Re: Simula to C++ translator

<capit@inet.uni-c.dk> wrote:
>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.


This I imagine to be pretty hard.


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


and 4) get a Simula compiler for your new platform.




Depending on the size of your system, it may well be worthwhile building
your own compiler if you can't buy one. I would guess the break even
point to be somewhere around 5 million lines of code. If you figure in
the retraining and conversion code, and happen to find a good cheap
compiler, the break even could be as low as a 100K LOC.


>The translator must run in OS/2, NT or UNIX.


I am pretty sure I saw Simula compilers advertized for all of the above
systems.


--
Stanley Chow; schow@bnr.ca, stanley.chow-ott@nt.com; (613) 763-2831
Bell Northern Research Ltd., PO Box 3511 Station C, Ottawa, Ontario
--

Return to the comp.compilers page.
Search the comp.compilers archives again.