Comparison of assemblers

This is a list of assemblers: computer programs that translate ("assemble") assembly language source code into binary programs.

x86 assemblers

These are the x86 Assemblers for Intel 80x86 architecture microprocessors

Assembler	OS	Open source	License	x86-64	Active Development
A86/A386	Windows, DOS	No	Proprietary	No	No
ACK	Linux, Minix, Unix-like	Yes	BSD since 2003	No	1985-?[1]
Arrowsoft Assembler	DOS	No	Public Domain	No	No
IBM ALP	OS/2	No	Proprietary	No	No
AT&T	Unix System V	No	Proprietary	No	1985-?[2]
Bruce D. Evans' as86	Minix 1.x, 16-bit part in Linux	Yes	GPL	No	1988-2001[3]
Digital Research ASM86	CP/M-86, DOS, Intel's ISIS	No	Proprietary	No	1978-1992
DevelSoftware Assembler	Windows, Linux, Unix-like	No	Free	listed, n/a	Yes
FASM	Windows, DOS, Linux, Unix-like	Yes	BSD	Yes	Yes
GAS	Unix-like, Windows, [[DOS], OS/2]	Yes	GPL	Yes	Since 1987
GoAsm	Windows	No	Free	Yes	Yes
HLA	Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X	Yes	Public domain	No	Yes
JWASM	Windows, DOS, Linux, FreeBSD, OS/2	Yes	Sybase Open Watcom Public License	Yes	Yes
LZASM	Windows, DOS	No	Free	No	No
MASM	Windows, [[DOS], OS/2]	No	Microsoft EULA	Yes	Since 1981[4]
Mical a86	Unix, DOS, PC/IX	Yes	?	No	1982-1984[5]
NASM	Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, DOS, OS/2	Yes	BSD	Yes	Since 1996
Tim Paterson's ASM	86-DOS, DOS DEBUG	No	Proprietary	No	1980-1983
POASM	Windows, Windows Mobile	No	Free	Yes	Yes
SLR's OPTASM	DOS	No	Proprietary	No	No
TASM	Windows, DOS	No	Proprietary	No	?[6]
WASM	Windows, DOS, OS/2	Yes	Sybase Open Watcom Public License	No	?
TCCASM	Unix-like, Windows	Yes	LGPL	Yes	Yes
Xenix	Xenix 2.3 and 3.0 (before 1985)	No	Proprietary	No	1982-1984
Yasm	Windows, DOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Unix-like	Yes	BSD	Yes	Yes

1. ^ Part of the Minix 3 source tree, but without obvious development activity. The full source history is available.
2. ^ Developed by Interactive in 1986 when they ported System V to Intel iAPX286 and 80386 architectures. Archetypical of ATT syntax because it was used as reference for GAS. Still used for The SCO Group's products, Unixware and OpenServer.
3. ^ Home site does not appear active any more. Also offered as part of FreeBSD Ports, in bcc-1995.03.12.
4. ^ Active and supported, but not advertised.
5. ^ Developed in 1982 at MIT as a cross-assembler, it was picked up by Interactive in 1983 when they developed PC/IX under IBM contract. The syntax was later used as base for ACK assembler, to be used in Minix 1.x toolchain.
6. ^ Part of the C++Builder Tool Chain, but not sold as a stand-alone product, or marketed since the CodeGear spin-off; Borland was still selling it until then. Version 5.0, the last, is dated 1996.
7. ^ Turbo Assembler was developed as 'Turbo Editasm' by Uriah Barnett from Speedware Inc (Sacramento, CA) between 1984 and 1987. It was later sold to (or marketed by) Borland as their Turbo Assembler.

Multiple target assemblers

GNU Assembler (gas): GPL: many target instruction sets including ARM architecture, Atmel AVR, 80x86 architecture, Freescale 68HC11, Freescale v4e, Motorola 68k, TI MSP430, Zilog Z80

ASxxxx Cross Assembler (part of the Small Device C Compiler project): GPL: several target instruction sets including Intel 8051, Zilog Z80, Freescale 68HC08, PIC microcontroller

Vasm portable and retargetable assembler: Target instruction sets including 680x0, Coldfire, PowerPC, C16x/ST10, 6502, Zilog Z80.

The Amsterdam Compiler Kit (ACK) targets many architectures of the 1980s, including 6502, 6800, 680x0, ARM, x86, Zilog Z80 and Z8000.

Other assemblers

Assembler	License	Instruction set	Host platform
Babbage	Proprietary	GEC 4000 series	GEC 4000 series
COMPASS[1]	Proprietary	CDC mainframe	CDC mainframe
BAL	Proprietary	IBM System/360	IBM BPS/360
IBM Assembler XF	Proprietary	IBM System/370	IBM System/370
MACRO-11	Unknown	PDP-11	PDP-11
HLASM	Proprietary	z/Architecture	z/Architecture
Lisa	Proprietary	MOS Technology 6502	Apple II series
Atari Assembler Editor	Proprietary	MOS Technology 6502	Atari 8-bit family
MAC/65	Proprietary	MOS Technology 6502	Atari 8-bit family
French Silk	Proprietary	MOS Technology 6502	Commodore 64
PASMO	GPL	Zilog Z80	numerous
MRS	GPL	Zilog Z80, 8080	ZX Spectrum, PMD-85
ASEM-51	Free	8051	Embedded Systems
GPASM	GPL	PIC microcontroller	many
ID3E	Free for academic use	SC123	SC123 emulator
MIPS	Free	MIPS architecture	MIPS
GFA-Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Atari ST
GST Macro Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Atari ST
Digital Research Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Atari ST
Metacomco Macro Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Commodore Amiga, Atari ST
Seka Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Commodore Amiga, Atari ST
HiSoft DevPak Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Commodore Amiga, Atari ST
ASM-One Macro Assembler	Free	Motorola 680x0	Commodore Amiga
A68K	Free	Motorola 680x0	Commodore Amiga
OMA	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Commodore Amiga
MaxonASM	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Commodore Amiga
StormPowerASM	Proprietary	PowerPC	PowerPC Amiga
Archimedes Assembler	Proprietary	ARM	Acorn Archimedes
MPW IIgs Assembler	Proprietary	WD 65C816	Apple IIgs
Mac Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Apple Macintosh
MPW Assembler	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Apple Macintosh
Fantasm	Proprietary	Motorola 680x0	Apple Macintosh
Power Fantasm	Proprietary	PowerPC	Apple Power Macintosh
MPW Power Assembler	Proprietary	PowerPC	Apple Power Macintosh

References

1. ^ COMPASS is actually a family of assemblers for disparate machines.