In many of the schools all over the world and especially in India, most of the beginner courses on C++ are based on Turbo C++. For those who do not know Turbo C++ was a protected mode compiler for MS/PC DOS systems.

Thus, when I switched to Ubuntu, what I needed to run Turbo C++. But sadly Turbo C++ cannot be natively run under Linux. I did a quick Google on Turbo C++ and found nothing worthwhile. Then in synaptic while searching for dos, I came across dosemu and I installed it. However it was very hard to configure and I never managed to run Turbo C++ properly.

Then I came across a site which mentioned DOSBOX, so I decided to give it another go for running Turbo C++. And in the end I successfully managed to run Turbo C++ almost perfectly albeit a three second delay while compiling or linking which I found much worthwhile than to rebooting to Windows.

This is how I ran Turbo C++ in Ubuntu:

INSTALLATION

The installation was easy as much as any other application in Ubuntu repository.

Simply, Go to the terminal:
sudo aptitude install dosbox

APT will now download and install DOSBOX.

CONFIGURATION

I made a directory inside my home of ‘programs’ and inside ‘programs’, I created another directory ‘dos’. This ‘dos’ folder would be the root C: of the emulated dos and hence is essential. I also created a ‘bin’ directory inside the ‘dos’ directory.

Then I copied the TC folder from my Windows partition to the ‘dos’ directory. You can also copy the installation files of Turbo C++ in the ‘dos’ directory in case you have the installation files.

Now I created the DOSBOX configuration file. First I ran went to terminal and ran DOSBOX:
dosbox

Using this command I generated the DOSBOX configuration file which will be stored as /home/user/dosbox.conf. Under the DOSBOX command prompt I executed:
config -writeconf /home/yourname/dosbox.conf

I then closed DOSBOX and now double clicked the dosbox.conf file in the root of my home folder and I configured DOSBOX to mount its C: to my /home/anurag/programs/dos. I added the following lines at the end of the configuration file below the [autoexec]:
mount c /home/username/programs/dos
C:
CD BIN

This enabled the DOSBOX to use my /home/username/programs/dos as
its C: at startup. You add as many DOS command here. All commands here are treated as DOS command and are same as commands in autoexec.bat in DOS/Windows.

Another setting I changed in DOSBOX was that I set the value of the key fullscreen to be true. You can locate this key at the top of the dosbox.conf as:

[sdl]
# fullscreen -- Start dosbox directly in fullscreen.
# fulldouble -- Use double buffering in fullscreen.
# fullresolution -- What resolution to use for fullscreen: original or fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
# windowresolution -- Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
# output -- What to use for output: surface,overlay,opengl,openglnb.
# autolock -- Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen.
# sensitiviy -- Mouse sensitivity.
# waitonerror -- Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
# priority -- Priority levels for dosbox: lowest,lower,normal,higher,highest.
# Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized.
# mapperfile -- File used to load/save the key/event mappings from.
# usescancodes -- Avoid usage of symkeys, might not work on all operating systems.

fullscreen=false

and change it to:

fullscreen=true

This will set the startup of DOSBOX to be fullscreen. This is vital for especially running Turbo C++ since under windowed mode its keyboard shortcuts Alt+F9 do not work since this key combination is used for minimizing windows,

You can also increase the processing power by increasing the value of cyles. DO NOT increase the value sohigh that the system does not handle. Keep it in range of 3000-20000.

Save the configuration files and close it.

Now when you run DOSBOX, it will automatically run in fullscreen and show your ‘dos’ directory files inside its C:

The next thing is needed is to solve another keyboard shortcut problem. Under Turbo C++ Crtl+F9 links and executes programs but this is also a keyboard shortcut of DOSBOX to immediately terminate itself. You could map DOSBOX. But as a better approach you can avoid this tedious work and download my mapper.txt which changes DOSBOX’s primary shortcut key from Crtl to Shift. Now Shift+F9 will terminate DOSBOX and thus you can use Crtl + F9 to link your Turbo C++ program.

DOWNLOAD THE MAPPER FILE HERE

Now download this mapper.txt file here and copy it the root of the home drive,i.e. your home directory itself.

Now you need to create a launcher for Turbo C++ so that you can double-click and run it.

1) In the desktop, right click and choose ‘Create Launcher’

2) Keeping the type as application, name it as Turbo C++ IDE.

3) In the command type dosbox -c C:\\TC\BIN\\TC.EXE -c EXIT

4) In the Comments type: Thank you, The Ubuntu Labrador

5) Choose any icon and create your launcher.

6) Now you can double click and run Turbo C++ IDE.

If you face any problems, or have any suggestion or query or comments you can comment here.