dosbox

DOSBox is a free and open source emulator that recreates the environment of an IBM PC compatible computer running MS-DOS. It was first released in 2002 by Dieter Riegel and has become a popular tool for running legacy software and classic games on modern operating systems.

The emulator works by virtualizing the CPU, sound, video, and input devices used by DOS applications. It supports a wide range of DOS-based games from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as productivity programs such as Microsoft Word 3.0 and early versions of the Internet Explorer browser. DOSBox includes emulation for common hardware such as MMX, 3D acceleration, and various sound chips, and it can be configured to use the host computer’s audio output.

Users control DOSBox through a command-line interface or a graphical front‑end. The configuration file allows fine‑tuned adjustments of CPU cycles, memory limits, and device mappings. Many modern distributions of DOSBox also support scripts that automatically mount game directories and launch binaries.

The project is actively maintained on GitHub and released under the GNU GPL. A large community of users shares configuration files, patches, and troubleshooting tips on forums and wikis. DOSBox is cross‑platform, running on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and others, making it a versatile solution for preserving and experiencing software that would otherwise be inaccessible on current hardware.