bochs ☆
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Description:
Open source IA-32 (x86) PC emulator written in C++
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 3.0@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: emulator x86 virtualization debugging system
Install: brew install bochs
About:
Bochs is a highly portable open source IA-32 (x86) PC emulator written in C++. It is capable of running various operating systems including Linux, Windows, and DOS within the emulated environment. Its primary value lies in its detailed emulation capabilities, making it a valuable tool for low-level system development and debugging.
Key Features:
  • Complete x86 instruction set emulation
  • Supports various operating systems (Linux, Windows, DOS)
  • Built-in debugger for low-level analysis
  • Highly portable across different host platforms
  • Plugin-based device emulation
Use Cases:
  • OS development and kernel debugging
  • Running legacy software or operating systems
  • Computer architecture education and research
Alternatives:
  • QEMU – QEMU generally offers higher performance through hardware acceleration, whereas Bochs prioritizes precise emulation and debugging capabilities.
  • VirtualBox – VirtualBox is a Type 2 hypervisor focused on running production OSes with guest additions, while Bochs is strictly an interpreter for low-level analysis.
License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
Dependencies: libtool, sdl2, readline
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 12, 2025 6:48pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 96491b90
Sep 30, 2023 7:06am 0 VERSION_BUMP aeed68fb
Dec 13, 2022 11:11am 0 VERSION_BUMP 3a11e516
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