CPP File Converter

The converter ingests C++ source files and outputs equivalent C code in a portable subset. It targets developers porting modules to environments lacking full C++ support, or teams requiring cross-compiler consistency. The tool operates purely as a source-to-source transformer, preserving public interfaces while translating internals to C idioms. The output aims to be compilable with common C compilers under standard settings, with optional header generation for C consumers.
Conceptually, translation follows a two-stage approach: a structural analysis of input language constructs and a rule-based mapping to C constructs. Classes become structs; member functions receive a this pointer; constructors become init functions; destructors cleanup; namespaces become flat scopes; inheritance modeled via composition; templates instantiated for concrete types or simplified. Standard library usage is mapped to C equivalents or removed with safe fallbacks. The tool can emit a separate header file to expose C interfaces.
Audience and value: embedded developers, system programmers, and project maintainers benefit from deterministic, auditable translations that improve portability and reduce manual rewriting effort. The translator emphasizes transparency: source and target mappings are visible in the generated code, and optional strict mode minimizes reliance on language features that do not translate cleanly. Use cases include porting modules to microcontrollers, enabling legacy toolchains, and simplifying CI-friendly builds.
Core features include input validation, AST-based translation, type mapping tables, guard generation, and configurable output formatting. It outputs converted_code and, if requested, header_code with guards and prototypes. It is designed to be deterministic and repeatable, enabling diff-based reviews and automated checks.