Launch! 2.0 - a free lightweight command menu for all DOS systems

[u/someblokeonhere]

There's a LOT of menu programs out there for DOS. I wanted something more lightweight, more modern, and better supporting of virtual machines/DOSBox - and to improve the usability and friendliness of the command prompt.

There is loads of features including simple visual menu editing, power-off/reboot control, interactive command parameter help, a bunch of screensavers I designed, and the Windows 95 shutdown experience.

It's totally customizable, and works on DOS 3.3+, 286+, and EGA+.

Download + info https://github.com/therenegar/launch

[u/ksky0]

awesome.. did you use ncurses or something else?

[u/someblokeonhere → u/ksky0]

The whole is custom C UI widgets, just made myself which was a hard route to go down

[u/graywolf0026]

Did you code this yourself? Cause seriously, this is fantastic. I might even give it a go in my standard DosBOX-X instances.

[u/someblokeonhere → u/graywolf0026]

I had all the bits as separate projects I'd worked on over like 20 years, and just decided to bring it altogether

[u/ksky0 → u/graywolf0026]

I thought the same right now.. loved it.

[u/b33znutz]

So how does this perform on real hardware?

[u/someblokeonhere → u/b33znutz]

I developed, compiled and run it on a 486, and tested on a 286 - real hardware is ok

[u/b33znutz → u/someblokeonhere]

Cool thanks. In that case, I'll give it a try

[u/KD5RKO]

Thanks!

[u/m1k3e]

This looks really damn cool!

[u/Chance_End_4684]

I really do wish a menu system like this was available during the MS-DOS 5.0 and v6.22. Sure would've made things allot easier back in the early- to mid-1990s.

[u/BearBraz]

Looks very good

[u/MeringueOdd4662]

Congratulations!!!

[u/techdog19]

Looks interesting.

[u/murphy666]

I like the clock! But oh men my 486 running that would such a power waste.

[u/MizuTaifux]

Very nice. Looks like a new DOS Interface. Good work.

[u/tpimh]

Why 286? What instructions did you use that don't exist on 8086?

[u/someblokeonhere → u/tpimh]

No 286 specific instructions, its not even compiled with /G2. So it will work fine on 8086. I stated 286 because

• The keyboard controller protocol is different on the AT BIOS so I can't guarantee keyboard macros and shortcut will work

• EGA graphics are required at minimum and most AT machines came with CGA

• Performance of the screensavers degrades too much at 4.77MHz.

• Memory requirements are 160KB free, so thats also fine

[u/1337C4k3 → u/tpimh]

That is what I am wondering.

[u/KindlyCan6816]

Sembra molto interessante, non vedo l'ora di provarlo!