dosbox-automation
dosbox-automation.org
What it is
dosbox-automation is a free DOSBox Staging fork for automating the launch, control, and inspection of DOS applications and games. Its HTTP REST API uses bearer-token authentication and includes Swagger UI, while a sandboxed Lua engine can drive execution and input with frame-accurate timing. It can record and replay keyboard and mouse input, capture frames and video, read 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. Official builds are available for Windows and Linux; the Linux build is statically linked and targets x86_64. There are no official macOS builds, and compiling from source is described as untested. The webserver is disabled by default. When enabled, it binds to localhost by default, requires a bearer token, restricts mounted paths, and runs Lua without filesystem or process access. Windows 9x is not supported.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork that lets launchers, test harnesses, and scripts launch, drive, and inspect DOS applications and games.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Platforms
- The project states that official builds are available for Windows and Linux, and that it has no official macOS builds.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Integrations
- The maker describes use with shell scripts, Python programs, game launchers, automated test harnesses, and CI/CD pipelines.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Security
- The API requires a bearer token, the webserver binds to localhost by default, and Lua scripts run without filesystem or process access.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Support
- The main branch and latest release are supported with security updates; the policy says private vulnerability reports receive a human reply.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- License
- The independent project is licensed under GNU GPL v2+ and is based on DOSBox Staging.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Automation
- It provides an HTTP REST API with bearer-token authentication and Swagger UI, plus a sandboxed Lua engine with frame-accurate timing.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Automation interface
- It provides an HTTP REST API with bearer-token authentication and a built-in Swagger UI.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Emulation
- The project includes DOSBox Staging functionality, additional bug fixes and hardening, and a FluidR3 General MIDI soundfont enabled by default.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Inspection
- It supports screen-text reading in text modes and memory and register inspection for debugging.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Inspection and capture
- The API supports screen capture and video recording, text reading in text modes, and memory and CPU register inspection.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Install recipes
- A Python reference implementation reads TOML recipes to perform unattended installations, including disk swaps, through the REST API and Lua engine.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Linux limit
- The official Linux build is statically linked and currently targets x86_64.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- macOS availability
- The maker says there are no official macOS builds, but users can compile from source; it describes that route as untested.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- MCP bridge
- A separate Python package, dosbox-mcp, wraps the REST API as MCP tools for compatible clients such as Claude Code.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- 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.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Notable compatibility limit
- The documentation says Windows 9x (95, 98, ME) is not supported.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Recording
- The automation layer supports input and video recording with replay, plus single-frame capture through the API.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Recording and replay
- It can record and replay keyboard and mouse input with frame-accurate timing for deterministic runs.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Scripting
- Its sandboxed Lua engine drives execution, input, and system state with frame-accurate timing.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Security support
- The main branch and latest release are supported with security updates, and the policy gives an email address for private vulnerability reports.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- 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.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Unattended installs
- Declarative TOML install recipes can automate complete installations, including disk swaps, through the API and Lua engine.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- Webserver setting
- The built-in HTTP webserver is off by default and must be enabled in the configuration.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
- What it is
- dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork built around automation that can launch, drive, and inspect DOS applications and games.Read 3 Oct 2026 · dosbox-automation.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- REST API and sandboxed Lua automation.
- Frame-accurate input recording and replay.
- TOML recipes automate installs and disk swaps.
- Can inspect screen text, memory, and CPU registers.
- Official Windows and Linux builds.
Limits
- No official macOS build; source route is untested.
- Linux build targets x86_64.
- Windows 9x is not supported.
- Webserver must be enabled in configuration.
Who it suits
It suits users automating DOS software or games through scripts, launchers, or test harnesses. Its capture and inspection features also serve debugging workflows.
Verdict
dosbox-automation combines DOS emulation with scripting, API control, recording, and inspection. Official builds cover Windows and x86_64 Linux, with no official macOS build.
Where Specifiction places it
- MS-DOS Emulators#10 of 267.9
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