<
programming> To execute a program by hand, writing values of
variables and other
run-time data on paper, in order to check
its operation and
control flow or to track down a
bug (as
part of
debugging). A
dry run is an extreme form of {desk
check} or
code review and is practical only for fairly
simple programs, small amounts of data and simple external
interfaces. It was often performed
off-line using a
hardcopy of the
source code.
Dry runs were common practice in the days when access to
computers was limited but the availability of
screen editors
and fast
compilers makes
debugging by printf a more
productive method in most cases. Sophisticated
debuggers
that allow you to get the computer to step through your source
code line by line and show values of variables make even this
unnecessary.
(2006-11-27)