monopiler

A monopiler is a type of compiler that transforms source code written in one programming language into source code written in another programming language. Unlike a traditional compiler that generates machine code or bytecode, a monopiler's output is human-readable source code. This process is often referred to as source-to-source compilation or transpilation.

The primary goal of a monopiler is to facilitate code migration, allow developers to leverage features of newer languages with existing codebases, or enable the use of specific language features on platforms that do not natively support them. For example, a monopiler could convert code written in an older version of a language to a more modern version, or translate code from a proprietary language to a widely adopted open-source one.

Monopilers can also be used for educational purposes, helping learners understand the syntax and structure of different programming languages by seeing their direct equivalents. The generated code is usually intended to be functionally equivalent to the original, although subtle differences in behavior can sometimes arise due to discrepancies between the source and target languages. The development and maintenance of monopilers require a deep understanding of both the source and target languages' grammars and semantics.