The program runs a benchmark rather than a conventional interactive game. The user starts the test, allows the workload to execute for a selected or internally determined number of iterations, and reads the resulting performance report.

Its structure is a repeated sequence of integer operations, procedure calls, data-structure accesses, and control-flow tests. There are no levels, enemies, scoring systems, playable characters, or progression mechanics.

For meaningful comparisons, run the test under consistent DOS conditions and use the same iteration count whenever the program permits it. Record the processor, clock speed, memory configuration, DOS environment, and compiler or executable version alongside the result.

Avoid comparing results made with different benchmark builds or optimization settings. Dhrystone is synthetic, so treat its score as one historical performance indicator rather than a complete measure of system speed.