The user acquires a ROM image (typically by downloading one from their Palm OS device or from Palm’s developer Web pages), launches the emulator, and tells the emulator to load that ROM image. In the case of the Palm OS Emulator, it is an application that allows a user to run Palm OS applications on Windows or Macintosh desktop computers.
In general, an emulator is a software application that makes one computer act like another computer.
∙ 1.4 Meg disk space, plus space for each ROM file (typically 512K, 1 Meg, 1.1 Meg, or 1.5 Meg), plus space for each document file (typically a little larger than the amount of RAM being emulated). ∙ 2.0 Meg RAM, plus 1 Meg of RAM for each Meg of emulated device RAM ∙ 12” display or larger (15” display or larger to use 2x mode) 68K-based Macs are not supported, solely for the reason that a survey of developers didn’t turn up anybody using them. Lesser processors PowerPC may be used, but will suffer from performance problems. ∙ 700K disk space, plus space for each ROM file (typically 512K, 1 Meg, 1.1 Meg, or 1.5 Meg), plus space for each document file (typically a little larger than the amount of RAM being emulated). ∙ Screen capable of greater than 640x480 resolution. Lesser processors may be used, but will suffer from performance problems. ∙ 200MHz Pentium processor or better recommended. Windows 3.x with Win32s cannot be used, as the Palm OS Emulator makes use of multi-threading facilities that Win32s does not support. ∙ Windows 95 or better, Window NT 3.51 or better. They can also test the application for compatibility, making sure that their application has a good chance of working with future Palm OS versions or hardware devices. By installing prospective software into the emulator, they can safely evaluate the software before installing it onto their hardware device, making sure that it fulfills their needs and doesn’t do anything overtly bad (such as crash). When errors are detected, developers can use debugging facilities from external source-level debuggers to pinpoint the errors.Įnd-users use the Palm OS Emulator to evaluate 3 rd party software. With the emulator, developers can detect accesses to illegal ranges of memory (such as low-memory or the CPU’s hardware registers), run Gremlins, etc.
Instead, the developer can install their application into the emulated environment and run and test it on the same desktop computer containing their development tools.ĭevelopers can also make use of extensive debugging facilities incorporated into the emulator.
Because the Palm OS Emulator is completely equivalent to a Palm Computing Hardware device, it obviates the need for downloading applications to a viewer device for testing. The Palm OS Emulator meets the needs of two target audiences: developers and end-users.ĭevelopers use the Palm OS Emulator to help develop, test, and debug their Palm OS application. With it, users can load ROM images, applications, and databases and use them on their desktop computers. The Palm OS Emulator is an application for desktop computers that emulates the operations of Palm Computing Platform hardware devices. MEMORY MANAGER SEMAPHORE ACQUISITION TIME