RTL/2 to C Translator

RTOC - The RTL/2 to C Translator


RTOC provides a solution to the problem of porting existing RTL/2
applications and systems to new hardware and software environments by
translating all valid RTL/2 source constructs (other than assembler code
inserts) into the more widely available language C.


RTOC gives the user control over their porting strategy by supporting
two different approaches:
        - to retain their original RTL/2 files as the "master copy" to which
            all changes are made, taking advantage of the inherent strengths of
            RTL/2 such as its simplicity and maintainability, in which case they
            can use RTOC to generate C modules which will obey the RTL/2 rules of
            runtime behaviour (i.e. use RTOC as a cross-compiler generating code
            to run on a whole range of target systems)
        - to move away from RTL/2 to C, in which case they can use the files
            generated by RTOC as their new sources; in this context RTOC provides
            full support for producing C include files from the "prelude" files
            commonly used in RTL/2 developments.


The RTOC product comprises three components:
    The RTL/2 source analyser
        - checks the RTL/2 source modules input and reports any errors; it has
            been validated against the definition of the RTL/2 language specified
            in the British Standard BS 5904 (1980), and since there are no dialects
            or subsets of the RTL/2 language this implies that the analyser can
            handle all valid RTL/2 source modules.
    The C code generator
        - produces understandable C code that is easy to relate back to the RTL/2
            original. Several variants of the C language are currently supported,
            including ANSI C, "traditional" Kernighan and Ritchie C, and Digital
            VAX C, with more being added as users ask for them.
    The runtime support library
        - provides a set of routines that are incorporated into the translated
            system if it is to support those aspects of the runtime behaviour of
            an RTL/2 program that are either not included in, or not guaranteed by,
            the C language - examples include array bound checking, data type
            conversions, and secure non-local jumps.


The RTOC product is currently available on VAX/VMS only; for further details
please contact Roger Barnett on roger@natron.demon.co.uk.
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