The FreeDOS Project is experimenting with Interim Test Builds. These will be updated monthly, and will have a label that indicates the month it was released ("T2208" means "Test, year=2022, month=08" because it's the Interim Test Build released in August 2022). The Interim Test Build will contain the latest versions of FreeDOS packages, to help developers and testers who want to try the latest versions and features. The Interim Test Builds are not meant for general use, please be careful.

Interim FreeDOS Build T2208 is now available, and as you can see in the changes.log file, this Interim Test Build contains NLS updates, build infrastructure, and documentation. Package updates include: Sayswho (Senso) game now with Adlib sound, WDE update to 0.99 (0.30b/3.0c), MCTP update to 2022-07-01, JWASM update to 2.15, DOSLFN 0.41f "extending directory fixes," VMSMOUNT 0.5c, LINKS 2.27, SBPMIXER added, XDEL 2.08, FASM 1.73.30, HIMEMSX 3.54, JEMM 5.81, DOJS 1.8.0, DOSZIP 2.63, MEM 1.12, GOPHERUS 1.2.1, and EUPHORIA 3.2.2. You can download the Interim Test Build from the FreeDOS Files Archive at Ibiblio, under /files/distributions/test

jSH is a script interpreter for DOS based operating systems. The focus is on file io and text mode user interfaces. Thanks to SuperIlu for releasing jSH v0.93 with added IniFile class for reading INI files, and updated support for openssl, curl and kuba-zip. You can download the latest version from jSH on GitHub.

MGRX is a 2D graphics library derived from the GRX library. MGRX supports DOS using DJGPP, and supports VGA and VESA compliant cards. The only MGRX dependencies are libjpeg (for reading and writing JPEG files) and libpng and zlib (for reading and writing PNG files). MGRX is distributed under the GNU GPL - read copying.grx for details. You can download version 1.4.0 from the MGRX website. Read the changes.txt file for the full list of what's new.

Jerome has posted an update to the memory game, SaysWho. This is a fun game where you need to remember an increasing combination of colored buttons and tones. Now it has rudimentary support for AdLIb for compatible real hardware and some virtual machines. Find the new version at Jerome's SaysWho page.

Linux Adictos recently posted an article, "FreeDOS: What is it and when to use it," that provides both a history of DOS and MS-DOS, and a good overview of FreeDOS. Unfortunately, the article doesn't provide an in-depth review of FreeDOS - but it's nice to see another article about our favorite DOS. The article is in Spanish.