My
Pick Of DOS GUIs
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I've been trying out some DOS GUIs lately just out of interest and have so far tried out 70+. While there are hundreds of DOS GUIs around (links to various sites below) I've settled on trying out the ones that at first look seemed promising. I originally started by testing about 40 GUIs I either had from my DOS days (or found after a brief search on the web) and then posted a summary of 11 of the best of those on the Internet Archive. That experience got me on a "find more DOS GUIs" hunt so I went down the rabbit hole and found another 30 or so GUIs on the web and tested those and came up the updated list of 22 GUIs that I think are well worth trying and also posted a summary of those on the Internet Archive. So I now have 22 GUIs from the 70+ I've tested that best meet my criteria for a DOS GUI. The other 48 or so that I tried either didn't manage to meet the criteria I have for a DOS GUI or in some cases met one or more of the exclusion criteria I used for testing the GUIs (see below for exclusion details). |
My criteria for a DOS GUI are: A full screen graphical interface (either text-based or graphics-based) that provides easy access to all DOS OS functions and installed DOS-based programs, without having to use the native DOS command line interface, as well as providing basic GUI management functions (Desktop, Taskbar and Menu shortcuts, etc.). The "easy access" qualification means that providing a simple "Run DOS" dialog where you have to enter the DOS command such as "C:\XT_Easy\XTG.com" doesn't cut it - if I was happy entering DOS commands then I'd keep working in DOS and not bother to use a GUI. It also means that the GUI has to provide a means of adding a program or function shortcut to either the Desktop, Taskbar or Menu within the GUI to allow access that doesn't require entering DOS commands to run a program or function. My definition means that single purpose DOS programs that run in full screen mode (either text-based or graphics-based) such as the XTree File Manager don't meet my definition of a DOS GUI as while they present an application based GUI to a user, they're one trick ponies in that the view presented to a user is an application specific GUI, not a general purpose OS GUI. I think any good DOS GUI has two key elements, a full screen UI and a good Program/Menu/Shortcut Manager for program and OS management, so that the user can access any program they need via an easily accessable desktop shortcut or menu shortcut. I had originally thought that the third key element for a GUI was a good File Manager, but after trying out 70 GUIs I've realised this isn't the case, as if the GUI has it's shortcut or menu creation process done well then a separate File Manager is not needed. Whether or not the GUI provides it's own application programs such as Text Editor, etc. is irrelevant. Anyways, that's pretty much how I define a DOS GUI - feel free to define yours as you see fit. |
22 DOS GUIs I think are worth trying: With the above criteria in mind, the 22 DOS GUIs I think are well worth trying out are (in no particular order): Click on a GUI name to see a separate page with details and screen shots of the GUI (or to download the VHDs I used for testing and the source (install) files for each GUI) BreadBox_Ensemble_4.1.3 Blue_OS_v1.6 Desktop_2 Norton_Desktop_1.0 DOS_Start_1.9 RUSH_1.4 Costa_GUI_1.60 Tandy_Deskmate_3.05 DESQview_2.1 QBF-OS_9.91 HyperDOS_2.0 McShell v3.1 FastMenu Gold 7.0b MOS 98 + MOS Remastered QuikMenu 1.2e + QuikMenu 3.1h GAZE v1.0 Packard Bell Desktop 1991 ToyBox II 2.02a + MagicDesk 3.32 FUN500 The UI experience varies for each GUI but all of these GUIs run DOS programs just fine. Some are more usable than others (as you may discover). The ones above are my picks from testing - download and try some yourself if you're interested in DOS GUIs. 22 Good DOS GUI - Download Files I've created 2 VHDs with all the 22 DOS GUIs above together with a menu system so that you can load the VHD in Virtualbox and then select any of the 22 GUIs from the menu to run them and evaluate their features. As well as the VHDs there are all DOS GUI source files and a screenshot document available to download. To go to the download page and download all 22 DOS GUIs listed above . . . click here. The VHDs were created with VirtualBox 6.1.26 with DOS version 6.22, Cute Mouse and XTree installed. The summary of these 22 is also on the Internet Archive here. The Original IA Post of 11 Good DOS GUIs In November 2022 I uploaded a single .zip file with demo VHDs, install files and screenshots for the first 11 of the GUIs listed above (the second group of 11 starting with McShell are ones I've found since then). The summary page only exists on the Internet Archive at the moment (originally it was this page but I've since updated this page for 22 GUIs and didn't retain a separate summary page on this site for the first 11). To view the 11 DOS GUI summary page on the Internet Archive . . . click here. < Click here to download 1 .zip file with VHDs and install files for only the first 11 DOS GUIs listed above > |
A comment or two on some of the DOS GUIs I tried: FUN500 was a marginal inclusion in the second list of 22 due to the small text size but as it shows some promise I included it - if the author would make the font size larger it would be a lot more usable. Open Gem was a pass (I used GEM in the late 1980's-early 1990's) as it's really a File Manager at heart and quite clunky and rather functionally limited in usability compared to other GUIs. MOS 98 and MOS Remastered were quite reasonable although rather basic in terms of functionality. However they both worked fine for me and ran DOS programs without any issues and both create program shortcuts. MOS Remastered is a more polished GUI than MOS 98. Both are by the same author, so credit where it's due. I had also included FastMenu Lite 1.0c but after using it for a little while the constant shareware nags just became too much. A simple enough GUI, but annoying to use because of the constant nags. Another GUI that I revisited and was impressed with is Polit by Ivan Kozak, a nice DOS GUI bundled with some apps and also includes a built in Help feature. Windows can be moved and re-sized which is a nice feature. The downside for me is that it's in the Ukranian language and that can hinder usage. Still, a very nice looking GUI and a shame that development didn't go further. One other interesting feature that stood out with quite a few GUIs was their author's opinion that they were creating an operating system rather than a DOS GUI, based on the number of times the abbreviation "OS" appears as part of the GUI name . . . you decide which ones. The other interesting feature with many of the GUIs is the number of ancillary applications that the author also wrote and included with the GUI - programs such as a text editor, paint program, image viewer, file manager or even a web browser - and some of these programs are really very good. As many of these GUIs seem to have been done by one person, the amount of work involved to write not only the GUI but also additional programs must have been huge, so all credit to the authors. |
As for the other 48 GUIs of the 70+ I've tried so far: I tried to ignore spending any time on GUIs that didn't fit well with my definition of a DOS GUI and I also excluded any that met one or more the following criteria: * Had an interface like a dog's breakfast * Were advertised as being "Demo", "Concept", "My First GUI", "Beta", ":-) :-)", "Hello Mom" * Were designs of what a GUI could be, but were completely or practically non-functional * Were File Managers pretending to be a DOS GUI * Were straight-up vanity projects (here's looking at you, Qube and Ozone) * GUIs that crashed on install * GUIs that crashed on startup * GUIs that crashed while running * GUIs that crashed on exit * GUIs that crashed randomly * Refused to run DOS programs and would only runs apps in .XYZ format (found a few of those) * Had install instructions along the lines of "Spudge the API32low.dll with JB's API fudger, xor the DLL's with hex 32, tweak the kernel.exe debugger to accept tokens only, set extra MEM=HI+year" and similar nonsense - if you can't create an installer, go play with Linux * Shareware products that had excessive buy-me-now nags * Were developed by a frustrated script kiddy maxxed out on Red Bull * Were developed by a frustrated Linux user (aren't they all) to extract revenge on Microsoft users I tried the following 48 GUIs but can't recommend them as they met one or more of the criteria above, usually multiple of the above (and sometimes most of the above) - and of those that crashed or errored on install or startup or when used, I didn't spend time troubleshooting them as I'm not your beta tester. ( Hyperlinked names have a separate page with details and screen shots of the GUI ) Asgard_1.6 - For me, almost nothing worked, seems more of a demo Aura M4 - Demo BlackStrip_1.5 - Rather confusing GUI, needs a little more work CEUI - Seems to be an example of "Course 101 - Build a GUI" Cobalt - Essentially a file manager presented as a GUI Cybex Shell 2.0 - Demo DC-OS b2 - Demo EnSpireMe_0.3.0 - Seems the result of too much Red Bull mixed with Qbasic EV5 - Nothing worked for me, perhaps just a demo FastMenu Lite - OK, but the nags would be too much for everyday use Fellowin - Won't run DOS programs Flowers OS - Won't run DOS programs FLY_DOS - Seems to be another example of "Course 101 - Build a GUI" Gauvain_2.2 - Review on IA GCOE_1.0.7 - Errored on startup GEOS/GeoWorks - The most annoying of all - all 5 versions I have crashed on startup - every time GIMI_2.1 - Review on IA Glance - So simple it's more of a demo Glasses - Errors on install Gooey - Demo GOPOS - Errors on install Gorin - Errors on setup IBM_TopView - Unusable, will load but neither keyboard or mouse work Icaro_6.4b - Refused to install Ikon - Errored on startup LA-OS - Several included apps kept crashing MGUI - Won't run DOS programs MOS_R1 - Author states it’s more of a demo, no file manager New Deal Office - Errored on startup OpenGEM - Brings back memories of GEM from the 80's, but at heart it's a file manager OS-DOS - Errors on setup Ozone_5.8.0 - Review on IA POLIT v2005 - I originally thought this was a demo but I've changed my opinion - see review Plethora v2.2 - Won't install - just loops PsychDOS - Running any function causes it to quit and return to C: Qube - Review on IA RMOS_0.1 - Demo SEAL_2.0.11 - Review on IA Spectra (WinDOS) - Nothing worked for me, try it for yourself Star Menu v7.1 - 10 second buy-me nag after every operation Sword_2.11 - Demo SYS2001 - Password locked - seriously ? UniDesk 2008 - Demo Viper_B3 - Demo Winclone 1.0 - Demo Windose_5.3 - Nothing worked for me, perhaps just a demo Windose_5.4 - Nothing worked for me, perhaps just a demo XGUI13 - Simple, but the circus colour theme gave me a headache Feel free to try any of these as your experience may vary, especially if you enjoy spudging widgets. |
Follow Up - A few more DOS GUIs: I've also found another 20+ (claimed) DOS GUIs, but after a look through these most turned out to be either poorly done / incomplete hobbyist projects, or file managers / menu programs calling themselves GUIs, so I'm not going to spend any more time on writing them up here. The three more GUIs I did find that I think are worth a mention are: XFDOS by Georg Potthast, which has a nice looking desktop . . .click here for details. BB-OS by Ken Van Hoeylandt, a DOS GUI from 2001 . . . click here for details Easy Working DOS, a text based GUI by Spinnaker Software from 1989. . . click here for details. I'm not going to be spending any more time on DOS GUIs but feel free to explore the web for yourself and find out what other DOS GUIs may be out there. I may do a quick review on Windows 3.1 shells and possibly a review of all the Xtree clones I've found over the last 30 years, but again, after the GUI experience my enthusiasm for DOS is heading south. |
Some links for GUIs: And . . . as you're interested in DOS GUIs, here are a some GUI related links: http://qbasicgui.datacomponents.net/ http://theguiblog.com/guipedia.php http://old-dos.ru//index.php?page=files&mode=files&do=list&cat=108 (in RU) http://toastytech.com/guis/index.html https://guidebookgallery.org/guis https://www.digibarn.com/collections/screenshots/ Finally - if you're thinking of writing a GUI, first read ToastyTech's guide to good GUI design by clicking here. Kind regards, shotter_nail |
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