Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!uunet!munnari.oz.au!basser!metro!pta!teti!stephen
From: stephen@teti.qhtours.oz (Stephen Chung)
Newsgroups: aus.computers,comp.lang.c
Subject: BASIC --> C "INTELLIGENT" translator
Message-ID: <255@teti.qhtours.oz>
Date: 21 Nov 89 23:28:58 GMT
Reply-To: stephen@teti.UUCP (Stephen Chung)
Organization: Q.H.Tours Ltd (Jetabout), North Sydney, Australia.
Lines: 35

I know, I know, this is another one of those XYZ Language --> C
posting again.

Is there a BASIC to C translator?  Obviously, it will be trivial
to write some form of a translater that translates BASIC programs
to C, but not READABLE and MAINTAINABLE C.

I am planning to write a translater that does a bit of thinking.
First of all, it should use flow analysis to determine chunks of
code that should be "function"ized and make them into functions.
Second of all, it should determine (from the usage) whether a
variable (A, A1, B, C15 etc.) is constant, local or global.
Certain variables, notisably X and I, are used extensively to
run counter loops.  Although the usages are global, they should
be translated into a number of local counter variables for each
function.  The same apply to other variables.  It should probably
rename obvious variables or prompt the author for it.

My goal is to translate BASIC into C programs that MEAN something,
and maintainable, instead of simply translator output.  That way,
a lot of programs written by non-computer people who only knows
BASIC can be transferred easily to UNIX.

Any suggestions on which BASIC to go for?  I am biased towards
GW BASIC on the PC because it is popular.  In my plan, the
translator should generate a C program with curses calls if
the BASIC program uses screen addressing.  Obviously, nothing
much will be done (at this point) for graphics.

I will appreciate any ideas, suggestions etc.  If you know such
a translator already exists, please tell me so I won't reinvent
the chocolate chip cookie.

Cheers
  Stephen