November 2, 2025
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Writing FreeDOS Programs in C
Retro coding comeback or just nostalgia bait? Devs split over FreeDOS C guide
TLDR: FreeDOS drops a free guide to coding C for DOS, building up to a small game. The crowd debates usefulness vs. nostalgia, swaps compiler tips, name-drops a DOS hack that runs some Windows tools, and memes about blue terminal vibes and fixing screen-tear with monitor refresh tricks.
A new guide on writing C programs for FreeDOS — the open, community-built clone of DOS (that old pre‑Windows world) — is here, promising to take readers from simple commands to a turn‑based game. It’s Creative Commons, Patreon‑backed, and soon moving to the FreeDOS Books wiki. But the real show is the comments, where nostalgia meets practicality in a glorious pile‑up. The top vibe: is this useful or just vibes? One skeptic asks if there are any real‑world uses beyond curiosity, lighting the fuse. Immediately, an old‑school defender counters: there’s no difference between “DOS” and “FreeDOS” programs — you just pick the right vintage compilers, with shout‑outs to OpenWatcom and DJGPP, and even a trick that runs some Windows‑style apps on DOS (7‑Zip cameo!). The aesthetics crowd barges in with jokes about that iconic blue screen look — “vibe coders” want to know the theme, not the theory. Meanwhile, emulator war stories spill out: one commenter slays screen tearing by switching to a faster monitor refresh rate, turning tech support into retro folklore. Another chimes in with love for a tiny, MIT‑licensed 16‑bit C compiler that runs right inside DOS — purity points unlocked. The drama? Playground vs. platform. The memes? Blue terminals, boomer refresh rates, and compiler name‑drops for clout.
Key Points
- •Guide teaches C programming specifically for FreeDOS, starting with command-line programs and culminating in a turn-based game.
- •Authored by Jim Hall and edited by Maxwell J. Peterson and Hanan C. Farah.
- •Structured around core C components, including #include, #define, and main().
- •Originated as a YouTube video series funded via Patreon; higher-tier patrons received extras.
- •Published under CC BY 4.0; the page is temporary and content will move to the updated FreeDOS Wiki.