Retro programming in Borland C++ 3.1

To build and run the Borland C++ demos, you must first install the following tools:

• DOSBox
• Borland C++

$ sudo zypper install dosbox mtools p7zip-full

$ sudo apt install dosbox mtools p7zip-full

When starting dosbox the first time, the configuration file ~/.dosbox/dosbox-0.74-2.conf will be generated

1. Download Borland C++ 3.1 & Application Frameworks (3.5).7z

2. Create a directory which will contain the DOS C: drive

   $ mkdir ~/DOSBox
   

3. Extract the downloaded Borland C++ archive

   $ 7z x "Borland C++ 3.1 & Application Frameworks (3.5).7z"
   

4. Extract the Borland C++ disk images

   $ cd "Borland C++ 3.1 & Application Frameworks (3.5)"/
   $ mkdir bcsetup
   $ for i in *.img; do echo $i; mcopy -m -i $i :: bcsetup; done
   

5. Move the extracted files to the DOS C: drive

   $ mv bcsetup ~/DOSBox/
   

6. Configure DOSBox

   Edit ~/.dosbox/dosbox-0.74-2.conf and add the following autoexec options

   [autoexec]
   mount c ~/DOSBox
   path %PATH%;C:\BORLANDC\BIN
   c:
   

7. Start dosbox and execute the Borland C++ installation program

   $ dosbox
   C:\> cd bcsetup
   C:\BCSETUP> install.exe
   

   In the installation program, select the following options

   Enter the SOURCE drive to use: C
   Enter the SOURCE Path: \BCSETUP
   Windows Options... WINDOWS Capability: No
   Start Installation
   

Link the dos-bcdemos git repository to the DOS C: drive

$ ln -s ~/git/github/dos-bcdemos ~/DOSBox/bcdemos

1. Execute build script

   C:\BCDEMOS> buildall.bat
   

   The demos will be located in the C:\BCDEMOS\BUILD directory

2. Run demo

   C:\BCDEMOS> build\demo01.exe
   

1. Start Borland C++ IDE

   C:\BCDEMOS> bc
   

2. Configure Borland C++

   Press ALT+O for options

   Select Directories and type in the following directories

   Include Directories: C:\BORLANDC\INCLUDE;C:\BCDEMOS\SRC
   Library Directories: C:\BORLANDC\LIB
   Output Directory: C:\BCDEMOS\BUILD
   

   Select Debugger and the following options

   Program Heap Size: 512 K Bytes
   

   Select Environment, Preferences and the following options

   [ ] Auto-Save
   

   Select Environment, Editor and the following options

   [ ] Create backup files
   

   Select Save

3. Open demo source file

   Press F3 to open file

4. Build demo source file

   Press F9 to build file

5. Run demo

   Press ALT+R and R to run demo

Licensed under MIT license. See LICENSE for more information.

• Johan Gardhage
• Original code written by Ben Houston