Is it possible to convert C++ to C?, C++ FAQ

C++ FAQ / Section 38 / FAQ 38.13

Section 38:

38.1	Where can I download a free C++ compiler?
38.2	Where can I get more information on using MFC and Visual C++?
38.3	How do I display text in the status bar using MFC?
38.4	How can I decompile an executable program back into C++ source code?
38.5	Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Sun, etc.}?
38.6	What's the difference between C++ and Visual C++?
38.7	How do compilers use "over-allocation" to remember the number of elements in an allocated array?
38.8	How do compilers use an "associative array" to remember the number of elements in an allocated array?
38.9	If name mangling was standardized, could I link code compiled with compilers from different compiler vendors?
38.10	GNU C++ (g++) produces big executables for tiny programs; Why?
38.11	Is there a `yacc`-able C++ grammar?
38.12	What is C++ 1.2? 2.0? 2.1? 3.0?
38.13	Is it possible to convert C++ to C?

[38.13] Is it possible to convert C++ to C?

Depends on what you mean. If you mean, Is it possible to convert C++ to readable and maintainable C-code? then sorry, the answer is No — C++ features don't directly map to C, plus the generated C code is not intended for humans to follow. If instead you mean, Are there compilers which convert C++ to C for the purpose of compiling onto a platform that yet doesn't have a C++ compiler? then you're in luck — keep reading.

A compiler which compiles C++ to C does full syntax and semantic checking on the program, and just happens to use C code as a way of generating object code. Such a compiler is not merely some kind of fancy macro processor. (And please don't email me claiming these are preprocessors — they are not — they are full compilers.) It is possible to implement all of the features of ISO Standard C++ by translation to C, and except for exception handling, it typically results in object code with efficiency comparable to that of the code generated by a conventional C++ compiler.

Here are some products that perform compilation to C (note: if you know of any other products that do this, please let me know (cline@parashift.com)):

Comeau Computing offers a compiler based on Edison Design Group's front end that outputs C code.
LLVM is a downloadable compiler that emits C code. See also here and here. Here is an example of C++ to C conversion via LLVM.
Cfront, the original implementation of C++, done by Bjarne Stroustrup and others at AT&T, generates C code. However it has two problems: it's been difficult to obtain a license since the mid 90s when it started going through a maze of ownership changes, and development ceased at that same time and so it doesn't get bug fixes and doesn't support any of the newer language features (e.g., exceptions, namespaces, RTTI, member templates).
Contrary to popular myth, as of this writing there is no version of g++ that translates C++ to C. Such a thing seems to be doable, but I am not aware that anyone has actually done it (yet).

Note that you typically need to specify the target platform's CPU, OS and C compiler so that the generated C code will be specifically targeted for this platform. This means: (a) you probably can't take the C code generated for platform X and compile it on platform Y; and (b) it'll be difficult to do the translation yourself — it'll probably be a lot cheaper/safer with one of these tools.

One more time: do not email me saying these are just preprocessors — they are not — they are compilers.