DOSBox Frontend

[pforpond]

I wrote a simple command line frontend for DOSBox. It is able to list, search and launch DOSBox applications real fast with minimal setup. Hopefully useful for those with a large library of dos apps who cannot be bothered putting in the effort with a more complex frontend, managing multiple conf files manually or typing the dos commands everytime they wish to open an app.

Works on Linux and Windows. macOS is not supported yet.

EDIT: Improved macOS compatible version posted below!

[pforpond]

Is that LXLE by any chance?

Yep. I have a particularly old spare laptop that I like to use that really chugs so I have it running Lubuntu 🙂

[johnno56]

I use Linux Mint and have tried the program in both version 1.3 and 1.4 of QB64.

F5 does nothing. All I did was cut and paste the program into the IDE and pressed F5.

Am I doing something wrong?

J

[pforpond]

I use Linux Mint and have tried the program in both version 1.3 and 1.4 of QB64.

F5 does nothing. All I did was cut and paste the program into the IDE and pressed F5.

Am I doing something wrong?

J

Interesting. On linux it seems the app needs to be run from the terminal. This issue seems to have slipped by me as I use an external IDE that uses terminal to control QB64 and launch my apps. The solution (for now): compile the code and then run from terminal :)

[keybone]

But isnt typing in the DOS commands half the fun?

[johnno56]

The solution (for now): compile the code and then run from terminal :)

I am familiar with compiling a program after the tarball has been extracted etc. but I have no idea as to how to compile a single qb64 program...

J

ps: keybone. Yes, it is fun!

[pforpond]

I am familiar with compiling a program after the tarball has been extracted etc. but I have no idea as to how to compile a single qb64 program...

Either press F11 or select Make Exe Only in the QB64 menus :)

[pforpond]

MacOS support and improvements with game exe searching :)

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. REM dosbox frontend
2. REM dp 2020
3.  
4. $CONSOLE:ONLY
5. _DEST _CONSOLE
6. IF INSTR(_OS$, "[WINDOWS]") THEN LET ros$ = "win"
7. IF INSTR(_OS$, "[LINUX]") THEN LET ros$ = "lnx"
8. IF INSTR(_OS$, "[MACOSX]") THEN LET ros$ = "mac"
9. setup:
10. REM loads games folder location AND checks IF it exists
11. 10 IF _FILEEXISTS("dbfe.ddf") THEN
12.     OPEN "dbfe.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
13.     INPUT #1, rootdir$, confdir$, confname$, dosboxexe$
14.     CLOSE #1
15.     IF _DIREXISTS(rootdir$) THEN
16.         REM nothing
17.     ELSE
18.         PRINT: PRINT "Cannot find games folder!"
19.         IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm dbfe.ddf"
20.         IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del dbfe.ddf"
21.         GOTO 10
22.     END IF
23. ELSE
24.     PRINT "Please type in the location of your games folder..."
25.     INPUT rootdir$
26.     IF _DIREXISTS(rootdir$) THEN
27.         OPEN "dbfe.ddf" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
28.         PRINT #1, rootdir$
29.         CLOSE #1
30.     ELSE
31.         PRINT: PRINT "Cannot find games folder!"
32.         IF _FILEEXISTS("dbfe.ddf") THEN
33.             IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm dbfe.ddf"
34.             IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del dbfe.ddf"
35.         END IF
36.         GOTO 10
37.     END IF
38.     IF ros$ = "win" OR ros$ = "lnx" THEN PRINT "Please type in the location of your dosbox conf folder (must ONLY contain unedited conf file)..."
39.     IF ros$ = "mac" THEN PRINT "Please type in the location of your dosbox preferences folder..."
40.     INPUT confdir$
41.     IF _DIREXISTS(confdir$) THEN
42.         OPEN "dbfe.ddf" FOR APPEND AS #1
43.         PRINT #1, confdir$
44.         CLOSE #1
45.         IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "ls '" + confdir$ + "' > temp.ddf"
46.         IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "dir /b " + CHR$(34) + confdir$ + CHR$(34) + " > temp.ddf"
47.         IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "win" THEN
48.                 REM conf finder (linux and windows)
49.                         OPEN "temp.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
50.                         INPUT #1, confname$
51.                         CLOSE #1
52.             LET findconf% = INSTR(findconf% + 1, confname$, ".conf")
53.             IF findconf% THEN
54.                 IF ros$ = "lnx" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm temp.ddf"
55.                 IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del temp.ddf"
56.                 OPEN "dbfe.ddf" FOR APPEND AS #1
57.                 PRINT #1, confname$
58.                 CLOSE #1
59.                 LET findconf% = 0
60.             ELSE
61.                 PRINT: PRINT "Cannot find conf file in folder!"
62.                 IF _FILEEXISTS("dbfe.ddf") THEN
63.                     IF ros$ = "lnx" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm dbfe.ddf"
64.                     IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del dbfe.ddf"
65.                 END IF
66.                 GOTO 10
67.             END IF
68.         END IF
69.         IF ros$ = "mac" THEN
70.                         REM conf finder (macos)
71.                         OPEN "temp.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
72.                         DO
73.                                 INPUT #1, confname$
74.                                 LET findconf% = INSTR(findconf% + 1, confname$, "DOSBox")
75.                         LOOP UNTIL findconf% OR EOF(1)
76.                         CLOSE #1
77.                         IF findconf% THEN
78.                                 SHELL _HIDE "rm temp.ddf"
79.                                 OPEN "dbfe.ddf" FOR APPEND AS #1
80.                                 PRINT #1, confname$
81.                                 CLOSE #1
82.                                 LET findconf% = 0
83.                         ELSE
84.                                 PRINT: PRINT "Cannot find preference file in folder!"
85.                                 SHELL _HIDE "rm dbfe.ddf"
86.                                 GOTO 10
87.                         END IF
88.         END IF
89.     ELSE
90.         PRINT: PRINT "Cannot find preference folder!"
91.         IF _FILEEXISTS("dbfe.ddf") THEN
92.             IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm dbfe.ddf"
93.             IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del dbfe.ddf"
94.         END IF
95.         GOTO 10
96.     END IF
97. END IF
98. IF ros$ = "win" THEN
99.     IF dosboxexe$ = "" THEN
100.         PRINT "Please type in the location of your dosbox program folder..."
101.         INPUT dosboxwin$
102.         SHELL _HIDE "dir /b " + CHR$(34) + dosboxwin$ + CHR$(34) + " > temp.ddf"
103.         OPEN "temp.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
104.         DO
105.             INPUT #1, temp$
106.             LET finddosbox% = INSTR(finddosbox% + 1, UCASE$(temp$), "DOSBOX.EXE")
107.             IF finddosbox% THEN
108.                 LET dosboxexe$ = dosboxwin$ + "\" + "dosbox.exe"
109.                 LET finddosbox% = 0
110.             END IF
111.         LOOP UNTIL EOF(1) OR dosboxexe$ <> ""
112.         CLOSE #1
113.         IF dosboxexe$ = "" THEN
114.             PRINT: PRINT "Cannot find dosbox exe in folder!"
115.             IF _FILEEXISTS("dbfe.ddf") THEN
116.                 SHELL _HIDE "del dbfe.ddf"
117.             END IF
118.             SHELL _HIDE "del temp.ddf"
119.             GOTO 10
120.         ELSE
121.             OPEN "dbfe.ddf" FOR APPEND AS #1
122.             PRINT #1, dosboxexe$
123.             CLOSE #1
124.             SHELL _HIDE "del temp.ddf"
125.         END IF
126.     END IF
127. ELSE
128.     OPEN "dbfe.ddf" FOR APPEND AS #1
129.     PRINT #1, "notwindows"
130.     CLOSE #1
131. END IF
132. PRINT
133. IF ros$ = "win" THEN PRINT "Dosbox found at: " + dosboxexe$
134. PRINT "Games folder found at: " + rootdir$
135. PRINT "Conf file found at: " + confdir$
136. PRINT "Conf file name is: " + confname$
137. PRINT "Building database..."
138. IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "ls '" + rootdir$ + "' > dosgamedb.ddf"
139. IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "dir /b " + CHR$(34) + rootdir$ + CHR$(34) + " > dosgamedb.ddf"
140. OPEN "dosgamedb.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
141. DO
142.     LET numberofgames = numberofgames + 1
143.     INPUT #1, templine$
144. LOOP UNTIL EOF(1)
145. CLOSE #1
146. GOTO menu
147.  
148. menu:
149. REM menu
150. PRINT
151. PRINT "DOSBOX FRONTEND"
152. PRINT
153. PRINT "1) Quick Launch"
154. PRINT "2) List Games"
155. PRINT "3) Search for Games"
156. PRINT "4) Change Folders"
157. PRINT "5) Quit"
158. PRINT
159. INPUT a
160. IF a = 1 THEN GOTO quicklaunch
161. IF a = 2 THEN GOTO listgames
162. IF a = 3 THEN GOTO searchgames
163. IF a = 4 THEN GOTO changedir
164. IF a = 5 THEN
165.     IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm dosgamedb.ddf": SHELL _HIDE "rm dosexedb.ddf"
166.     IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del dosgamedb.ddf": SHELL _HIDE "del dosexedb.ddf"
167.     SYSTEM
168. END IF
169. GOTO menu
170.  
171. searchgames:
172. REM searches FOR a game
173. PRINT
174. INPUT "Insert Search Term: "; gamesearch$
175. IF gamesearch$ = "" THEN GOTO menu
176. LET dbline = 0
177. LET dbloop = 0
178. OPEN "dosgamedb.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
179. DO
180.     DO
181.         LET dbline = dbline + 1
182.         INPUT #1, gamedir$
183.         LET findsearch% = INSTR(findsearch% + 1, UCASE$(gamedir$), UCASE$(gamesearch$))
184.         IF findsearch% THEN
185.             LET dbloop = dbloop + 1
186.             PRINT dbline; " - " + gamedir$
187.             LET findsearch% = 0
188.         END IF
189.     LOOP UNTIL dbloop = 20 OR EOF(1)
190.     LET dbloop = 0
191.     IF EOF(1) THEN PRINT "End of Search Results!"
192.     PRINT "Type in a game number. ENTER) Next Page. Q) Quit."
193.    50 INPUT a$
194.     IF UCASE$(a$) = "Q" THEN GOTO menu
195.     IF a$ <> "" THEN
196.         LET gameno = VAL(a$)
197.         IF gameno > 0 THEN GOSUB launchgame: GOTO menu
198.         GOTO 50
199.     END IF
200. LOOP UNTIL EOF(1)
201. CLOSE #1
202. GOTO menu
203.  
204. quicklaunch:
205. REM quick launches a game
206. PRINT
207. INPUT "Insert Game Number: "; gameno
208. IF gameno = 0 THEN GOTO menu
209. GOSUB launchgame
210. GOTO menu
211.  
212. changedir:
213. REM changes game directory
214. LET rootdir$ = ""
215. IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm dbfe.ddf"
216. IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del dbfe.ddf"
217. GOTO setup
218.  
219. listgames:
220. REM lists games
221. LET dbline = 0
222. LET dbloop = 0
223. OPEN "dosgamedb.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
224. DO
225.     DO
226.         LET dbline = dbline + 1
227.         LET dbloop = dbloop + 1
228.         INPUT #1, gamedir$
229.         PRINT dbline; " - " + gamedir$
230.     LOOP UNTIL dbloop = 20 OR EOF(1)
231.     IF EOF(1) THEN PRINT "End of Game List!"
232.     PRINT "Type in a game number. ENTER) Next Page. Q) Quit."
233.    20 INPUT a$
234.     IF UCASE$(a$) = "Q" THEN CLOSE #1: GOTO menu
235.     IF UCASE$(a$) <> "" THEN
236.         REM launch game
237.         LET gameno = VAL(a$)
238.         IF gameno > 0 THEN GOSUB launchgame: GOTO menu
239.         GOTO 20
240.     END IF
241.     LET dbloop = 0
242. LOOP UNTIL EOF(1)
243. CLOSE #1
244. GOTO menu
245.  
246. launchgame:
247. REM launches games?
248. CLOSE #1
249. IF gameno > numberofgames THEN PRINT: PRINT "The total number of games available is "; numberofgames: RETURN
250. LET dbloop2 = 0
251. OPEN "dosgamedb.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
252. DO
253.     LET dbloop2 = dbloop2 + 1
254.     INPUT #1, gamedir$
255. LOOP UNTIL dbloop2 = gameno
256. CLOSE #1
257. IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "ls '" + rootdir$ + "/" + gamedir$ + "' > dosexedb.ddf"
258. IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "dir /b " + CHR$(34) + rootdir$ + "\" + gamedir$ + CHR$(34) + " > dosexedb.ddf"
259. PRINT
260. PRINT gamedir$ + " - Available Executables"
261. PRINT
262. LET dbloop2 = 0
263. OPEN "dosexedb.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
264. DO
265.     INPUT #1, gameexe$
266.     LET findexe% = INSTR(findexe% + 1, gameexe$, ".exe")
267.     LET findcom% = INSTR(findcom% + 1, gameexe$, ".com")
268.     LET findbat% = INSTR(findbat% + 1, gameexe$, ".bat")
269.     LET findcapexe% = INSTR(findcapexe% + 1, gameexe$, ".EXE")
270.     LET findcapcom% = INSTR(findcapcom% + 1, gameexe$, ".COM")
271.     LET findcapbat% = INSTR(findcapbat% + 1, gameexe$, ".BAT")
272.     IF findexe% OR findcom% OR findbat% OR findcapexe% OR findcapcom% OR findcapbat% THEN
273.         LET dbloop2 = dbloop2 + 1
274.         PRINT dbloop2; " - " + gameexe$
275.         LET findexe% = 0
276.         LET findcom% = 0
277.         LET findbat% = 0
278.         LET findcapexe% = 0
279.         LET findcapcom% = 0
280.         LET findcapbat% = 0
281.     END IF
282. LOOP UNTIL EOF(1)
283. CLOSE #1
284. LET numberofexe = dbloop2
285. IF numberofexe = 0 THEN PRINT "No executable files found!": RETURN
286. PRINT "Type in a launch number. Q) Quit."
287. 30 INPUT b$
288. IF UCASE$(b$) = "Q" THEN RETURN
289. IF UCASE$(b$) <> "" THEN
290.     REM launch game
291.     LET exeno = VAL(b$)
292.     IF exeno > 0 THEN GOSUB launchexe: GOTO menu
293. END IF
294. GOTO 30
295.  
296. launchexe:
297. REM launches a game exe
298. IF exeno > numberofexe THEN PRINT: PRINT "The total number of executable files available is "; numberofexe: RETURN
299. LET dbloop3 = 0
300. OPEN "dosexedb.ddf" FOR INPUT AS #1
301. DO
302.     INPUT #1, gameexe$
303.     LET findexe% = INSTR(findexe% + 1, gameexe$, ".exe")
304.     LET findcom% = INSTR(findcom% + 1, gameexe$, ".com")
305.     LET findbat% = INSTR(findbat% + 1, gameexe$, ".bat")
306.     LET findcapexe% = INSTR(findcapexe% + 1, gameexe$, ".EXE")
307.     LET findcapcom% = INSTR(findcapcom% + 1, gameexe$, ".COM")
308.     LET findcapbat% = INSTR(findcapbat% + 1, gameexe$, ".BAT")
309.     IF findexe% OR findcom% OR findbat% OR findcapexe% OR findcapcom% OR findcapbat% THEN
310.         LET dbloop3 = dbloop3 + 1
311.         LET findexe% = 0
312.         LET findcom% = 0
313.         LET findbat% = 0
314.         LET findcapexe% = 0
315.         LET findcapcom% = 0
316.         LET findcapbat% = 0
317.     END IF
318. LOOP UNTIL dbloop3 = exeno
319. CLOSE #1
320. PRINT: PRINT "Launching " + gamedir$ + " [" + gameexe$ + "]...": PRINT
321. IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL _HIDE "cp '" + confdir$ + "/" + confname$ + "' ."
322. IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "copy " + CHR$(34) + confdir$ + "\" + confname$ + CHR$(34) + " " + confname$
323. IF ros$ = "win" OR ros$ = "lnx" THEN OPEN confname$ FOR APPEND AS #1
324. IF ros$ = "mac" THEN OPEN confdir$ + confname$ FOR APPEND AS #1
325. PRINT #1, ""
326. IF ros$ = "lnx" OR ros$ = "mac" THEN PRINT #1, "mount c " + CHR$(34) + rootdir$ + "/" + gamedir$ + CHR$(34)
327. IF ros$ = "win" THEN PRINT #1, "mount c " + CHR$(34) + rootdir$ + "\" + gamedir$ + CHR$(34)
328. PRINT #1, "c:"
329. PRINT #1, gameexe$
330. PRINT #1, "exit"
331. CLOSE #1
332. REM launch dosbox
333. IF ros$ = "lnx" THEN SHELL "dosbox -conf " + confname$
334. IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL CHR$(34) + dosboxexe$ + CHR$(34) + " -conf " + confname$
335. IF ros$ = "mac" THEN SHELL "open -a dosbox"
336. IF ros$ = "mac" THEN
337.         PRINT: PRINT "Press ENTER to finish playing..."
338.         INPUT temp$
339. END IF
340. REM post game commands
341. IF ros$ = "lnx" THEN SHELL _HIDE "rm " + confname$
342. IF ros$ = "win" THEN SHELL _HIDE "del " + confname$
343. IF ros$ = "mac" THEN
344.         SHELL _HIDE "rm '" + confdir$ + "/" + confname$ + "'"
345.         SHELL _HIDE "cp '" + confname$ + "' '" + confdir$ + "/" + confname$ + "'"
346.         SHELL _HIDE "rm '" + confname$ + "'"
347. END IF
348. RETURN
349.