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.
The DEMO installer includes the QCAPI and sample application BadAPPL. You can build QC with CodeWarrior, Symantec, or MPW for 68k and/or PowerPC. As of CodeWarrior 6, the Metrowerks debuggers are "QC-Aware" and will catch QC detected errors for you and display the error along with the source code of where the error occurred. See the 'Debug with CodeWarrior & QC' document for details.
On 68k based Macintosh systems, version 1.1.3 of the QC DEMO is installed by the installer.
On PowerPC based Macintosh systems, version 1.2 of the QC DEMO is installed by the installer.
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 941.795.7801.
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. The 68k release (1.1.3) runs just fine emulated yet has two incompatible tests disabled if you are using the Modern Memory Manager. Those tests are 'Block Bounds Checking' and 'Invalidate Free Memory'. QC 1.2 is the PowerPC native version and does not have this incompatibility.
Q: How does QC compare with tools such as Even Better Bus Error?
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. When testing stops, you don't have to worry about potential bus errors from other running code.
Q: How does QC compare with the Debug version of the Modern Memory Manager (DMMM)?
A: DMMM is much slower than QC in comprobable tests and does not offer as many tests as QC does. DMMM can be useful but there is also no easy to use UI to activate/deactivate testing on an application heap. QC is also compatible with more Macintosh models and across more system software releases.
Q: How can I easily add a running application to the launch list without having to quit that app, then Add it with the QC control panel?
A: Bring that application to the front and hit the QC hotkeys to activate testing on that app. Then open up the QC Control Panel and you will see (as usual) that application in the launch list. Double-click on that list item to edit the options for that app and simply click OK at the test options dialog. Hit the hot keys again to deactivate testing and you will see that the running application remains in the launch list.
Q: What's the logic behind this?
A: Normally when you activate QC with the hot keys on an application that wasn't already in the launch list, the (default) options are copied and a new list item is added for that app. When testing is deactivated, the launch list item is automatically removed. We call this a temporary launch list item. When you edit the test options for a temporary launch list item, and click OK at the test options dialog, QC now thinks that these are preferences you want to keep around and doesn't remove the app when testing has been deactivated.
Q: What the 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. Multi-pack orders may have different shipping charges. Credit card orders are accepted. Site licenses are available.
