Development Machine

An additional computer system, not part of the main processing system. Usually smaller than the main system, but similarly configured, the development machine is used for creating new software, amending existing software, and testing such creations and amendments to ensure that there is no possibility of the daily work and security of the main system being compromised by conflict between different versions of the same program. The development machine may also be used as a contingency standby machine, in case of failure of the main system. Companies unable to justify the costs of duplicate machines should use a Development Library within a partitioned area of the main system.