Simula to C++ translator

Greetings.


I am presently trying to find the best way to migrate a large system
written mainly in Simula from an old and soon unsupported platform to
a new platform. As part of the migration, the Simula code must be
translated to C++. The resulting C++ code must be fairly C++-ish, as
it will form the basis of future maintenance and development of the
system.


In case you don't know Simula, it's a rather old and rather neat OOPL and
one of the main sources of inspiration for C++. Hence, it is not too different
from C++.


As I see it, there are several ways to do this:


1) Abstract the intention out of the Simula code (no, there isn't any
      documentation), and reimplement in C++. Good idea, except that it's too
      ambitious and too expensive.


2) Translate manually. This will ensure that the resulting C++ code is
      adequate for further use. The main problem with this approach is that there
      is a lot of code. Hence, it will take a long time, and I will be bored stiff
      and introduce silly errors while translating line after line of trivial
      code.


3) Construct a translator tool. This could either be specific to the needs of
      this particular system, a full compiler with a strange output language, or
      something in between. A full compiler is, of course, the most exciting
      choice.




We pick item 3. Now, how do I construct the translator? I could write it from
scratch using tools like lex and yacc, or employ some higher-level tool like,
say, the Cornell Synthesiser Generator. The translator must run in OS/2, NT
or UNIX. It does not have to be particularly fast or have a nice user
interface.


Any suggestions? Please post responses here or mail to jar@cap.dk as
appropriate.






------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan Reher
Cap Programator
Denmark


(Cap Programator is the Danish division of Cap Gemini Sogeti)
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