New Box64 v0.3.2 and Box86 v0.3.8 released (Native Flags, Benchmarks, Box32) | Hacker News Reader

New Box64 v0.3.2 and Box86 v0.3.8 released (Native Flags, Benchmarks, Box32)

box86.org

47 pointsptitSeb15 comments

I've been following Box86/64 and it's amazing how far it's come. Now we just need some proper reasonably priced ARM workstations.

Took me a moment to realize this isn't related to 86Box, the low level hardware emulator.

Cool project though. We needed something like this in Linux.

Box64 is a really neat bit of software. I'm using it to run a community Trackmania Stadium server on a Raspberry Pi 0.

as per the main page:

>Box64 lets you run x86_64 Linux programs (such as games) on non-x86 Linux systems, like ARM, RiSC-V or LoongArch (the host system needs to be 64bits little-endian).

> Box86 is the legacy 32bits version of Box64, used to run 32bits linux apps (like games) on 32bits Linux OS like Debian.

I remember using Box86 to play some old DOS games on Windows around 20 years ago. But other than that experience I don't know much about it. I only see it mentioned somehow more lately. What differentiates Box64 from i.e. QEMU?

Box64 has the narrower scope of being the fastest possible x86-64 to {ARM64, RISC-V} userspace emulator for typical applications like games. QEMU is focused on both system and application level emulation across all sorts of architectures and use cases, with a focus on absolute accuracy where possible.

I am loving the increased focus on RISC-V.

As ARM, like x86, is now a legacy ISA.

New releases, with some benchmarks acrosse previous version and vs Rosetta. Also introducing Box32 to run 32bits apps on 64bits systems

IMHO title of the blog post sabotages visibility when posted in places like HN.

It would be better if it contained some details on what is new, like "Native Flags (RISC-V, ARM), Strong Memory Emulation".

Thanks for the tip, I'll try to keep that in mind next time :)

While I'm sure this is cool, I had to read a few typo filled paragraphs in to even start to get an idea of what the heck Box64 and Box86 are (some kind of emulator it seems from the comparison to Rosetta?)

I tried to fix the typo. It should be better now. And yeah, Box86/Box64 let you run x86 linux programs on non-x86 platforms, like Rosetta on macOS.

Did a Markov chain write that title?

you don't like my title?

Your title is fine. Idk what they're talking about.

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