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dosbox-automation

dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork designed to let launchers, scripts, and test harnesses automate DOS applications and games.

Place
#20 of 26
Score
5.6
dosbox-automation's website

What dosbox-automation is

dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork designed to let launchers, scripts, and test harnesses automate DOS applications and games. It provides an HTTP REST API with bearer-token authentication and Swagger UI, alongside a sandboxed Lua engine with frame-accurate timing. Users can record and replay input, capture frames, read screen text in text modes, and inspect memory and CPU registers. TOML recipes can automate installations, including disk swaps, through the API and Lua engine. The project includes DOSBox Staging functionality, added fixes and hardening, and a FluidR3 General MIDI soundfont enabled by default. It is free, source-available software under GNU GPL v2+. Official builds are available for Windows and Linux; the Linux build targets x86_64. The webserver is disabled by default. When enabled, it binds to localhost by default, requires bearer tokens for API requests, and restricts mounted paths; Lua scripts have no filesystem or process access.

Good

  • REST API and sandboxed Lua support automation.
  • Records and replays input with frame-accurate timing.
  • TOML recipes can automate installs, including disk swaps.
  • Official Windows and Linux builds are available.

Watch out

  • No official macOS builds are provided.
  • Windows 9x is not supported.
  • Official Linux build targets x86_64.
  • The webserver must be enabled in configuration.

Who it suits

It suits developers, testers, and launcher authors automating DOS software, particularly those using scripts, Python, shell tools, or CI/CD pipelines. It is also relevant to users who need repeatable runs or inspection of DOS application state.

Verdict

dosbox-automation is focused on scripted DOS execution, repeatability, and inspection rather than only interactive emulation. Check its host-platform limits and webserver setup requirements before adopting it.

The facts

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

What it does

Automation
It provides an HTTP REST API with bearer-token authentication and Swagger UI, plus a sandboxed Lua engine with frame-accurate timing.checked 3 Oct 2026
Automation interface
It provides an HTTP REST API with bearer-token authentication and a built-in Swagger UI.checked 3 Oct 2026
Emulation
The project includes DOSBox Staging functionality, additional bug fixes and hardening, and a FluidR3 General MIDI soundfont enabled by default.checked 3 Oct 2026
Inspection
It supports screen-text reading in text modes and memory and register inspection for debugging.checked 3 Oct 2026
Inspection and capture
The API supports screen capture and video recording, text reading in text modes, and memory and CPU register inspection.checked 3 Oct 2026
Install recipes
A Python reference implementation reads TOML recipes to perform unattended installations, including disk swaps, through the REST API and Lua engine.checked 3 Oct 2026
Integrations
The maker describes use with shell scripts, Python programs, game launchers, automated test harnesses, and CI/CD pipelines.checked 3 Oct 2026
License
The independent project is licensed under GNU GPL v2+ and is based on DOSBox Staging.checked 3 Oct 2026
MCP bridge
A separate Python package, dosbox-mcp, wraps the REST API as MCP tools for compatible clients such as Claude Code.checked 3 Oct 2026
Mount restrictions
When the webserver is enabled, mount paths are validated and restricted by configured whitelists, and a one-way mount lock can freeze drive configuration until restart.checked 3 Oct 2026
Notable compatibility limit
The documentation says Windows 9x (95, 98, ME) is not supported.checked 3 Oct 2026
Purpose
dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork that lets launchers, test harnesses, and scripts launch, drive, and inspect DOS applications and games.checked 3 Oct 2026
Recording
The automation layer supports input and video recording with replay, plus single-frame capture through the API.checked 3 Oct 2026
Recording and replay
It can record and replay keyboard and mouse input with frame-accurate timing for deterministic runs.checked 3 Oct 2026
Scripting
Its sandboxed Lua engine drives execution, input, and system state with frame-accurate timing.checked 3 Oct 2026
Security
The API requires a bearer token, the webserver binds to localhost by default, and Lua scripts run without filesystem or process access.checked 3 Oct 2026
Security support
The main branch and latest release are supported with security updates, and the policy gives an email address for private vulnerability reports.checked 3 Oct 2026
Support
The main branch and latest release are supported with security updates; the policy says private vulnerability reports receive a human reply.checked 3 Oct 2026
Supported downloads
The maker says official builds are provided for Windows and Linux; the official Linux build is x86_64 and runs on most desktop Linux distributions.checked 3 Oct 2026
Unattended installs
Declarative TOML install recipes can automate complete installations, including disk swaps, through the API and Lua engine.checked 3 Oct 2026
Webserver setting
The built-in HTTP webserver is off by default and must be enabled in the configuration.checked 3 Oct 2026

Where it runs

Linux limit
The official Linux build is statically linked and currently targets x86_64.checked 3 Oct 2026
macOS availability
The maker says there are no official macOS builds, but users can compile from source; it describes that route as untested.checked 3 Oct 2026
Platforms
The project states that official builds are available for Windows and Linux, and that it has no official macOS builds.checked 3 Oct 2026

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