At 01:01 AM 24/11/95 GMT, Netnews Server wrote:
>I am currently searching for information on tools that can assist in the
>migration of applications from RPG to C.
 
Would a lobotomy be too crude a suggestion? :)
 
(Please, no language wars or flames!)
 
Seriously, though, I don't know of any tools that can 'port' one language to
the other effectively, though many have tried.  Often a complex program
design is so heavily influenced by the choice of programming language, just
as system design is influenced by operating system choice, that a simple
translation is not really possible.  Sacrifices and algorithms chosen to
meet the original language only result in an exponential growth of
difficulties when moved to another language.
 
On the other hand, if your system was initially designed with some High Case
tool, then there is some hope that a reasonable solution in most any
language could be derived.  I recall an excellant series of stories (well
rebuttals actually ) by Jon Dykstra in ACM in the late seventies, about why
'natural language' processors were neither practical nor desirable, and much
of the argument holds true about language conversion (well that is if you
accept JD's criticisms).
 
Michael Jackson, on the other hand, (No, not *that* Jackson), maintains that
the datum is the thing.  With well designed data structures, and structure
transformation definitions, then any language can be effective.  So if you
built your original system from a good set of data structure diagrams (DSD)
and data flow diagrams (DFD) then rewriting to another language is a
straight forward, if still a boring grunt of a job.
 
In the end, one could say that like 'standards', there are more theories
than solutions so just pick the one you like.  I expect you will need
experienced people with good understanding of your applications, and
knowledge of both languages.
 
One final suggestion, though sounding a bit passe, is to choose something
more 'object oriented', (at the least, C++).
 
I hope this helps with your search.
 
Cheers.
----
Jim "seMPEr" Wowchuk
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