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Tech riderRev. 20 Sept 2026

dosbox-automation

Ch 096.8of 26 MS-DOS Emulators
  1. 1Runs onAPI, Linux, Windows
  2. 2CostsNot stated by the maker
  3. 3Supported host platformsWindows, Linux
  4. 4DOS target versionsms-dos
  5. 5Gamepad supportYes
  6. 6Audio CD supportYes
  7. 7Source availableYes
6 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: dosbox-automation.org
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The dosbox-automation homepage

Overview

dosbox-automation is ranked #9 of 26 in MS-DOS emulators on Specifiction. It runs on API, Linux, Windows.

Compared on MS-DOS emulators

Free plan
Yesdosbox-automation.org
Supported host platforms
Windows, Linuxdosbox-automation.org
DOS target versions
ms-dosdosbox-automation.org
Gamepad support
Yesdosbox-automation.org
Audio CD support
Yesdosbox-automation.org
Source available
Yesdosbox-automation.org

Facts

Purpose
dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork that lets launchers, test harnesses, and scripts launch, drive, and inspect DOS applications and games.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Automation
It provides an HTTP REST API with bearer-token authentication and Swagger UI, plus a sandboxed Lua engine with frame-accurate timing.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Recording
The automation layer supports input and video recording with replay, plus single-frame capture through the API.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Inspection
It supports screen-text reading in text modes and memory and register inspection for debugging.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Emulation
The project includes DOSBox Staging functionality, additional bug fixes and hardening, and a FluidR3 General MIDI soundfont enabled by default.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Security
The webserver binds to localhost by default, requires a bearer token for API requests, and applies restrictions to mounted paths; Lua scripts run without filesystem or process access.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Webserver setting
The built-in HTTP webserver is off by default and must be enabled in the configuration.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
License
The independent project is licensed under GNU GPL v2+ and is based on DOSBox Staging.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Platforms
The project states that official builds are available for Windows and Linux, and that it has no official macOS builds.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Linux limit
The official Linux build is statically linked and currently targets x86_64.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Notable compatibility limit
The documentation says Windows 9x (95, 98, ME) is not supported.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
What it is
dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork built around automation that can launch, drive, and inspect DOS applications and games.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Automation interface
It provides an HTTP REST API with bearer-token authentication and a built-in Swagger UI.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Scripting
Its sandboxed Lua engine drives execution, input, and system state with frame-accurate timing.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Recording and replay
It can record and replay keyboard and mouse input with frame-accurate timing for deterministic runs.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Unattended installs
Declarative TOML install recipes can automate complete installations, including disk swaps, through the API and Lua engine.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026
Integrations
The maker describes use with shell scripts, Python programs, game launchers, automated test harnesses, and CI/CD pipelines.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 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.dosbox-automation.org · 3 Oct 2026

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Where it ranks on Specifiction

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