Local Doors
Local Doors
ENiGMA½ supports running local BBS door games through several approaches. In addition to the many built-in door server modules (DoorParty, BBSLink, Exodus, etc.), local doors run directly on your server.
See also Let’s add a DOS door to Enigma½ BBS by Robbie Whiting for a great writeup on adding doors!
Choosing an Approach
| Approach | Module | Best For | External Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native v86 Emulation | v86_door |
DOS doors, no emulator on server | FreeDOS disk image |
| External DOS Emulators | abracadabra |
DOS doors, full graphical setup | QEMU or DOSEMU installed |
| Scripts & Native Binaries | abracadabra |
Native terminal apps, shell/Python scripts | None |
| Z-Machine Interactive Fiction | zmachine_door |
Zork, Adventure, Photopia, and hundreds of free IF games | None (pure JavaScript) |
Quick Guide
-
Running a classic DOS door game and want zero server dependencies? → Native v86 Emulation. ENiGMA½ boots FreeDOS in a built-in emulator; no QEMU or DOSEMU required on the production machine.
-
Already have a QEMU or DOSEMU setup, or need a full graphical DOS environment for image configuration? → External DOS Emulators. Raw disk images are compatible with both approaches, so you can configure with QEMU and run with v86.
-
Running a native terminal application, a shell script, or a Python-based door? → Scripts & Native Binaries. The
abracadabramodule launches any local process that speaks stdio and bridges I/O over stdin/stdout or a TCP socket. -
Running a Z-Machine interactive fiction game (
.z3/.z5/.z8)? → Z-Machine Interactive Fiction. Classic Infocom-era text adventures and modern IF competition winners — Zork, Adventure, Photopia, Anchorhead, Lost Pig, etc. — run natively in Node.js with no emulator, no drop file, and cross-platform support.
Drop File Types
All local door approaches in ENiGMA½ support the same drop file types:
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
none |
No drop file needed |
DOOR |
DOOR.SYS |
DOOR32 |
DOOR32.SYS |
DORINFO |
DORINFOx.DEF |
See Also
- Door Servers — DoorParty, BBSLink, Exodus, and other hosted door services
- Telnet Bridge
- Scripts & Native Binaries
- External DOS Emulators
- Native v86 Emulation
Additional Resources
Door Downloads & Support Sites
General
- http://bbsfiles.com/
- http://bbstorrents.bbses.info/
L.O.R.D.
- http://lord.lordlegacy.com/