DOSBox-X vs retroemu
DOSBox-X
dosbox-x.comretroemu
github.comSide by side
| Figure | DOSBox-X | retroemu |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Multi-System Emulators | 8.8 (#3) | 7.9 (#28) |
| Integrations | The project says printing can work with third-party tools such as Printfil or WinPrint on Windows hosts. | The project uses libretro cores and SDL2, and documents WebRTC remote play using node-datachannel and hsync for signaling. |
| License | The main repository identifies the software as GPL-2.0 licensed. | The repository lists the project license as MIT. |
| Purpose | DOSBox-X is an open-source DOS emulator for running DOS applications and games. | retroemu runs classic console games in a terminal using libretro cores compiled to WebAssembly. |
| What it does | DOSBox-X emulates IBM PC hardware and DOS environments so modern computers can run DOS games and applications. | retroemu runs retro console games in a terminal with Node.js using libretro cores compiled to WebAssembly. |
Plans
In their own words
DOSBox-X
DOSBox-X is a free, open-source DOS emulator for running DOS applications and games on Linux, macOS and Windows. It also supports DOS-based Windows guests, including Windows 3.x and Windows 9x/Me. The project emphasizes general emulation and accurate hardware behavior, with DOS/V services and emulation for NEC PC-98, AX and J-3100 systems. A graphical configuration tool and many virtual-machine options let users adjust the emulated environment. DOSBox-X provides up to 100 save slots, with automatic saving for selected programs or at user-defined intervals. Its emulated NE2000 adapter supports guest networking through PCAP and Slirp backends. Printing can use parallel ports and real or emulated printers, with PostScript or PNG output. Launching host applications from the emulator is disabled by default for security and can be enabled through configuration or a command-line option. The project describes use for DOS software, historical preservation, testing and continued DOS development; emulating Pentium 4-or-higher CPUs and post-2000 PC hardware are listed as non-goals.