5 ms·

I have to admit I find this type of article about old computer/software quite interesting as recently I discovered a backup of mine that contained source code I

by graton 6y ago

I have to admit I find this type of article about old computer/software quite interesting as recently I discovered a backup of mine that contained source code I wrote in 1993. I was writing assembly language back then. Using a really great library called Spontaneous Assembly. First version 2.0 and then 3.0. SpontaneousAssembly 3.0 added support for easily writing TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) code. Back in the early 1990s I was in college and working in the computer lab. So I wrote various little DOS utilities to help us better manage the computers and the interaction with Novell Netware. Due to this reminiscing I have even purchased a few tech books from that time. MS-DOS Encyclopedia, Peter Norton's Programmers Guide to the IBM PC, and some others. I only wish I still had a copy of SpontaneousAssembly 3.0 as it would be fun to recompile some of my old code!

codys 6y ago
It looks like there's a copy in the library of congress [1]. Unclear how one would go about making a copy. 1: https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-assembly-language-library-for-80x86-based-ms-dos-systems/oclc/32314029 https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-a...
clan 6y ago
For those who got curious like me have a look at: http://300m.us/docs/computing/SA-3.0a/TOC.htm http://300m.us/docs/computing/SA-3.0a/TOC.htm I am not familiar with how libraries work in the US. Can anyone get a library card with Library of Congress? They have the floppy images: https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-assembly-language-library-for-80x86-based-ms-dos-systems/oclc/32314029 https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-a... EDIT: http://300m.us/docs/computing/ http://300m.us/docs/computing/ Has a link for purchase which 404 but to an existing site. Maybe Kevin is the friendly type?
- nikomen 6y ago
  Anyone can get a reader card at the Library of Congress if they have a photo id and are at least 16 years old. I'm not sure how you access computer files there, though. The reader card has to be obtained in person. With the Library of Congress closed to visitors because of COVID-19, I imagine it's not possible right now.
- graton 6y ago
  Yeah I have emailed Kevin Crenshaw but he stated the project is "abandonware" at this point. He said to search for it online. So far no luck with version 3.0. It would have been fun to try playing with some old code in a VM :) I don't live anywhere close the the Library of Congress, so not easy for me to get a copy there :(
btrettel 6y ago
As others have noted, the software is available at the Library of Congress. It's marked as "by appointment" in their catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/95790208 https://lccn.loc.gov/95790208 I go to the Library of Congress every once in a while and could ask for this. In my experience, to get items like this you use the Ask a Librarian link on the right and they'll work with you from there. Send me an email at the address here and I'll try this the next time I go: http://trettel.org/contact.html http://trettel.org/contact.html (Unfortunately my next Library of Congress trip might not be for a year or more at this point due to COVID-19 and life.) I could make disk images with GNU ddrescue, or another software if you prefer. Note that I don't have a floppy drive at the moment but will ask them if they have an external USB drive.
- btrettel 6y ago
  Looks like you can download it here now: http://300m.us/docs/computing/ http://300m.us/docs/computing/
graton 6y ago
After a bit more searching and an email I found out it (Spontaneous Assembly 3.0) is posted here: http://300m.us/docs/computing/ http://300m.us/docs/computing/ :)

by graton 6y ago

codys 6y ago

It looks like there's a copy in the library of congress [1]. Unclear how one would go about making a copy. 1: https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-assembly-language-library-for-80x86-based-ms-dos-systems/oclc/32314029 https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-a...

clan 6y ago

For those who got curious like me have a look at: http://300m.us/docs/computing/SA-3.0a/TOC.htm http://300m.us/docs/computing/SA-3.0a/TOC.htm I am not familiar with how libraries work in the US. Can anyone get a library card with Library of Congress? They have the floppy images: https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-assembly-language-library-for-80x86-based-ms-dos-systems/oclc/32314029 https://www.worldcat.org/title/spontaneous-assembly-for-cc-a... EDIT: http://300m.us/docs/computing/ http://300m.us/docs/computing/ Has a link for purchase which 404 but to an existing site. Maybe Kevin is the friendly type?

nikomen 6y ago
Anyone can get a reader card at the Library of Congress if they have a photo id and are at least 16 years old. I'm not sure how you access computer files there, though. The reader card has to be obtained in person. With the Library of Congress closed to visitors because of COVID-19, I imagine it's not possible right now.
graton 6y ago
Yeah I have emailed Kevin Crenshaw but he stated the project is "abandonware" at this point. He said to search for it online. So far no luck with version 3.0. It would have been fun to try playing with some old code in a VM :) I don't live anywhere close the the Library of Congress, so not easy for me to get a copy there :(

btrettel 6y ago

As others have noted, the software is available at the Library of Congress. It's marked as "by appointment" in their catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/95790208 https://lccn.loc.gov/95790208 I go to the Library of Congress every once in a while and could ask for this. In my experience, to get items like this you use the Ask a Librarian link on the right and they'll work with you from there. Send me an email at the address here and I'll try this the next time I go: http://trettel.org/contact.html http://trettel.org/contact.html (Unfortunately my next Library of Congress trip might not be for a year or more at this point due to COVID-19 and life.) I could make disk images with GNU ddrescue, or another software if you prefer. Note that I don't have a floppy drive at the moment but will ask them if they have an external USB drive.

btrettel 6y ago
Looks like you can download it here now: http://300m.us/docs/computing/ http://300m.us/docs/computing/

graton 6y ago

After a bit more searching and an email I found out it (Spontaneous Assembly 3.0) is posted here: http://300m.us/docs/computing/ http://300m.us/docs/computing/ :)