Also, what would be the reason that someone would
distribute their programs
in .ASM form, instead of in .COM form? Is this so that other people can edit
or change them before they use them? That could be good, I guess but it
seems like a lot of extra work for the end user (me.)
Exactly, not everyone out there is paranoid of giving away source code.
These disks were produced by an old CP/M user group,
and they are labeled by
disk number (5a, 5b, 28a, 28b for example,) and they are a confusing mess.
Some of the programs have files scattered between numerous disks, mixed in
with bits and pieces of other programs. Sheesh. It's going to take some
time to sort this headache out. I must be out of my mind.
Usually those files are compressed archives, you may need LHA, DELBR,
unarc or other tools to "open" them.
I may add most of the files you'd find are on the WC cdrom (or the online
copies of it.).
The organization of those disks were likely by date of issue.
Allison