desk check

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

desk check

   <programming> To {grovel} over hardcopy of {source code},
   mentally simulating the {control flow}; a method of catching
   bugs.  No longer common practice in this age of on-screen
   editing, fast compiles, and sophisticated debuggers - though
   some maintain stoutly that it ought to be.

   Compare {dry run}, {eyeball search}, {vdiff}, {vgrep}.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1996-05-13)