10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 General Concepts
Experienced developers know just how difficult things can be when testing and debugging software in the target system. Anything that makes life easier should be eagerly embraced. And one of the most sensible things you can do is also one of the most obvious (though that hasn't stopped generations of coders from ignoring such moves); simply eliminate problems before we go anywhere near the target system. The key to this is to do as much code evaluation and testing as we can on the host system. But what precisely should we do and how should we go about it? Interestingly enough, the answers can be found using a simple analogy to normal real-life experience.
Imagine that you've saved enough money to buy a brand-new car. Now comes the big decision: what to buy. Initial choices will, of course, depend on what the car is going to be used for – family carrier, farm workhorse, lifestyle accessory, and so on. Most people will then...