Error: Operation Size not Specified

[FunnyGuy9796]

I am trying to acquire a lock in assembly but come across an error

operation size not specified

.

This is the line causing the error:

Code: Select all

lock bts [lock_addr], 0

The OSDev Wiki has this exact line in the documentation but I know that it can be flawed. Any help would be much appreciated!

[Octocontrabass]

For whatever reason, NASM is unable to guess the correct operand size for this instruction (even though the obvious choice here is dword). Add the "dword" keyword and the error will go away.

Do you really need to write this code in assembly? C and C++ both have built-in functionality for this kind of thing.

[FunnyGuy9796]

I have tried adding dword to the line so that it appears as this

Code: Select all

lock bts dword [lock_addr], 0

and then I get an error saying that lock_addr is undefined anywhere it is used.

[Octocontrabass]

Did you define it anywhere?

[FunnyGuy9796]

I defined the variable in C

[Octocontrabass]

You need to tell NASM that it was defined elsewhere.

[FunnyGuy9796]

I have done this. However, I could never figure out if it is next to add the underscore before the name. (I know it’s a stupid question but might as well clear everything up)

[Octocontrabass]

It depends on your ABI. The System V ABI doesn't require it: symbols are the same in C and in assembly. The 32-bit Windows ABI does require it: symbols in C will have an extra underscore in assembly.