Source Code Translator

Question

I have to write program in C#, that converts from C++ source code to C# code. Is there any idea where to start? Do i have to use parser tree? Thanks!

Answer 1

This is a potentially huge topic, and I doubt it's possible to generally convert C++ to C#.

A couple of options:

• Write your code in managed C++, then use Reflector to decompile into C#. There is a lot of C++ functionality that doesn't exist in C#, so this won't be 100% successful.
• Write your code in managed C++ and don't translate it to C#.

Answer 2

That is equivalent to writing a C++ compiler, a job that will take many man years. What exactly are you trying to achieve here?

Regarding the C++ to C# translator mentioned elsewhere, I put the following trivial C++ code through Code2Code and got the less than helpful message "Failed on translation":

template <class T> class C {
   public:
      C() {
         t = new T(100);
      }
      ~C() {
         delete t;
      }
      T * t;
};

int main(int argc, char** argv) {
    C <int> x;
}

Answer 3

Why write one when there are several free and commercial ones available:

C++ to C# Converter

Migration from C++ to C# (free, but non-commercial use)

Answer 4

One of the funny things about c++ is that pre-compilation is Turing complete. This makes writing c++ compilers and tranlators especially fun (I wouldn't think it's fun if I had to do this).

Answer 5

You need to use a "parse tree". I suggest ANTLR. It can generate tree modifying programs in C#.

Answer 6

Generally, you just can't.

I explain: C++ provides many paradigms that just not availible in C# like:

• RAII
• Multiple Inheritence
• Manual Memory Managment
• Sophisticated template metaprogramming

So, don't expect to convert C++ to useful C# code.

Technically, you can do

• Partial conversion: ie, conversion of feature that are supported by C# only.
• Use C# as "high-level-assembly"

Good suggestion: keep writing in C++.