Language Conversion Tools & Services

Migrating an application from one programming application to another is oftentimes considered when a host or target change is required, or when it’s difficult or unfeasible to continue maintaining a legacy application in its current language. Due to cost & scheduling implications, migrating software becomes much more appealing versus a total rewrite. For example, mission or safety critical software may cost well over $10/line (and towards $100/line for safety critical with artifacts), and take years to create. Whereas, migrating legacy software may cost a few dollars per line, or less, and can often be redeployed within a year.

DDC-I offers both engineering services and tools to convert an application’s language. DDC-I is uniquely qualified for language conversion due to our in-depth knowledge of embedded programming and programming language semantics and intricacies, gained by being a leading compiler and service supplier. This background enables DDC-I to provide unique tools, which operate like no other, and provide services that result in quality and on-time deliveries.

Language Conversion Services


DDC-I has software services expertise to assist converting applications from one programming language to another. Converting applications is not always trivial – even when using conversion tools. The reasons are twofold: First, an application may have used compiler vendor features that are outside of the language definitions (refer to Not All Adas Were Created Equal). Second, if the application is mission or safety critical, the converted application must be carefully scrutinized and compared to the original application to make sure it operates correctly from a functional and performance perspective. This may require the development of a new test harness to characterize the functional and performance attributes of the initial system which can then be used to qualify the migrated software against (along with any applicable current certification tests). In almost all cases, before undertaking a language conversion, DDC-I recommends that one start out with a Migration Assessment Study to first scope the technical considerations and amount of work a compiler migration will take.

Language Conversion Tools
Our general philosophy is to create tools that convert applications in a predictable and straight-forward manner while retaining the original application structure and source code comments. This enables the converted code to be readable and maintainable – and minimizes the risk of introducing software errors and eliminates any further dependency on the software conversion tool. Once in the new language, the application may then be optimized with newer language optimization tools, augmented with new functionality or transposed to model languages (e.g, UML).


JOVIALconvert is a unique and DDC-I proprietary conversion tool that’s demonstratable, and available today. This tool addresses the general concern of JOVIAL being an essentially dead language, making it difficult to maintain, port, and upgrade. DDC-I's solution is to provide a semi-automated service that makes it relatively easy and inexpensive to convert legacy JOVIAL code into C code, which then can be maintained and upgraded by C programmers.