: Windows 3.11 and Windows 95 installation (86Box)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to flat assembler and 86Box)
IDE
51 51%
49% 49
Text Editors
49 49%
51% 51
Project Management
52 52%
48% 48
Email Marketing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, flat assembler seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

flat assembler mentions (1)

  • Show HN: Torque – A lightweight meta-assembler for any processor
    Oh neat! Thanks for the link, I hadn't heard of fasmg before. It looks like fasmg builds up from the byte level, so it would only work for architectures that use 8-bit words. Torque builds up from the bit level, so it can assemble code for architectures like in PIC microcontrollers, using word sizes of 12 or 14 bits. However, fasmg does allow a lot more control over the syntax of the language. The documentation... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago

86Box mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of 86Box yet. Tracking of 86Box recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing flat assembler and 86Box, you can also consider the following products

NASM - The Netwide Assembler, NASM, is an 80x86 and x86-64 assembler designed for portability and...

PCem - PCem emulates an IBM 5150 PC, several models of clones and successors, along with various graphics...

Yasm - Yasm is a complete rewrite of the NASM assembler.

i8086emu - i8086emu is an cross-platform emulator for the Intel 8086 microprocessor.

Tiny C Compiler - The Tiny C Compiler is an x86, x86-64 and ARM processor C compiler created by Fabrice Bellard.

pcemu - Here you can find the original version of David Hedley's 8086 PC emulator, and my...