DOSBox 3DS vs dosbox-automation
DOSBox 3DS
github.comdosbox-automation
dosbox-automation.orgSide by side
| Figure | DOSBox 3DS | dosbox-automation |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 0 |
| Spec score · MS-DOS Emulators | 7.2 (#19) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Emulation | DOSBox emulates a PC’s CPU, sound and graphics cards, and other peripherals to run DOS applications. | The project includes DOSBox Staging functionality, additional bug fixes and hardening, and a FluidR3 General MIDI soundfont enabled by default. |
| Purpose | DOSBox 3DS is a port of DOSBox-SVN for Nintendo 3DS. | dosbox-automation is a DOSBox Staging fork that lets launchers, test harnesses, and scripts launch, drive, and inspect DOS applications and games. |
| Security | The README says DOSBox cannot harm a computer more than any other resource-demanding program. | The API requires a bearer token, the webserver binds to localhost by default, and Lua scripts run without filesystem or process access. |
| Support | The included manual directs users with questions to the DOSBox site and forum. | The main branch and latest release are supported with security updates; the policy says private vulnerability reports receive a human reply. |
In their own words
dosbox-automation
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.