This "site" is not a general DOS archive but rather a selective listing of free DOS programs – there exist huge gaps in coverage. In brief: no games are listed, few specialized device drivers, and few networking apps. Nor is MS-DOS here, but see the Operating Systems page for a note on support sites, and for other, free DOSes.

While this site is primarily intended for DOS / Win3.x users who won't or can't succumb to 32-bit incarnations of Windows, many programs here may be appropriate for any OS with DOS support or emulation, sometimes including WinNT/2K/XP. However, many are 16-bit and don't support long file names (LFNs), FAT32, NTFS, HPFS, or huge drives, may abort on high MHz PCs, or may not be Y2K ready. If a program is "compatible" with Win9x LFNs (= uses LFNs when run under Win9x) you should see a notice, otherwise assume 8+3 file name conventions. A few Win32 console programs are currently catalogued, but more can be found here paired with DOS counterparts.

Many programs are not stored on major ftp archives that are known to be secure, so you'll want to scan downloaded files with an antivirus program.

This site's pages are now being distributed under the CDL (Common Documentation License). This reasonably unrestrictive license allows for the free distribution, publication, and modification of these pages by anyone (the major restriction is that derivative works must adhere to the same license). The entire collection of the Free Software for DOS HTML pages together with a copy of the CDL can be downloaded as a single archive file – see Take Us Home.

Why create a freeware list devoted to a "dying, obsolete" operating system?

• A still-significant proportion of home computer users can't (or won't) transition to newer 32-bit environments. For many, DOS remains a familiar, sufficient, and highly productive operating system for (at least) home use.
• There seems to be a general underappreciation of the cross-platform potential of many DOS programs, e.g., OS/2 includes great DOS support; DOSEMU provides DOS emulation under Linux. Of course, Win3x/9x/Me include DOS, and NT/2000/XP emulate it.
• The number and diversity of quality freeware programs developed for DOS over 25+ years are staggering.
• As DOS exits from use in business environments, it is becoming more of a freeware developer's OS; also some excellent DOS shareware programs have now been reclassified as freeware by their authors.
• There should be an increasing historical / nostalgic interest in older hardware and DOS as the years pass. A small but devoted group of retrocomputer hobbyists enjoy the fun challenge of using old PCs and DOS. Although difficult for some to fathom, the limitations of DOS create the challenge...and thus, the enjoyment.
• More than anything, this list was created as a fun experiment in HTML and freeware, and for us, DOS represents a manageable "model."

What is the Free Software for DOS site?

• This site has been on the web, in one form or another, since 1994. It started as a "personal favorites" list of free DOS programs and has undergone a process of slow and broad accretion over the years. The site was started by one person who uses DOS exclusively for personal use rather than work (my occupation is not computer-related). Consequently, the contents are generally biased toward the DOS hobbyist and home user rather than the computer / business professional. The site has been, and will remain, a non-profit / non-commercial effort.
• This site is often referenced elsewhere as a "DOS archive" which it is not. Considerable effort has been invested into selecting and reviewing programs, and much energy has been put into organizing the site into user-friendly categories and subcategories for easy reference. In these respects, the site represents something quite distinct from a file repository.

What types of programs are (and are not) listed?

• Programs should run under MS-DOS 6.x (and/or previous versions) and other recent DOSes. What's rarely listed here are command interface / Win32 console programs for Win9x/NT, although you should see a mention of these if they are distributed along with DOS counterparts. We do include a few Win3.x/9x GUI programs that may interest DOS users.
• Because this list was never intended to be exhaustive, there exist huge gaps in coverage: Power users will find only a few Unixish programs, batch tips and files, program patches, device drivers, text documents, and extremely specialized programs. No games are currently listed.
• We haven't been consistent listing DOS version, processor, or video requirements for many programs because that information is often not available from the docs. No serious attempt has been made to determine which programs run on old PCs (e.g., 8088, 286). Many programs here are old and may or may not be Year 2000 compliant. Many older file and disk utilities won't perform adequately on PCs with the latest hardware and file systems (multi-gigabyte drives, FAT 32, etc.)
• Try perusing the SAC, SimtelNet and garbo archives, and other sites listed in More Resources - 2, for programs not found here.

Why don't you list DOS pay-shareware or "abandonware"?

• When these pages were conceived years ago, DOS was still a commercially viable operating system, and the number of DOS pay-shareware and commercialware authors remained significant. A site like this one, which filtered freeware offerings from the multitude of payware offerings, made sense back then just as the filtering of Windows freeware makes sense today. However, the DOS scene has changed significantly during the intervening years. Most DOS software now being developed is free (with several important exceptions). The main challenge today is not finding DOS freeware but finding any new DOS software! Today we have no objections – in principle – to including payware on this site because support of any DOS software development is very desirable to users of DOS. But we're currently not modifying the restriction of "free-only" because the site has been historically synonymous with "free" (at least for personal use) and we see no reason to disrupt that expectation now. Moreover, there already exists Dev Teelucksingh's Interesting DOS Programs list which does track many current DOS shareware and commercialware offerings. There is no need to duplicate Dev's excellent list here.
• Abandonware (narrowly defined here as old payware which is no longer supported or sold) is not included because it is not considered "free" unless the copyright holders have explicitly stated so. While some may view this decision as overcautious, it's clear that some copyright owners have communicated their displeasure with (and threatened legal action against) abandonware sites. Many popular abandonware sites have subsequently been...abandoned.

Can I mail you a program suggestion or other comments?

• We will gladly accept suggestions. But we can't always respond to email in a timely fashion, so please forgive us in advance for our sometimes slow operation. Send mail to short_stop_for_softwareNOSPAM@yahoo.com, with the Subject = Free Software for DOS. Don't forget to remove the NOSPAM from your emailer's To: header.

By Founding Editor: Rich Green
Newport Coast, CA [USA]

To the generous and thoughtful programmers who create some very enjoyable and useful software. Second, to the FTP sites, administrators, and mirrors who grant free access to their file collections. And to those who submit tips to the DOS newsgroups – many of the gems here were first discovered through newsgroups. A big thanks to all those who have so graciously offered advice, correction, and support. And to my fiancée who has long endured this addiction.

Special persons who have contributed to this effort:

Special thanks to: Bjørn Simonsen whose wisdom and patient advice throughout have been invaluable; Howard Schwartz who has contributed several excellent reviews and program suggestions; and Robert Bull for his excellent program suggestions and commentary. Also, thanks go to Yves Bellefeuille, Bob Appleton, and Dev Teelucksingh for their immensely helpful freeware / software lists. (Of course, all errors included within are my own invention!)

• Steven Adelewitz
• Jean-François Buisson
• Robert Bull
• Tomas Brunclik
• Timo Gransch
• Miky Gutman
• Greg Head
• Jon-Egil Korsvold
• Rick Lively
• Scott Nesbitt
• Arturo Padilla
• Lars-Erik Sandberg
• Howard Schwartz
• Bjørn Simonsen
• Dev Teelucksingh
• Marianna Van Erp
• Michael Wann
• Wørm
• Jennifer Zahn
• ...and to all who have sent suggestions, updates, and corrections over the years – thank you!

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©1994-2004, Richard L. Green.
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