DOSBox-X Git Update (March 7, 2026)

DOSBox-X Git (2026/03/07) is a compiled version of DOSBox, designed to emulate an Intel x86 PC, enabling the execution of old MS-DOS games on modern systems. Recent updates in the changelog include significant adjustments for the OSFREE mode, restricting file access while allowing device openings like NUL and CON. Shell commands have been minimized to essential functions, and specific access to drive Z: is enforced to prevent circumventing OS restrictions. Notable changes also include enhancements in batch file handling, ANSI code reliance for messages, and messages clarifying the limitations of OSFREE builds.

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DOSBox-X Git (2026/03/07) has been compiled. DOSBox-X is a variant of DOSBox. DOSBox emulates an Intel x86 PC, featuring sound, graphics, mouse, joystick, modem, and more, essential for playing many classic MS-DOS games that can’t be run on current PCs and operating systems like Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, and FreeBSD.

DOSBox-X Changelog:
* additional updates
* Merged remote-tracking branch ‘origin/main-osfree’
* OSFREE: Restrict file opening but allow device opening, ensuring the minimized shell can always access NUL, CON, etc., regardless of drive letter
* OSFREE: Also prevent file creation
* Merged remote-tracking branch ‘origin/main-osfree’
* OSFREE: Removed all non-essential shell commands
* Shell commands for OSFREE mode have been eliminated
* Allowed /DEBUG for certain tools to be enabled in OSFREE mode
* Merged branch ‘main-osfree’
* Prevent E_Exit crash if the batch file reader test fails
* OSFREE: Restrict access to anything other than drive Z: to stop dosbox.conf [autoexec] from circumventing OSFREE restrictions by directly running EXEs
* OSFREE: The Operating System message depends on ANSI codes; hence, for OSFREE builds, the ansi.sys dosbox.conf setting is ignored
* additional updates
* corrections
* more updates
* more updates
* more updates
* more updates
* more updates
* more updates
* update-version-number to enforce OSFREE for the VS project
* Merged branch ‘master’ into main-osfree
* more updates
* more updates
* config_package
* Automatically enable OSFREE if compiled from main-osfree
* Initiate osfree
* OSFREE: When the DOS shell runs, permit AUTOEXEC.BAT normally but prevent the command prompt from displaying. Instead, show a message stating that the OS is not found and clarify that OSFREE builds can only boot from disk images
* Introduced an OSFREE compile mode. Disabled most MS-DOS command line tools except the bare minimum required to boot a disk image or hard disk image