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+.. _apps_run:
+
+Run an Application
+##################
+
+The kernel's built-in simulator is QEMU. It creates an environment
+where you can run and test an application virtually, before (or
+in lieu of) loading and running it on actual target hardware.
+
+Procedures
+**********
+
+.. _qemu:
+
+Running an Application using QEMU
+=================================
+
+Run your application in QEMU for testing and demonstration purposes.
+
+Prerequisites
+-------------
+
+* You must have already generated a .elf image file for a
+  QEMU-supported platform configuration, such as
+  basic_cortex_m3 or basic_minuteia.
+
+* The environment variable must be set for each console
+  terminal using :ref:`apps_common_procedures`.
+
+Steps
+-----
+
+1. Open a terminal console and navigate to the application directory
+   :file:`~/appDir`.
+
+2. Enter the following command to build and run an application
+   in QEMU:
+
+  .. code-block:: console
+
+   $ make qemu
+
+
+  The application begins running in the terminal console.
+
+3. Press :kbd:`Ctrl A, X` to stop the application from running
+   in QEMU.
+
+  The application stops running and the terminal console prompt
+  redisplays.
+
+.. _loading_on_target:
+
+Loading and Running an Application on Target Hardware
+=====================================================
+
+An application image is loaded on the target based on functionality
+available on the hardware device. Loading instructions are often
+unique to the particular target board. For this reason, loading
+instructions reside with the platform-specific documentation.
+
+For more information see :ref:`platform`.