Overview

warning

js-dos v7 is still in under development and some features are not ready. For example you can't use mouse yet. Please use js-dos 6.22 for production projects.

New version of js-dos is more modular, you can use it partially. It consists of:

  • js-dos bundle - universal package that js-dos understands
  • emulators - npm package, that provide just DOS emulator that can be runned in different environments
  • emulators-ui - npm package, a set of ui/sound components to render emulator output in browser
  • js-dos - npm package that combine everything to run DOS program in browser

js-dos bundle

js-dos 6.22 have very easy API to run DOS program in browser, but to start it you need configure program:

  • download game archive (usually zip)
  • extract it
  • configure dos file system
  • configure dosbox options (cycles, renderer type, etc.)
  • configre controllers (mouse, keyboard type, etc.)

Often quality of game also depends on good configuration.

Starting from js-dos 7, api expects js-dos bundle that already contains all configuration needed to start program. js-dos bundle it's a just ZIP archive that contains game it self and js-dos config file (same as dosbox.conf file). For example, digger.jsdos:

.jsdos\dosbox.conf - dosbox configuration file
DIGGER.COM - game file

You can generate js-dos bundle programmatically. But, we recommend to use our bundle generator Moreover you can search on our database if someone already uploaded js-dos bundle for program.

Read guide about creating js-dos bundle.

Run jsdos file

Once you have jsdos bundle you can easily run it in browser. There are several options:

1. Use player hosted on dos.zone

Fastest way to embed jsdos on your page. You just need url of jsdos bundle (you can get it from game database).

<iframe
id="jsdos"
src="https://dos.zone/en/player/https%3A%2F%2Fdoszone-uploads.s3.dualstack.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com%2Foriginal%2F2X%2F9%2F9ed7eb9c2c441f56656692ed4dc7ab28f58503ce.jsdos"
/>

The src can be composed like this:

const src = "https://dos.zone/en/player/" + encodeURIComponent(bundleUrl);

To recieve input you should focus the iframe:

document.getElementById("jsdos").focus();

Complete example:

examples/iframe.html
Run
{}
info
  1. Drag with mouse to play without keyboard!
  2. Open top menu to type records name on mobile.
warning

Iframe integration didn't support for fullscreen button yet, if you need it look forward.

2. Use js-dos api

js-dos v7 is even simple then 6.22, to run bundle you just need a one line of code:

Dos(document.getElementById("jsdos")).run("some.jsdos");

Dos recieve HTMLDivElement and use it to create player ui. To run jsdos bundle just use method run with url pointed to jsdos bundle.

To use js-dos you need to add js-dos.js script, and js-dos.css style. Also you need to specify path prefix os js-dos installation:

<script src="/v7/build/releases/latest/js-dos/js-dos.js"></script>
<link href="/v7/build/releases/latest/js-dos/js-dos.css" rel="stylesheet">
// ...
<script>
emulators.pathPrefix = "/v7/build/releases/latest/js-dos/";
Dos(/*element*/).run(/*bundleUrl*/);

Complete example:

examples/dos.html
Run
{}

3. Using emulators

Most flexible way. Emulators package conains core that can run DOS program in wasm environment. Now it supports two execution modes:

  • direct - run DOS emulation inside main browser thread.
  • worker - run DOS emulation inside worker thread.

Read guide how we use emulators to estimate js-dos performance.

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