development cycle

I am a bit new to this and would like to know the "best practices" of
repeated compiles as I attempt to make Kannel work with my modem (works over
IP and requires username and login).  More specifically, with each change to
the code that I make that I want to test do I need to go through the
./configure --prefix=/mytestspot/kannel -> make -> sudo make install cycle,
or are there better steps?

Thanks,

-Tony