We've started planning the FreeDOS 1.3 distribution! We previously decided the next release would be an iteration from FreeDOS 1.2. We wanted the next FreeDOS distribution to remain like classic DOS. For example, we won't "retire" any classic commands utilities from Base. But FreeDOS 1.3 is an opportunity to improve and update several things. Our estimated timeline is January 31, 2019.

Please join the freedos-devel email list and contribute to the discussion! Also keep an eye on the FreeDOS Road Map on the FreeDOS Wiki for more updates. Looking for ideas to contribute to FreeDOS? See our Contribute page for several suggestions.

If you're new to FreeDOS, you might wonder what you can do at the command line. On the FreeDOS blog, we recently posted a FreeDOS commands quick-reference guide. This reference shows the most common FreeDOS commands, including a few important notes for new users. If you're looking to take the next step in FreeDOS, here's a handy batch programming quick-reference guide. DOS batch programs are simple scripts that "batch up" several commands into one file.

On June 29, 1994, we started a project called "FreeDOS" to reproduce the functionality of MS-DOS and give away the source code for free. Almost immediately, other developers got in touch, and we began work creating our own version of DOS. I packaged my own extended DOS utilities, as did others, and we found other public domain or open source programs that replaced other DOS commands. A few months later, we released our first FreeDOS Alpha distribution. And from there, FreeDOS grew into what you see today. Happy 24th birthday to FreeDOS!

David E. McMackins II wrote a program called the Multi-Disk Split Archive Installer (MDSAI) which is an installer program designed for deploying software too big for a single floppy disk. You put the installer on the first diskette, along with a file that describes what's being installed, and then on each diskette, have a sequential piece of a ZIP archive. MDSAI will cat them together and then extract in the C drive. You can find David's program here: MDSAISRC.ZIP or mirrored at our files archive at ibiblio, under files/util/system.

In playing about with FreeDOS, David E. McMackins II wrote his own versions of Unix cat, head, wc, and split. You can find David's Unix programs here: UTILSSRC.ZIP or mirrored at ibiblio. The ibiblio mirro has the same file available in multiple locations: cat, head, wc, and split. Available under the GNU All-Permissive License.