QC Demo is a fully functional version of QC with all tests and preferences active. You can use this demo to test your applications without any modifications to your source code. There is a sample app called BadAPPL that illustrates some of the errors that QC detects. This app also uses the QCAPI for controlling QC testing directly from your code.
Is the demo crippled?
The demo requires a serial number to activate it for a period of time. You will need to contact Onyx Technology at one of the email addresses below or call us at 813.795.7801.
Our email addresses are:
Internet: onyxtech@aol.com
America Online: OnyxTech
AppleLink: D2238
CompuServe: 70550, 1377
To find out how long the demo will remain active, click on the top portion of the QC Control Panel (where the QC logo is). This will display an about box containing the expiration date.
Quick Q&A
Q: So what is QC?
A: QC is a control panel/extension that adds the ability to stress test applications for runtime, memory related errors. QC can be used during development, during testing by inhouse and beta testers, and after the product ships (although a little late if errors are detected) by end users to evaluate the stability of a software package.
Q: What do I have to do to use the demo?
A: Contact Onyx Technology for a demo serial number that will activate the demo for a period of time. Then put QC in your Control Panels folder and reboot your Mac.
Q: Can I use QC to test existing applications without rebuilding them?
A: Yes. QC was designed to test applications without requiring any modifications to the code. The release version of QC includes an optional application programming interface (QCAPI) that programmers can use to control QC testing directly from their code.
Q: How does QC report errors it finds?
A: QC reports detected errors through the use of a low level debugger. QC uses the _DebugStr trap to cause a user break into your favorite debugger. QC is fully compatible with MacsBug, TMON, TMON PRO, The Debugger, SourceBug, SADE, THINK C, CodeWarrior, MPW, etc. If you turn off debug breaks in the list of options, QC will emit a short distinctive beep when errors are detected.
Q: Does QC work on a Power Macintosh?
A: Yes. However, two incompatible tests are disabled if you are using the Modern Memory Manager. Those tests are 'Block Bounds Checking' and 'Invalidate Free Memory'.
Q: How does QC compare with tools such as Even Better Bus Error and the debugging version of the Modern Memory Manager?
A: EBBE is a free utility but one downfall it has is that it's either installed or it isn't. You either get bus errors potentially caused in all running apps or you get nothing. With QC, you can control when testing is active and what apps might potentially crash with a bus error. Everything is unaffected. Early versions of MMM were much slower than QC in comparable tests and the MMM does not offer as many tests as QC does. There is also no easy to use UI to activate/deactivate MMM testing on an application heap without affecting the entire system.
Q: What are the advantages to using QC?
A: QC offers tests that are not available anywhere else and it performs many tests much faster than other testing tools. All QC's tests are integrated into a single INIT/cdev combination. A Macintosh interface makes QC usable right out of the box. QC's API can be used to fine tune testing to specific areas of code (new code or suspect code, for example). QC reports more information when an error is found.
Q: What do I get when I purchase QC?
A: The following is contained on the release disk. A fully licensed copy of QC for single machine use and complete documentation. The QC Application Programming Interface (QCAPI) libraries and interfaces for those who want to control QC testing directly from their code. Full source code to an application called BadAPPL that illustrates what QC detects as well as how to use the QCAPI. The disk also contains some assorted free utilities.
Q: How can I obtain QC?
A: Pricing is $99 for a single copy, $400 for a five pack, and $700 for a ten pack. Please add $5 shipping and handling to each order. Credit card orders are accepted. You can contact Onyx via the email addresses listed above or by calling 813.795.7801 or faxing 813.795.5901. Direct sales can be reached at 408.737.8151. You can also send regular mail to:
