Palm OS Programming, 2nd Edition

Chapter 7.  Debugging Palm Applications

There are a variety of useful debugging tools for your Palm OS application. The best by far is the Palm OS Emulator (POSE). With it you can code, build, and test your handheld application, with nothing more than a desktop computer. The strategic use of the reset buttons can be useful as well. There are also a number of hidden Graffiti shortcut characters that offer you debugging aids and shortcuts. Source-level debugging is available for both CodeWarrior and the PRC-Tools and can go a long way towards easier problem fixing.

In this chapter, we will show you how to use all of these methods to debug your applications. We will also discuss Gremlins—the useful testing creatures that bear not the slightest resemblance to the fanciful beings. Gremlins in the Palm world are little monkeys who bash about randomly on your code looking for problems. You may not like them, but you will find them very helpful for catching bugs you might otherwise miss.

Tip

In the first edition of this book, we put this chapter much later, at the end of the section. Upon reflection, we think this was a mistake. We moved it to the front because we want you to become familiar with these tools as soon as possible, and certainly before you delve too deeply into any real coding. Read this chapter carefully and take the time to learn how to use all of these tools before you start writing your own application. Following this one bit of advice will save you hours of frustration. ...