RelogixTM makes automated re-coding of assembly language a reality
10 September 2003 -- MicroAPL Ltd, creators of the well-established PortAsmTM assembly-language translation tool, today announced the launch of RelogixTM, an advanced new software conversion tool which takes assembly-language source files and automatically re-codes them in readable, maintainable C.
Unlike most other attempts at automatic conversion from assembler to C, Relogix produces results close to what a skilled human programmer would produce if asked to re-write an assembler source file in C. In order to do this, Relogix reorganizes the program flow to use natural C constructs such as 'if', 'for' and 'case' statements, usually without recourse to 'goto'. By careful analysis of the source program, it is able to select valid C data types for local and global variables, including automatically detecting structures and unions, and it also deduces function prototypes in a natural C style. Parameters originally passed to assembler subroutines either in registers or on the stack become parameters to the corresponding C function. The software selects meaningful names for variables which were originally represented in registers or on the stack, using a unique algorithm which analyzes the usage, type, and origin of data, and which also examines comments in the original source file. The C code which is output by Relogix follows user-specified style guidelines, and is intelligently commented even where the code flow has been substantially altered during the conversion.
Richard Nabavi, Managing Director of MicroAPL, commented: "Relogix now makes it possible to take legacy assembler source files and automatically translate them to easily-maintainable C code which can form the basis of further development. We believe that corporations with a heavy investment in old assembler code will be delighted at the ease of conversion and the high quality of the results. Even 'spaghetti' code comes out as well-structured C source, which is much more readable than the original."
Examples of the translations Relogix produces can be found on the MicroAPL web site http://www.microapl.com
Relogix will initially be made available for conversion of Motorola 680x0, CPU32 and ColdFire assembly language, with a version to convert x86 assembler following soon. Other architectures will be supported later. It will be sold both as a standalone tool and as a cost-effective porting service over the internet. MicroAPL will also offer traditional consultancy services based on the Relogix technology.
MicroAPL Ltd was founded in 1979 and is based in Sussex, England. The company specializes in translation tools for porting legacy software to new architectures, as well as providing consultancy services in systems development and cross-platform porting. It is best known for its PortAsm range of tools for translation of assembly-language source code to modern architectures such as the PowerPC. MicroAPL's tools have been widely used for major porting projects in both the embedded and desktop computing arenas, and versions of PortAsm have been licensed by Motorola, Inc to help users migrate code from the 680x0 family to ColdFire and M.Core. Further information on Relogix, PortAsm and other MicroAPL products can be found at http://www.microapl.com.
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