Awesome DOS

URL: https://github.com/balintkissdev/awesome-dos#readme
Category: Themed Directories
Tags: awesome-lists, software, curated-lists
Author/Brand: balintkissdev

Overview

Awesome DOS is a curated "awesome list" focused on DOS, the family of x86-based operating systems (including IBM PC DOS and MS-DOS) popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. It targets people interested in retro-programming and learning about DOS, collecting links to tools, educational material, and historical resources.

The list is intended as a starting point for:

• Developing DOS applications and games
• Learning DOS programming and internals
• Exploring original and open source DOS software and code

Main Sections

• Development tools
• Tutorials and programming resources
• Books
• Videos
• Source code
  • Open source DOS operating systems
  • Open source DOS libraries
  • Open source DOS games
• Drivers and emulators

Features

1. Development Tools

Curated compilers, IDEs, debuggers, and toolchains for DOS development, including:

• bcc – Bruce's C Compiler
  Simple C compiler that produces 8086 assembler for tiny/small memory models.

• DJGPP
  32-bit C/C++ development environment for Intel 80386-based systems, historically used for games such as Quake.

• GCC IA-16 toolchain
  GCC-based toolchain for 16-bit (8086–80286, IA-16) DOS applications, maintained by TK Chia.

• Insight
  Small debugger for real-mode DOS programs, with a Borland Turbo-style UI. Includes:

  • i80486 disassembler
  • i8086 assembler

• Open Watcom
  Former commercial C/C++ development environment for 16- and 32-bit DOS and Windows. Notes:

  • Current official version: 1.9
  • Used historically for titles like Doom I–II, Warcraft I–II, Duke Nukem 3D, Full Throttle, Dark Forces, Retro City Rampage
  • Documentation is highlighted as valuable for working with both v1.9 and the V2 fork
  • Additional reference via an Arch Wiki page

• Open Watcom V2
  Actively maintained GitHub fork of Open Watcom:

  • Ported to 64-bit Windows and Linux

• Turbo C 2.01
  C IDE and compiler from Borland, first released in 1987.

• Turbo C++ 1.01
  C++ IDE and compiler from Borland, released in 1991.

• Turbo C++ 3.0
  C++ IDE and compiler from Borland, released in 1992.

  • Includes a link to an online version runnable in the browser.

• DIV Games Studio 2
  IDE for developing DOS games with support for:

  • 2D
  • Mode 7
  • 3D Originally released in 1998.
  • Includes an online/browser-based version.

• T3X
  A small, portable programming language by Nils M. Holm. Characteristics:

  • Procedural
  • Block-structured
  • Recursive
  • Almost typeless
  • To some degree object-oriented

• SmallerC
  A small C compiler (entry is truncated in provided content, but listed as part of the toolset).

2. Learning & Reference Content

The list (from its table of contents and description) also aggregates:

• Tutorials and programming resources
  Guides and references for DOS development and understanding DOS internals.

• Books
  Links to both free and paid books about DOS, its programming model, and related technologies.

• Videos
  Curated video content for learning DOS programming and history.

3. Source Code Collections

The list points to open source codebases relevant to DOS:

• Open source DOS operating systems
  Source code for DOS-compatible or DOS-like systems.

• Open source DOS libraries
  Libraries intended for DOS software development.

• Open source DOS games
  Game source code targeting DOS.

4. Drivers and Emulators

Curated links to:

• Drivers for DOS environments
• Emulators to run DOS software on modern systems

These support development, testing, and exploration of DOS software without original hardware.

Pricing

• This is a free, open GitHub-based curated list. No pricing or paid plans are associated with the list itself (some linked resources may be paid, as noted in their own documentation).