RelogixTM now available to translate x86 assembly-language to C
25 May 2004 -- MicroAPL Ltd, specialists in automated porting and code transformation tools, today announced the general availability of Relogix/86, an advanced new software conversion tool which takes 80x86-family assembler source files and automatically re-codes them in readable, maintainable C. The new product follows the launch last year of Relogix/68K, which performs a similar conversion for 680x0 and ColdFire assembler code
Unlike other translation tools, Relogix produces natural, maintainable, commented C source files, comparable to those which a skilled human programmer would produce if asked to re-write an assembler source file in C. As well as reorganizing the program flow to use standard C flow-control constructs such as 'if', 'for' and 'case' statements, Relogix also chooses sensible data types and names for the C variables which correspond to register- and stack-based data in the original assembler program. 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.
Relogix/86 can translate most 32-bit x86 or Intel IA32 assembler code written for the 'flat' memory model, and is aimed at both desktop and embedded applications. It can be used either to port code to a new architecture, or simply to provide enhanced maintainability of the software by engineers who may not be familiar with the original assembly language. A version to handle 16-bit segmented code is planned for release later this year.
Richard Nabavi, Managing Director of MicroAPL, commented: "This product is part of a planned rollout of Relogix assembler-to-C translators. Over the coming months we will be announcing further products for migrating assembler code from other major architectures, including some 8- and 16-bit CPUs."
Examples of the translations Relogix produces can be found on the MicroAPL web site http://www.microapl.com/asm2c. Relogix is sold both as a standalone tool and as a cost-effective porting service over the internet. MicroAPL also offers 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. In addition to Relogix, MicroAPL offers PortAsm, a range of assembler-to-assembler porting tools which target modern architectures such as the PowerPC and ColdFire. MicroAPL's tools have been widely used for major porting projects in both the embedded and desktop computing arenas, and have been licensed by major semiconductor manufacturers. Further information on Relogix, PortAsm and other MicroAPL products can be found at http://www.microapl.com.
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