How to run DOS program on Linux

Programs designed and and compiled for a specific operating system could be run on another operating system either via virtualisation or emulation. DOSBox is an emulation program in Linux to run DOS programs.

DOSBox is available in most Linux distribution package repository and could easily be installed and run from the command line.

Steps to run DOS program in Linux:

1. Download old DOS programs if you don't already have a copy.

   Abandonia

2. Launch terminal application.
3. Extract downloaded application.

   $ cd ~/Downloads/
   ~/Downloads$ unzip Golden\ Axe.zip 
   Archive:  Golden Axe.zip
     inflating: _DOSGAME.TXT            
     inflating: A                       
     inflating: AMAZON.SPR
     ##### snipped

4. Install DOSBox.

   $ sudo apt update && sudo apt install --assume-yes dosbox # Ubuntu and Debian

5. Launch DOSBox specifying the DOS program binary as parameter.

   $ dosbox GOLD.EXE 
   DOSBox version 0.74-2
   Copyright 2002-2018 DOSBox Team, published under GNU GPL.
   ---
   CONFIG: Generating default configuration.
   Writing it to /home/user/.dosbox/dosbox-0.74-2.conf
   ##### snipped