Emulator and simulator

PebbleOS runs on a desktop in two ways, without a watch:

	Emulator	Native simulator
Runs	The ARM firmware, in QEMU	The firmware compiled for the host
Boards	`qemu_flint`, `qemu_emery`, `qemu_gabbro`	`native_flint`, `native_emery`, `native_gabbro`
Platforms	Flint, Emery, Gabbro	Flint, Emery, Gabbro
Third-party apps	Yes: `.pbw` files install and run	Yes, with `CONFIG_SAMSA`, which interprets their ARM code
Speed	Boots as on a watch	Builds and boots much faster
Debugging	GDB, through QEMU	The host’s debugger, sanitizers and profilers
Integration tests	Yes	Yes

Both reproduce a platform’s display, buttons and touch, and neither exercises the real hardware: use a watch for drivers, power and radio behaviour.

Use the emulator to check the firmware and apps as they run on a watch for each platform, and for anything ARM-specific. Use the native simulator for fast iterations on the firmware’s logic and UI, and to debug them with host tools.