[How To] DOSBox with GUI Frontend (DBGL) in Linux (Ubuntu/Mint/Debian)

[TheJohnnybelfast]

Wow, this is a bit of a mission just to install some software. On Windows you can install a gui for dosbox just by double clicking an icon and clicking next a few times. The user shouldn't need to do this much work.

[DriftingSamurai13]

sudo apt-get install dosbox

[Mau1wurf1977]

Thanks this was really helpful.

However how can I add DBGL to the launcher? So if you hit the start button under Ubuntu (or that icon on the top left) and get the search field and type in DBGL. I find DOSBox, but not DBG...

[YakovHanson]

I followed you, step-for-step. Running Ubuntu 11.04, and when I click on "Setup", nothing happens. If I look at my Terminal Window, I get /home/USER/Games/DBGL/DOSBox-0­.74/dosbox -conf /home/USER/Games/DBGL/DOSBox-0­.74/dosbox.conf -conf /home/USER/Games/DBGL/profiles­/setup.conf

DOSBox stderr> /home/USER/Games/DBGL/DOSBox-0­.74/dosbox: 1: Syntax error: "(" unexpected

[JoeyDrunko]

Thanks!

[thisuserhas]

Just for anyone who follows set instructions and when running the the dbgl file, nothing happens, the following packages are required (which can be downloaded in the exact same manner as per the dosbox file (synaptic package manager)) * gcj-4.4-jre-headless * gcj-4.5-jre-headless * openjdk-6-jre-headless

once thats installed, its good to go!

[kad3t]

@thisuserhas

Java runtime? Kudos to you sir for filling up my video with missing (for some) information. ^_^

[thisuserhas]

@kad3t

I just installed Ubuntu 10.10 and DBGL was one of the first applications I installed; hence was lacking the fairly standard java dependencies. Just thought I would throw it up there in case others (not versed in Ubuntu) had an issue -> I know it was quite frustrating when I first converted from Windows to Linux and couldn't get software to work! :-)

[kad3t]

@thisuserhas

Personally I'm more Linux Mint than Ubuntu user but I do download each Ubuntu release and test it always cause it's usually a benchmark of some of new Mint features. Though Mint is staying with Gnome even though Ubuntu's going to switch to Unity now, from next release that is. I like Gnome, so I'm interested how will Unity stack up against it.

[Laoch111]

5:03 Is there any need to edit the "DOSBox versions" tab?

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

Only if you have different version installed in different folders.

[Laoch111]

@kad3t I see. So most, if not all DOS games should work with the latest DOSBox 0.74?

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

Yes, The 0.74 should cover most of the classic games available as DOSBox compatible up until Today.

[Laoch111]

@kad3t Thanks.

[Laoch111]

Thank you for this excellent tutorial.

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

Welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful. ^_^ Some people didn't. ^_^

[Laoch111]

@kad3t I did notice that I could not start a DOS game that had just 1 exe file (main) and no setup.exe in DBGL, However I can start it without a problem via DOSBox.

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

I'm not entirely sure as I'm on my Windows machine now but I'm confident that there's somewhere an option to disable setup for particular game as I have many without it and they play just fine. You can always assign same exe file to setup if you please, it really makes no difference in that particular case. ^_^

[Laoch111]

@kad3t Hi. I could not find anything to disable setup option. I also put the main (and only) exe in both mount fields. No luck.

No bother though as I can play the vast majority of my DOS games fine in DBGL. Cheers.

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

Have you downlowaded updated jar file from the website also? I'm not digging it to seek mistakes on your side, I'm genuinely interested in the issue as all seem to work fine on my DBGL...

[Laoch111]

@kad3t Yes, I already downloaded the updated jar file and followed exact instructions.

Update! I downloaded Magicland Dizzy again from Abandonia and that lone exe works. I am puzzled by this.

All works anyway. Thank you for your help kad3t. ;-)

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

Maybe it works different with exe and com files or maybe it just needed a restart and all will work fine from now on? ^_^

[Laoch111]

@kad3t Solved! DBGL can not play games without a setup exe such as Magicland Dizzy if you rename the lone exe file. However you can change the case (i.e. MAGIC.EXE can become Magic.exe). ^_^

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

Oh, what you mean is it doesn't support long file names just the regular 8+3?

[Laoch111]

@kad3t Ah yes, that must be it. So the 8 would be the filename and the 3 would be the extension?

Who is that beautiful girl in your video?

[kad3t]

@Laoch111

Yeah, that's it. Old MSDOS requirement made obsolete with premiere of Windows 95. ^_^

You mean the girl on the wallpaper? If so, then she's Inoue Mao, Japanese actress, equally as talented as beautiful. ^_^

[CthulhuFTW]

Dude, this song kicks ASS.

[kad3t]

@CthulhuFTW

There should be some credits at the end of the video if you're looking to get the song.

[commodore256]

People invented Microphones for a reason...

When you use text it makes it look like you don't take your videos seriously, it makes you either look lazy or won't spend $20 on a simple usb microphone or at least ask for one for Christmas (or a Jewish Holiday that I can't spell, lol) if you're a kid. if you're not a native English speaker, at least try your best with speaking English or make videos in your native Language.

[kad3t]

@commodore256

WOW! I do take that comment seriously as much as the videos themselves. That said, if you take a closer look at my channel, you'll notice that there had been no new tutorial videos in months. Mostly intros to classic games. I am not a child though, in fact I turned 29 last night, on the 6th; and no, I cannot afford a $20 USB microphone at the moment. I have been unemployed for a little over a year now mainly due to a serious family crisis. I'm sorry I have disapointed you though.

[commodore256]

@kad3t I know that shit happens in life and Life is more important than youtube, but I just can't stand voiceless tutorials, I went through similar shit, and youtube was an escape, (the internet replaced my tv) but I stopped uploading before I got my mic when I noticed voiceless tech videos suck and I was bitching about them and I had a few and I just stopped making them.

[kad3t]

@commodore256

I haven't made any in months... Partly for the same reason partly cause I did not felt like making any no more. And I promise you here that I shall not record any more tutorials with no voice over. So, if you ever see a new how to or tutorial video on my channel, it will be recorded the way it's supposed to be.

[commodore256]

@kad3t Thanks, one down, over 9,000 more to go...

[prectec]

PINBALL ON AMIGA!

[kad3t]

@prectec

I have a best 10 pinballs on Amiga video posted on my channel if you're interested?

[tareksobhs]

kad3t, you have an awesome video library here on YouTube! I'm going to watch all your videos one by one, and starting from here :D I've never seen any ubuntu guides better than the ones you do!! Pretty simple, comprehensive and straightforward!! Thank you :D

[kad3t]

@tareksobhs

WOW! Thanks! A lot actually. ^__^ And who would've thought that having a broken microphone can be helpful. ^__^ Although I haven't posted any Linux videos in a month or so (because these require a bit more time to prepare than the others) due to personal issues, I am planning for another video in the near future though.

[tareksobhs]

Thank you kad3t, I'm looking forward for any video you upload in the future :D Also, I managed to get DOSBox working in Ubuntu, thanks to you! I got all the games that I used to play back in the old days, Jill of the Jungle, Wolfenstien 3D, Prince of Persia, Lotus , SkyRoads... and many others! The first two literally brought tears to my eyes!

Also, I think it's awesome to use the DBGL, it looks great and it's easier than typing commands in DOSBox every time I need to run a game. Really thanks!

[kad3t]

@tareksobhs

DBGL is awesome and makes everything so much simpler and easier to pull off. ^__^ As for Linux videos I'm planning for a C64 emulation how to video as even though you can find one of Commodore emulators in most Debian based distros (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.) repos, they still don't work out-of-the-box and need a bit of fiddling around. And I belive that there's still plenty of C64 lovers out there. ^__^