Remote compiling of computer source code for cross development

A system on a development computer system (102) sends commands over a network (110) to a target computer system (120) to cause the target computer system (120) to compile code (124) from the development computer system (102). Before sending compiler parameters to the target computer system, the system converts all the command line compiler parameters into a neutral parameter format and then into a format usable on the target computer system. Compile errors are converted into a neutral format and then into a format that is usable by the system on the development computer system. This allows a developer using the development computer system (102) to perform the compile and receive error messages as if the compile were being performed on the development computer system. The system also converts the file names for the source file and any other desirable files to allow the target computer system to access the source files located on the development computer system over the network.