DOSBox Staging

DOSBox Staging is a modern continuation of the classic DOSBox emulator, aiming to run legacy DOS applications and games on current operating systems. It serves as a mostly drop‑in replacement for older DOSBox versions, preserving compatibility with existing configuration files while offering a set of advanced features developed under contemporary software practices. The emulator relies on SDL 2 for cross‑platform video, audio, and input handling, and includes optional components such as FluidSynth for General MIDI playback and libmt32emu for Roland MT‑32 emulation.

The project targets users who need to execute DOS software on macOS, Windows, or Linux, including both casual gamers and developers who require a reliable, well‑tested environment. Its development workflow incorporates C++20 code, CMake/Ninja or Visual Studio build systems, and a suite of static and dynamic analysis tools, ensuring code quality and stability. Regular stable releases are provided for each platform, with optional development builds available for those who wish to test the latest changes.

Key technical attributes include Git version control, Loguru logging, unit testing via GoogleTest, and integration with the vcpkg package manager. Continuous integration pipelines run on multiple operating systems, and the codebase is examined with tools such as PVS‑Studio, Pylint, markdownlint, and ShellCheck to maintain a high standard of correctness and maintainability.