IBM Assembly Language Processor

Description

A macro assembler from IBM that offers a native mode and a MASM 5.1 compatible mode, and indeed intended to replace the Microsoft Assembler product for use on OS/2 systems especially for driver development. ALP was available in versions for OS/2 and AIX, versions with dates later than 1995 also support a subset of the MASM 6.x language.

Add-ons

ALP_MXG - By default the native mode on ALP is 32 bits only while the otherwise less capable MASM 5.1 emulation mode allows mixed 16/32 bit code. This patch allows you to use mixed 16/32 bit code in native ALP mode.
masm2alp - Utility that converts MASM projects to ALP projects.

Version

May 1995: Version 1.03.273
Version 4.00.000 - from IBM Developer Connection Vol. 11
Version 4.00.003
Version 4.00.004
Sep 1997: Version 4.00.005 - from IBM Developer's Toolkit for OS/2 Warp Version 4
Latest Version: 4.00.008

Prerequisites

OS/2 Warp
Link386 or compatible linker.

Links

The Hobbes DEV/ASM directory contains most of the ALP tools and patches.

License and availability

Closed source software - Available as a free download from IBM.
Came packaged with other IBM Compiler products.
Comes with the IBM Device Driver Development Kit [DDK]
Was available to Passport Advantage subscribers before the program was discontinued in 2005.

Author

IBM (Steve Turner)

Publications

Assembly Language Processor Reference Guide - May 1995
ALP Programming Guide and Reference - Oct 1997