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DOS-Emulator

DOS-Emulator is a free IBM PC emulator that runs DOS and is written in Rust.

Place
#14 of 26
Score
6.0
DOS-Emulator's website

What DOS-Emulator is

DOS-Emulator is a free IBM PC emulator that runs DOS and is written in Rust. It is available for macOS and Ubuntu Linux, with source code under the MIT License. You can build it with Cargo or download a prebuilt binary from the GitHub releases page. Its README identifies only Game of ROBOT episodes 0, 1, 3 and 4 as known to be playable, so the documented software support is narrow. The project takes inspiration from DOSBox but is not a direct port; some features work differently and others are absent. The command-line interface can quit, pause into the debugger or open a keyboard mapping tool. Debugger functions include instruction profiling, inspecting data at selected registers, scrolling through a data overview, continuing execution, stepping over and single-stepping. Its described design uses a GUI thread for video rendering and input, and an audio thread that synthesizes Sound Blaster and beeper signals. The author describes the project as a way to play a favorite game and learn Rust and emulation principles. The releases page lists v0.1.0 as the latest release.

Good

  • Free software under the MIT License
  • Source build and prebuilt binary are available
  • Debugger offers profiling and step controls
  • Includes described video and audio threads

Watch out

  • Only four Game of ROBOT episodes are known playable
  • Windows lacks ANSI escape sequences required by the CLI dependency
  • Many features are absent or implemented differently
  • Latest listed release is v0.1.0

Who it suits

DOS-Emulator may suit macOS or Ubuntu Linux users interested in running the listed Game of ROBOT episodes or exploring a Rust-written DOS emulator. Its command-line debugger may also appeal to users who want instruction and register inspection tools.

Verdict

DOS-Emulator has a narrow documented range of playable software and is listed for macOS and Ubuntu Linux. Check those limits and the available release before choosing it for a particular DOS program.

Plans and prices

From DOS-Emulator's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
FreeFreeMIT-licensed software · README says many features are missing or implemented differently

The facts

Each one read from DOS-Emulator's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Audio and video
The architecture describes a GUI thread for video rendering and input, and an audio thread that synthesizes Sound Blaster and beeper signals.checked 8 Oct 2026
Build and download
Users can build from source with Cargo or download a prebuilt binary from the GitHub releases page.checked 8 Oct 2026
Controls
The command line interface supports quitting, pausing into the debugger, and opening a keyboard mapping tool.checked 8 Oct 2026
Debugger
The debugger can profile instructions, inspect data at selected registers, scroll the data overview, continue, step over, and single-step.checked 8 Oct 2026
Feature coverage
The project is inspired by DOSBox but is not a direct port, and many features are implemented differently or are absent.checked 8 Oct 2026
License
The repository is under the MIT License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing and sale subject to its stated conditions.checked 8 Oct 2026
Performance
The author reports 10 to 19 million instructions per second in release mode, up to 23 million with PGO, using about 45% of one host CPU core and 32 MiB of RAM in the described evaluation.checked 8 Oct 2026
Project goal
The author says it was made to play a favorite game and learn Rust and emulation principles.checked 8 Oct 2026
Purpose
DOS-Emulator is an IBM PC emulator running DOS, written in Rust.checked 8 Oct 2026
Release
The releases page lists v0.1.0 as the latest release.checked 8 Oct 2026
Supported software
The README says only Game of ROBOT episodes 0, 1, 3 and 4 are known to be playable.checked 8 Oct 2026
Warranty
The MIT license provides the software “AS IS” without warranty, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.checked 8 Oct 2026

The company

Maker
Cargo.toml names Alexander Meißner as the package author.checked 8 Oct 2026

Where it runs

Platform support
The README says macOS was tested as a host and Ubuntu builds, while Windows lacks the ANSI escape sequences needed by the CLI dependency.checked 8 Oct 2026

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