Difference between revisions of "DOSBoxFrontends"

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= Frontends for DOSBox =
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== Frontends for DOSBox ==
  
A [[DOSBoxFrontends|frontend]]  pulls together the many functions of the program it is for and "stands in front of" it. It makes your life and the configuration a bit simpler.
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The following frontends will help you run, install and manage your DOS games. Some of them also support other emulators like ScummVM, Windows games, and console emulators. The current most popular frontends are, Boxer for MacOS X, D-Fend Reloaded for Windows, and DBGL which runs on multiple platforms.
  
'''DOSBox''' is controlled by its [[dosbox.conf|config file]]. [[DOSBoxFrontends|Frontends]] are a nice graphical way to maintain or edit that [[dosbox.conf|config file]].
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You can also have a look at the [[Frontend Comparison]] page.
  
If you are a newbie or you don't like editing [[dosbox.conf]] by hand then a [[DOSBoxFrontends|frontend]] is the solution for you.
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=== Multi Platform ===
  
== Incomplete overview of the Frontends available ==
 
=== Windows Frontends ===
 
 
* '''DOSShell'''
 
: x86 applications launcher plus convenient Explorer-like entries manager.
 
: '''Website''': http://www.loonies.narod.ru/dosshell.htm
 
  
 +
* '''DBGL''' - DOSBox Game Launcher
 +
*: '''Description: '''An open source frontend for DOSBox, based largely upon the proven interface of D-Fend.
 +
*: '''Platforms: ''' Windows, Linux, OS X
 +
*: '''Website''': http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/blankendaalr/dbgl/
 +
* '''D-Box'''
 +
*: '''Description: ''' An open source frontend for DOSBOX. It tries to distinguish itself from alternatives by having "the right set of features", which means not too few, and not too many features. Includes a fancy "floppy flow" user interface.
 +
*: '''Platforms: ''' Windows, Linux, OS X
 +
*: '''Website''': https://code.google.com/p/dbox/
 +
* '''DBoxFE'''
 +
*: '''Description: ''' DBoxFE creates and manages configuration files for DOSBox. You can create different profiles for your games, etc. Currently in beta.
 +
*: '''Platforms: ''' Windows, Linux
 +
*: '''Website''': http://sourceforge.net/projects/dboxfe.berlios/
 
* '''DOSBoxGui'''
 
* '''DOSBoxGui'''
: A portable DOSBox frontend. Currently confirmed to run on Linux and Windows flavors.
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*: '''Description: ''' A portable DOSBox frontend. Needs Tcl/Tk, which is a free, albeit big (20MB) software compiler that you will need to assemble the program for your operating system.
: Needs Tcl/Tk.
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*: '''Platforms: ''' Windows, Linux
: '''Website''': http://losfinkos.googlepages.com/dosboxgui
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*: '''Website''': http://losfinkos.googlepages.com/dosboxgui
 
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* '''Dreads QuickMAME Launcher'''
* '''DOSBOXer'''
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*: '''Description: '''Open source frontend for DOSBOX. Works for all DOS/WIN emulators as well as DOS PC Games by creating BAT files to start each PC game.  Full docs included.  Check QM.DOC under downloads.  Version 4.64 (1997-2000) is for DOS/Win95/Win98/WinME and is written in 16-bit MS QuickBasic / MASM and has source code.  Version 6.x (1997-2015) is for WinXP/Vista/Win7/Win8+ and is written in Visual Basic 2010.  DOS version offers full SB-compatibility sound, VESA graphics, and mouse.  All WAV files must be 22050KHz, mono or lower.  8-bit PCX files or lower supported.  Windows version supports all PCM (umcompressed) WAV files regardless of bitrate and utilizes PNG files for graphics, instead. 
: Scott Duensing at Jaeger Technologies has created "DOSBOXer" for Windows 9x, ME, 2000 and XP.
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*: Linux support provided through "Wine" package for Linux.  Requires MS NET 4.0 to function for Windows/Linux.
: '''Website''': http://www.jaegertech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=40 (download link on that page does not work)
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*: '''Platforms: ''' DOS, 32-Bit Windows, 64-bit Windows, Linux* (Wine)
 
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*: '''Website''': http://quickmamelauncher.net76.net/
 +
* '''GR-lida'''
 +
*: '''Description: ''' An open source frontend for DOSBox, ScummVM and VDMSound. It can display games using pictureflow, which is a clone of Apples cover flow.
 +
*: '''Platforms: ''' Windows, Linux, OS X
 +
*: '''Website''': http://www.gr-lida.org/ (Website is in Spanish, but the program works in additional languages, including English)
  
 +
=== Windows Only  ===
  
 +
* '''AmpShell'''
 +
*: '''Description: ''' The purpose of AmpShell is to make you run games in DOSBox with a simple double click. It saves the time and trouble you can have with DOS commands. Plus, it has a lot of other time-saving features.
 +
*: '''Website''': http://ampshell.tuxfamily.org/
 +
* '''CBoxRun'''
 +
*: '''Description: ''' A frontend that emphasizes ease of use.  It can automatically download game information and screenshots from Wikipedia, and it has a nice [[dosbox.conf|config file]] editor with help for every field. Requires .NET 3.51.
 +
*: '''Website''': http://cboxrun.wordpress.com/
 
* '''DBFrontend''' - '''D'''OS'''B'''ox'''Frontend'''  
 
* '''DBFrontend''' - '''D'''OS'''B'''ox'''Frontend'''  
: It's a very simple frontend which allows you to have thumbnails of screen shots so you can easy recognize the game you want to run.
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*: '''Description: ''' An open source frontend  with a simple interface which allows you to have thumbnails of screen shots so you can easy recognize the game you want to run.
: '''Website''': http://www.ingoknito.de/produkte/dbfrontend/
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*: '''Website''': http://www.ingoknito.de/produkte/dbfrontend/
 
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* '''D-Fend Reloaded''' - '''D'''OSBox-'''F'''ront'''end''' Reloaded
* '''D.O.G.'''
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*: '''Description: ''' An open source frontend for DOSBox, ScummVM and Windows games. The development objective for D-Fend Reloaded was (besides 100% D-Fend compability) to make the program operation more simple with respect to DosBox beginners. Simultaneously more features for administration and configuration became available.
: D.O.G. is a work in progress DOSBox frontend, tested on Windows XP and 2000. D.O.G. is currently compatible with all DOSBox versions, from 0.58 up to 0.70. It will present you only with the available options of the selected DOSBox. D.O.G. also allows users to use not one DOSBox for their profiles, but an unlimited number. Switching between DOSBox versions is as easy as a click on a button. Besides the standard features of DOSBox, D.O.G. also extends these features with zip and 7-zip capability. Users can select a zip as a drive and D.O.G. will automatically unpack and repack the archive when running DOSBox. Besides this archiving capability D.O.G. also allows you to convert the captured Wave-files to the MP3 format of your choice and it allows you to convert the captured screen shots to a JPG format of your choice.
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*: '''Website''': http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net/
: '''Website''': http://www.freewebs.com/erikgg/
 
 
 
* '''DBGL''' - DOSBox Game Launcher
 
: DBGL is an open-source, multi-platform frontend for DOSBox, based largely upon the proven interface of D-Fend.
 
: '''Website''': http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/blankendaalr/dbgl/
 
 
 
 
* '''DosBlaster'''
 
* '''DosBlaster'''
: Windows Explorer shell extension for DOSBox. You can launch DOSBox by right click on DOS executable files in your Windows Explorer.
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*: '''Description: ''' An open source frontend that offers a simplified view of the DOS games which can be manage easily.  
: '''Website''': http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosblaster
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*: '''Website''': http://dosblasterx.sourceforge.net/
 
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* '''DOSShell'''
 +
*: '''Description: ''' Applications launcher, plus convenient Explorer-like entries manager.
 +
*: '''Website''': http://www.loonies.narod.ru/dosshell.htm
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* '''Old Games Launcher'''
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*: '''Description: ''' Direct Draw games launcher & Dosbox Frontend
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*: '''Website''': https://oldgameslauncher.codeplex.com/
 
* '''Turbo Dos Box'''
 
* '''Turbo Dos Box'''
: x86/x64 very simple and small (~100KB) manager for configuration.
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*: '''Description: ''' Very simple and small (~100KB no install needed) manager for configuration. Automatically mounts drives and can change all DOSBox options via XML setup, and can right click an EXE/COM/BAT and play it through DosBox by using the default configuration profile in "Right click and play" fashion.
: '''Website''': http://www.turboirc.com/tdb  
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*: '''Website''': http://www.turboirc.com/tdb
 
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* '''LaunchBox'''
* '''D-Fend Reloaded''' - '''D'''OSBox-'''F'''ront'''end''' Reloaded
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*: '''Description: ''' LaunchBox was originally built as an attractive frontend to DOSBox, but has since expanded to support both modern PC games and emulated console platforms. DOSBox will continue to be a main focus for LaunchBox, as will emulation and PC gaming. LaunchBox aims to be the one-stop shop for gaming on your computer, for both modern and historical games.
: In some way D-Fend Reloaded is a successor of the discontinued software D-Fend. Both environments look alike and D-Fend Reloaded contains all the features of D-Fend. Even the D-Fend config files are compatible with D-Fend Reloaded. However, unlike D-Fend, D-Fend Reloaded is open source.
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: '''Website''': http://www.launchbox-app.com
: The development objective for D-Fend Reloaded was (besides 100% D-Fend compability) to make the program operation more simple with respect to DosBox beginners. Simultaneously more features for administration and configuration became available.
 
: '''Website''': http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net/
 
 
 
=== MacOS X Frontends ===
 
 
 
* '''DBGL''' - DOSBox Game Launcher
 
: DBGL is an open-source, multi-platform frontend for DOSBox, based largely upon the proven interface of D-Fend.
 
: '''Website''': http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/blankendaalr/dbgl/
 
 
 
* '''DOSBOXer'''
 
: Scott Duensing at Jaeger Technologies has created "DOSBOXer" for Mac OS X 10.3 or later.
 
: '''Website''': http://www.jaegertech.com/dosboxer
 
  
* '''Radnor'''
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=== Mac OS X Only ===
: Sveinbjorn Thordarson has created the frontend "Radnor" for the MacOS X 10.3 or later version of DOSBox.
 
: '''Website''': http://sveinbjorn.vefsyn.is/radnor
 
  
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* '''Boxer'''
 +
*: '''Description: ''' Boxer makes it easy to run your favourite DOS games without editing configuration files, without typing command line parameters, without mounting folders, without learning a confusing frontend; without doing any more than clicking on a game in Finder.
 +
*: '''Website''': http://boxer.washboardabs.net/
 
* '''Petit dosbox'''
 
* '''Petit dosbox'''
: Petit dosbox is a very easy to use interface to help you running the emulator, and will keep your last configuration for the next time you use it.
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*: '''Description: ''' Petit dosbox is a very easy to use interface to help you running the emulator, and will keep your last configuration for the next time you use it.
: New updates have included a Game Manager and more configuration options.
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*: '''Website''': http://web.jet.es/guilly/slouc/software_petitdosbox.html
: '''Website''': http://web.jet.es/guilly/slouc/software_petitdosbox.html
 
 
 
=== Linux Frontend ===
 
 
 
* '''DOSBoxGui'''
 
: A portable DOSBox frontend. Currently confirmed to run on Linux and Windows flavors.
 
: Needs Tcl/Tk.
 
: '''Website''': http://losfinkos.googlepages.com/dosboxgui
 
  
* '''DOSBOXer'''
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=== Linux Only ===
: Scott Duensing at Jaeger Technologies has created "DOSBOXer" for most Intel x86 Linux distributions.
 
: '''Website''': http://www.jaegertech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=40
 
 
 
* '''DBoxFE'''
 
: DBoxFE creates and manages configuration files for DOSBox. You can create different profiles for your games, etc.
 
: '''Need to run:'''
 
: * KDE 3.1.x / 3.2.x
 
: * Qt 3.1.x / 3.2.x / 3.3.x
 
: '''Website''': http://chmaster.freeforge.net/dboxfe-project.htm
 
  
 
* '''pyDOSBox'''
 
* '''pyDOSBox'''
: The program is still in alpha stage but usable.
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*: '''Description: ''' The program is still in alpha stage but usable.
: '''Website''': http://www.panayotis.com/pydosbox/index.html  
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*: '''Website''': http://www.panayotis.com/prog/scripts/pydosbox/index.html
 
 
* '''DBGL''' - DOSBox Game Launcher
 
: DBGL is an open-source, multi-platform frontend for DOSBox, based largely upon the proven interface of D-Fend.
 
: '''Website''': http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/blankendaalr/dbgl/
 
 
 
== Incomplete overview of discontinued Frontends ==
 
=== Windows Frontends ===
 
 
 
* '''D-Fend''' - '''D'''OSBox-'''F'''ront'''end'''
 
: The largest DOSBox Frontend availabe. This frontend has supports for all '''DOSBox''' features and allows you generate default profiles for your system. It's also the only frontend which supports the unsupported cvs features. Because of its profile system and its intelligent mount system it's great for newbies and people using the cvs version of '''DOSBox'''. *Now supports Screenshot viewing for each Game Profile*
 
However recently Anthony announced officially that he stopped his work on D-Fend.
 
: '''Website''': http://members.home.nl/mabus
 
 
 
 
 
* '''Boxer''' - DOS'''Boxer'''s
 
: The smallest (in filesize) of the frontends available. It tries to keep up with the stable '''DOSBox''' version and allows you to edit every aspect of ((dosbox.conf)). Great if you want a very small frontend which just gets the job done.
 
: '''Website''': unknown
 

Latest revision as of 14:42, 12 April 2015

Frontends for DOSBox

The following frontends will help you run, install and manage your DOS games. Some of them also support other emulators like ScummVM, Windows games, and console emulators. The current most popular frontends are, Boxer for MacOS X, D-Fend Reloaded for Windows, and DBGL which runs on multiple platforms.

You can also have a look at the Frontend Comparison page.

Multi Platform

  • DBGL - DOSBox Game Launcher
    Description: An open source frontend for DOSBox, based largely upon the proven interface of D-Fend.
    Platforms: Windows, Linux, OS X
    Website: http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/blankendaalr/dbgl/
  • D-Box
    Description: An open source frontend for DOSBOX. It tries to distinguish itself from alternatives by having "the right set of features", which means not too few, and not too many features. Includes a fancy "floppy flow" user interface.
    Platforms: Windows, Linux, OS X
    Website: https://code.google.com/p/dbox/
  • DBoxFE
    Description: DBoxFE creates and manages configuration files for DOSBox. You can create different profiles for your games, etc. Currently in beta.
    Platforms: Windows, Linux
    Website: http://sourceforge.net/projects/dboxfe.berlios/
  • DOSBoxGui
    Description: A portable DOSBox frontend. Needs Tcl/Tk, which is a free, albeit big (20MB) software compiler that you will need to assemble the program for your operating system.
    Platforms: Windows, Linux
    Website: http://losfinkos.googlepages.com/dosboxgui
  • Dreads QuickMAME Launcher
    Description: Open source frontend for DOSBOX. Works for all DOS/WIN emulators as well as DOS PC Games by creating BAT files to start each PC game. Full docs included. Check QM.DOC under downloads. Version 4.64 (1997-2000) is for DOS/Win95/Win98/WinME and is written in 16-bit MS QuickBasic / MASM and has source code. Version 6.x (1997-2015) is for WinXP/Vista/Win7/Win8+ and is written in Visual Basic 2010. DOS version offers full SB-compatibility sound, VESA graphics, and mouse. All WAV files must be 22050KHz, mono or lower. 8-bit PCX files or lower supported. Windows version supports all PCM (umcompressed) WAV files regardless of bitrate and utilizes PNG files for graphics, instead.
    Linux support provided through "Wine" package for Linux. Requires MS NET 4.0 to function for Windows/Linux.
    Platforms: DOS, 32-Bit Windows, 64-bit Windows, Linux* (Wine)
    Website: http://quickmamelauncher.net76.net/
  • GR-lida
    Description: An open source frontend for DOSBox, ScummVM and VDMSound. It can display games using pictureflow, which is a clone of Apples cover flow.
    Platforms: Windows, Linux, OS X
    Website: http://www.gr-lida.org/ (Website is in Spanish, but the program works in additional languages, including English)

Windows Only

  • AmpShell
    Description: The purpose of AmpShell is to make you run games in DOSBox with a simple double click. It saves the time and trouble you can have with DOS commands. Plus, it has a lot of other time-saving features.
    Website: http://ampshell.tuxfamily.org/
  • CBoxRun
    Description: A frontend that emphasizes ease of use. It can automatically download game information and screenshots from Wikipedia, and it has a nice config file editor with help for every field. Requires .NET 3.51.
    Website: http://cboxrun.wordpress.com/
  • DBFrontend - DOSBoxFrontend
    Description: An open source frontend with a simple interface which allows you to have thumbnails of screen shots so you can easy recognize the game you want to run.
    Website: http://www.ingoknito.de/produkte/dbfrontend/
  • D-Fend Reloaded - DOSBox-Frontend Reloaded
    Description: An open source frontend for DOSBox, ScummVM and Windows games. The development objective for D-Fend Reloaded was (besides 100% D-Fend compability) to make the program operation more simple with respect to DosBox beginners. Simultaneously more features for administration and configuration became available.
    Website: http://dfendreloaded.sourceforge.net/
  • DosBlaster
    Description: An open source frontend that offers a simplified view of the DOS games which can be manage easily.
    Website: http://dosblasterx.sourceforge.net/
  • DOSShell
    Description: Applications launcher, plus convenient Explorer-like entries manager.
    Website: http://www.loonies.narod.ru/dosshell.htm
  • Old Games Launcher
    Description: Direct Draw games launcher & Dosbox Frontend
    Website: https://oldgameslauncher.codeplex.com/
  • Turbo Dos Box
    Description: Very simple and small (~100KB no install needed) manager for configuration. Automatically mounts drives and can change all DOSBox options via XML setup, and can right click an EXE/COM/BAT and play it through DosBox by using the default configuration profile in "Right click and play" fashion.
    Website: http://www.turboirc.com/tdb
  • LaunchBox
    Description: LaunchBox was originally built as an attractive frontend to DOSBox, but has since expanded to support both modern PC games and emulated console platforms. DOSBox will continue to be a main focus for LaunchBox, as will emulation and PC gaming. LaunchBox aims to be the one-stop shop for gaming on your computer, for both modern and historical games.
Website: http://www.launchbox-app.com

Mac OS X Only

  • Boxer
    Description: Boxer makes it easy to run your favourite DOS games without editing configuration files, without typing command line parameters, without mounting folders, without learning a confusing frontend; without doing any more than clicking on a game in Finder.
    Website: http://boxer.washboardabs.net/
  • Petit dosbox
    Description: Petit dosbox is a very easy to use interface to help you running the emulator, and will keep your last configuration for the next time you use it.
    Website: http://web.jet.es/guilly/slouc/software_petitdosbox.html

Linux Only