help with compiling and testing code changes

[Tobie Kerridge]

I'm attempting to add the --enterchar function to 7110.c. I'm used to 
working in a perl and tcsh environment. I'm wondering how to best check 
changes made to a compiled language like c;

- I understand I can check if code will compile from within an IDE or 
the command line
- beyond this it seems I need to make/install the gnokii suite every 
time I want to check changes to functionality?

Is there something I'm missing which lies between these?