CP/M-86 Assembly Language Programming by Jon Lindsay

[Paolo Amoroso]

I'm very interested in the book "CP/M-86 Assembly Language Programming" by Jon Lindsay (Brady Communications Co., 1986) but there don't seem to be any traces of its text.

None of the usual online book retailers carry it, not even used copies at the high prices of rare retrocomputing books. There don't seem to be any alternate online download channels either.

The author has no personal website or social profiles that I can find. I was hoping to contact him to ask whether the book's rights reverted to him and was willing to share it online.

Is anyone in touch with Jon Lindsay?

[CP/M User]

I tried purchasing this book through an Amazon Seller many years ago, only to have my money taken and an email saying we're unable to track down this book. Kirk Lawrence who had the CP/M-86 Software Repository coded in Assembly though, I'm unsure if he had the book, though have a horrible feeling he passed away years ago since he was regularly posting updates for his website, though I would of throught the book would have surfaced by now and be on archive.org or computinghistory.org.uk ?

[Paolo Amoroso]

Thanks, I did search Archive.org but the Open Library only lists[1] the book with no text. www.computinghistory.org.uk doesn't turn out anything useful.


[1] https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5097113W/CP_M-86_assembly_language_programming?edition=key%3A/books/OL2532587M

[pbi...@gmail.com]

Sometimes checking the ISBN at isbn.nu can turn up a vendor, but in this case ... nope :-<.

[CP/M User]

On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 7:26:15 PM UTC+11, paolo....@gmail.com wrote:
> Thanks, I did search Archive.org but the Open Library only lists[1] the book with no text. www.computinghistory.org.uk doesn't turn out anything useful.
>
>
> [1] https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5097113W/CP_M-86_assembly_language_programming?edition=key%3A/books/OL2532587M

It might simply be easier to search for an 8086 based Assembly Language Book rather than hunt down that one CP/M-86 book.
Kirk Lawrence would have supplied the source code for others to follow the CP/M-86 specifics, unless you're after a different variant/version of CP/M-86 from the IBM PC/XT 1.1 version.

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Monday, December 12, 2022 at 11:14:14 AM UTC+1, CP/M User wrote:
> It might simply be easier to search for an 8086 based Assembly Language Book rather than hunt down that one CP/M-86 book.
> Kirk Lawrence would have supplied the source code for others to follow the CP/M-86 specifics, unless you're after a different variant/version of CP/M-86 from the IBM PC/XT 1.1 version.

Sure, there are many general x86 Assembly books. But I'm interested in the one by Lindsay because of its specific focus on the CP/M-86 environment, the system calls and data structures, the Assembly idioms, and so on.

What CP/M-86 code or book by Kirk Lawrence are you referring to?

[retrogear]

> > It might simply be easier to search for an 8086 based Assembly Language Book rather than hunt down that one CP/M-86 book.
> > Kirk Lawrence would have supplied the source code for others to follow the CP/M-86 specifics, unless you're after a different variant/version of CP/M-86 from the IBM PC/XT 1.1 version.
> Sure, there are many general x86 Assembly books. But I'm interested in the one by Lindsay because of its specific focus on the CP/M-86 environment, the system calls and data structures, the Assembly idioms, and so on.
>
> What CP/M-86 code or book by Kirk Lawrence are you referring to?

Kirk Lawrence's website or at least a mirror of it is currently here http://www.cpm86.eolith.co.uk/
I purchased a used copy of the book you're looking for from Abebooks.com about a year ago. I haven't read thru it yet but I intend to. It looks like an excellent book. I assume you must have read it in the past ?
At this point I don't really want to send it somewhere to be scanned. I don't know what the rules of copyright are but I am considering buying a scanner myself just to get the text lifted or at least the programs the author provided. I see cheap wand scanners and aerial scanners for purchase maybe $100-150 US which would be in my price range. Anyone familiar with doing this by themselves ?

Larry G

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Monday, December 12, 2022 at 2:25:27 PM UTC+1, retrogear wrote:
> Kirk Lawrence's website or at least a mirror of it is currently here http://www.cpm86.eolith.co.uk/

I see, thanks. I'm familiar with the site but forgot the maintainer's name.

> I purchased a used copy of the book you're looking for from Abebooks.com about a year ago. I haven't read thru it yet but I intend to. It looks like an excellent book. I assume you must have read it in the past ?

I've never read or seen the book. I'm interested because it seems the only book, or one of the very few, which covers x86 Assembly in the context of the CP/M-86 environment.

> At this point I don't really want to send it somewhere to be scanned. I don't know what the rules of copyright are but I am considering buying a scanner myself just to get the text lifted or at least the programs the author provided. I see cheap wand scanners and aerial scanners for purchase maybe $100-150 US which would be in my price range. Anyone familiar with doing this by themselves ?

No problem, my hope is to try to get in touch with Lindsay to see whether anything may be done.

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Monday, December 12, 2022 at 2:25:27 PM UTC+1, retrogear wrote:

> I purchased a used copy of the book you're looking for from Abebooks.com about a year ago. I haven't read thru it yet but I intend to. It looks like an excellent book. I assume you must have read it in the past ?

By the way, does the book provide any contact details for getting in touch with the author? Hopefully not a CompuyServe or Genie handle :-)

[retrogear]

> By the way, does the book provide any contact details for getting in touch with the author? Hopefully not a CompuyServe or Genie handle :-)

About the author gives a photo and interests but no contact information. It does say he is also the author of Introduction to CP/M(-80) Assembly Language (3rd edition, Hayden Book Company)

Also in the Bibliography in the back of the book is the book reference
Introduction to CP/M Assembly Language, (2nd ed.) 1983
Lindsay, Jon
Executive Computer
150 N Jackson Avenue
San Jose, CA 95116

[Paolo Amoroso]

Thank you very much Larry, that's useful.

[CP/M User]

On Monday, December 12, 2022 at 11:56:29 PM UTC+11, paolo....@gmail.com wrote:

> Sure, there are many general x86 Assembly books. But I'm interested in the one by Lindsay because of its specific focus on the CP/M-86 environment, the system calls and data structures, the Assembly idioms, and so on.

Information like that can be found through John Elliott's website as well:
http://www.seasip.info/Cpm/

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 8:15:33 AM UTC+1, CP/M User wrote:
> Information like that can be found through John Elliott's website as well:
> http://www.seasip.info/Cpm/

Thanks, I'm aware of this site and other useful CP/M-86 reference material. But a good book goes beyond the mere information by providing a path to learning, the big picture, advice, tips and tricks, and more.

[s_dub...@yahoo.com]

http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/digitalResearch/cpm-86/

The manuals go into those details, programmer's guide etc.
hth
Steve

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 5:33:42 PM UTC+1, s_dub...@yahoo.com wrote:
> http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/digitalResearch/cpm-86/
>
> The manuals go into those details, programmer's guide etc.

Thanks, I read those manuals and they are great. Still, a book usually goes beyond the official documentation or provides a different angle on the material.

[dxforth]

I can't think of many 3rd-party books I still use. I regularly reference
'Mastering CP/M' but only for the handy 8080/Z80 tables at the rear - and
even some of that contains errors :)

[Randy McLaughlin]

My question is how many like myself simply learned the language, 8086 assembly in this case then used the OS manuals for application?

For me it has always been that from mainframes to PC'S assembler to Fortran or C++ always first the language then the OS implementation where needed never get this particular book for all the answers.


Randy

[Paolo Amoroso]

Thanks Randy and dxforth, it looks like we have different skills, learning styles, and preferences.

[Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen]

Looks like the Library of Congress has a copy, so you could at least have a look to see if it is worth hunting down 🙂

https://lccn.loc.gov/85013268

Given that Jon wrote a CP/M-80 introduction two years earlier I would expect the two to be quite similar. https://lccn.loc.gov/84012873

/Thorbjørn

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Friday, December 16, 2022 at 8:55:47 PM UTC+1, thorb...@gmail.com wrote:
> Looks like the Library of Congress has a copy, so you could at least have a look to see if it is worth hunting down 🙂
>
> https://lccn.loc.gov/85013268

Thanks but I'm half a planet away from the Library of Congress and, unless they provide digital copies, I can't have a look on site. The closest library copy of the book is about 400 km from me, in a different country.

[Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen]

Ah, thought you were in the US. It doesn't look like they have digital copies.

Given that you are insisting on this and this only being what you want, it sounds like the trip to the next-door-country library is perhaps the quickest. Note that CP/M-86 evolved into CCP/M-86 which was really nice (four virtual terminals) and also reasonably popular here in Denmark. There might be relevant literature for that too. The Turbo Pascal cousin PolyPascal was available for CP/M-86. It might be the nicest development environment you can find.

[Paolo Amoroso]

A trip to another country's library remains a distant possibility.

But I have a few other options, such as sending a letter to the author at the last know address mentioned earlier in the thread, or trying other ways of reaching out to him. For example, I might give contacting the publisher a shot, perhaps to see if they can still reach out to the author.

[Paolo Amoroso]

I sent a letter to Jon Lindsay to his last known public postal address retrogear shared (thanks!) elsewhere in this thread. I suggested Lindsay to consider releasing the book's text online and I'll be sure to post any updates here.

I also wanted to reach out to the publisher, Brady Communications Co. of New York, but it seems to have vanished. The only business by the same name I found is an ISP[1] in Texas. I'm unable to track which business or commercial entity might now own the publishing house or its assets.


[1] http://www.bradycom.com

[retrogear]

>I sent a letter to Jon Lindsay to his last known public postal address retrogear shared (thanks!) elsewhere in this thread. I suggested Lindsay to consider releasing the >book's text online and I'll be sure to post any updates here.

Google Earth shows an office type building, Phan Orthodontics is currently in a suite at that address so must have been the business location.

Larry G

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Monday, December 19, 2022 at 10:33:17 PM UTC+1, retrogear wrote:
> Google Earth shows an office type building, Phan Orthodontics is currently in a suite at that address so must have been the business location.

"Executive Computer" in the address seems to confirm it may indeed have been a business location. Depending on how long ago Executive Computer ceased operation or moved elsewhere, someone might still be able to forward the letter to whatever the business is now or to Lindsay.

[retrogear]

> > Google Earth shows an office type building, Phan Orthodontics is currently in a suite at that address so must have been the business location.
> "Executive Computer" in the address seems to confirm it may indeed have been a business location. Depending on how long ago Executive Computer ceased operation or moved elsewhere, someone might still be >able to forward the letter to whatever the business is now or to Lindsay.

Might be worth contacting Phan Orthodontics San Jose office to see if you could contact the building supervisor. They have a web page with a phone#. Since you're overseas maybe a message
instead of phone call. The website has a message icon https://www.yelp.com/biz/phan-orthodontics-san-jose

[Paolo Amoroso]

On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 2:31:11 AM UTC+1, retrogear wrote:
> Might be worth contacting Phan Orthodontics San Jose office to see if you could contact the building supervisor. They have a web page with a phone#. Since you're overseas maybe a message
> instead of phone call. The website has a message icon https://www.yelp.com/biz/phan-orthodontics-san-jose

Good advice, thanks.

[Dennis Boone]

> I'm very interested in the book "CP/M-86 Assembly Language Programming"
> by Jon Lindsay (Brady Communications Co., 1986) but there don't seem to
> be any traces of its text.

It belatedly occurred to me that a search of corporate registrations
might be helpful. The library cataloging for the book indicates that
the publisher resided in Bowie, Maryland. Maryland state government
registrations include this:

Department ID Number: F00381640
Business Name: BRADY COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, INC. A/K/A BRADY, INC.
Principal Office: SYSTEM, MARYLAND
10 LIGHT STREET
BALTIMORE MD 21202
Resident Agent: THE PRENTICE-HALL CORPORATION
11 EAST CHASE STREET
BALTIMORE MD 21202
Status: FORFEITED
Good Standing: THIS BUSINESS IS NOT IN GOOD STANDING
What does it mean if a business entity is not in good standing or forfeited?
Business Type: FOREIGN CORPORATION
Business Code: 03
ORDINARY BUSINESS - STOCK
Date of Formation/ Registration: 07/10/1972
State of Formation: DC
Stock Status: STOCK
Close Status:N/A

It appears that the company ceased to file annual paperwork between 1998
and 2002. The above suggests that Prentice Hall might have acquired
them. It might be worth contacting them to see if they have any
information, though it will doubtless be a bit of a slog to do.

De

[Paolo Amoroso]

Great lead Dennis, thanks. It looks like Prentice Hall had its own ownership wanderings too.

[sc...@mischko.com]

On Monday, December 12, 2022 at 5:25:27 AM UTC-8, retrogear wrote:
> > > I don't really want to send it somewhere to be scanned. I don't know what the rules of copyright are but I am considering buying a scanner myself just to get the text lifted or at least the programs the author provided. I see cheap wand scanners and aerial scanners for purchase maybe $100-150 US which would be in my price range. Anyone familiar with doing this by themselves ?

I take all my books to a print shop with a guillotine cutter and cut off the bindings. Then I scan them with a Fujitsu iX500 to pdf. I would not try this with a hand held scanner. You won't like the results. I will be happy to scan a book for you and ship you back the pages and send you the pdf file. I amin the US. This allows me to carry my books in a tablet. I live in a small RV so do not have space for so many books.

Scott