DosKit vs js-dos
DosKit
doskit.netjs-dos
js-dos.comSide by side
| Figure | DosKit | js-dos |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · MS-DOS Emulators | 8.0 (#8) | 7.8 (#13) |
| Maker | The repository identifies Cameron Rye as the maker, and his personal site describes him as a software engineer and architect. | The about page credits @caiiiycuk as maker and does not state a headquarters or founding date. |
| Purpose | DosKit is a cross-platform foundation for running DOS applications using js-dos WebAssembly technology. | js-dos provides a JavaScript API and player to run DOS and Windows 9x programs in a browser or Node. |
| Support | The project directs users to review existing GitHub issues or open a new issue with browser, operating-system, and console-error details. | The about page directs users to open a GitHub issue or ask the maker on Twitter for questions and suggestions. |
Plans
In their own words
DosKit
DosKit is a cross-platform foundation for running DOS applications through js-dos WebAssembly technology. It opens to an interactive DOS command prompt and is available as an installable Progressive Web App for desktop and mobile devices. After the first visit, service-worker caching enables offline use. URL parameters can load applications such as Second Reality and Impulse Tracker. Input includes standard DOS keyboard controls, including function keys and special characters, plus mobile touch controls. Audio output uses Sound Blaster and AdLib emulation. DosKit uses js-dos 8.3.20 WebAssembly and supports DOSBox and DOSBox-X backends. Its command interface includes pause, resume, mute, unmute, screenshots and filesystem read/write commands. WebAssembly and JavaScript are required, with at least 2GB of RAM recommended. Internet Explorer is unsupported, and iOS Safari versions before 15 have limited WebAssembly support. DosKit is free under the MIT License; js-dos and DOSBox are listed under GPL-2.0 licenses.
js-dos
js-dos provides a JavaScript API and player for running DOS and Windows 9x programs in a browser or Node. It supports DOSBox and DOSBox-X backends, including Windows 95 and 98 system images through DOSBox-X. Developers can add the player to a webpage from its CDN, install it from npm, or download it from GitHub releases. A basic player needs static website hosting and no backend, but the page must be served over HTTP rather than opened with the file protocol. Browser IPX networking uses WebRTC-NET for IPX servers, peer and alias connections, and shared network instances. Game progress is kept in browser storage by default, which may be wiped; cloud saves can be enabled with a secret key. Custom save storage is supported through filesystem change hooks, and local persistence uses OPFS. All users can read sockdrive storage, while subscribers can write to it to save progress and install games. The site describes WebGL-backed 3Dfx rendering. Mobile support is marked production for v7 and work in progress for v8.