[ros-dev] Re: DOSemu for ReactOS

[Carlo J. Calica]

TwoTailedFox wrote:

> There is little sense porting a Linux-based implementation of DOS,
> when Open-Source projects such as FreeDOS exist, that could be more
> easily integrated into ReactOS.
> 

DOSEmu is not a Linux based implementation of DOS.  In fact it needs a dos
(FreeDOS or other) to run.  It is a virtualization (kinda) based on vm86
mode.  The virtualization is not a full x86 pc (Like qemu, dosbox or bochs)
but just enough to run msdos (or FreeDOS) in.  It has some support for DMPI
mode, sound devices, cdrom, a disk redirector to access linux's filesystem.

Could it be used by ReactOS.  Maybe.  It relies heavily on the linux vm86
syscall and is fairly posix specific.  Some items, like the disk redirector
and cdrom drivers could be reused.  It is a great reference with over a
decade of development.  The general architecture (protected mode kernel
managing vm86 real mode process) would be the same.