Getting Started with the VS Code DOS Development Extension: dos-dev

The VS Code DOS development extension, or dos-dev, is a powerful tool that allows you to create and debug 32-bit protected mode DOS applications in C/C++ using the popular editor, Visual Studio Code. This extension provides a plug-and-play solution for writing and debugging these types of applications, making it an ideal choice for developers who want to work with DOS projects.

To get started with dos-dev, you'll need to follow a few simple steps. First, you'll need to download DJGPP, GDB, DOSBox-x, Ninja, and a CMake toolchain file for DJGPP from the extension's GitHub repository. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:

`dosbox-x -booter`

This will download all the necessary files to the folder `$HOME/.dos`. Once you've downloaded these files, you'll need to install them on your system.

On Ubuntu or Debian systems, you can install the required packages using the following command:

`sudo apt install libncurses5 libfl-dev libslirp-dev libfluidsynth-dev`

On Linux systems, you can install these packages through your package manager. On macOS, you'll need to use Homebrew to install CMake. You can do this by running the following command:

`brew install cmake`

On Windows, you'll need to download and install CMake manually from its official website.

Once you've installed all the required software, you'll be able to use dos-dev to write and debug your DOS applications. The extension provides a simple mode 0x13 demo app that plots pixels while waiting for a keypress, as well as sane default settings for C/C++ development.

dos-dev also includes VS Code launch configurations for debugging, as well as extensions for C/C++ development in the editor. You can use these features to write and debug your DOS applications using GDB and the command line.

In addition to its many features, dos-dev also provides a DOSBox-x fork with modifications to support remote debugging via GDB. This allows you to easily debug your DOS applications from within VS Code, without having to switch between multiple tools.

Overall, the VS Code DOS development extension is an excellent choice for anyone looking to write and debug 32-bit protected mode DOS applications in C/C++. Its ease of use and powerful features make it a valuable tool for any developer who wants to work with DOS projects.

Dosbox debugger booter