Emulation Software
Emulation software is a type of tool that replicates the behavior of one computer system (the guest) on another system (the host), allowing software designed for the guest to run on the host. It achieves this by simulating hardware components, such as processors, memory, and peripherals, often using techniques like dynamic binary translation or interpretation. Common applications include running legacy software, testing cross-platform compatibility, and preserving historical computing environments.
Developers should learn and use emulation software when they need to run or test software on hardware or operating systems that are not physically available, such as for legacy system maintenance, cross-platform development, or security research in isolated environments. It is particularly valuable in scenarios like mobile app testing across different device architectures, retro gaming preservation, and embedded system development where target hardware is scarce or expensive.