TESTING AND DEBUGGING NEW Y ARCHITECTURE CODE ON EXISTING X ARCHITECTURE SYSTEM BY USING AN ENVIRONMENT MANAGER TO SWITCH BETWEEN DIRECT X CODE EXECUTION AND SIMULATED Y CODE EXECUTION

A process is provided for developing a new computer system based on a new (Y) architecture. A Y computer prototype is developed with a design in accordance with the Y architecture. PA0 A multi-code processing system is developed for use on an existing X computer system designed in accordance with an X architecture and having an operative X operating system and operative X support routines. The processing system includes a Y simulator component, a debugger component, and an environment manager component. A Y code module is developed for each of a plurality of predetermined Y program modules during the Y prototype development. PA0 The multi-code processing system and at least one of the Y code modules are loaded into the X computer system during the Y prototype development. A related X code module may also be processed for loading into the X computer at the same time. PA0 The multi-code processing system components are operated on the X computer system during the prototype development to control and interface the switching of code execution between the X and Y domains and to test and debug each of the Y code modules. The debugged Y code modules are executed on the Y prototype or other Y computer system unit after the Y prototype is developed.