Porting c++ code to linux

Moons · 05-25-2004, 09:24 AM

Hi,

I am trying to port an application written in C++ to a Linux system. It is the first time I am looking at this problem so I do not know where to start! The program is a main menu (like Start in windows). I have the source code for the program but I need to port it to Linux. What should I look at to make changes?

Thanks.

paulsm4 · 05-25-2004, 01:28 PM

Hi -

No easy answer to this question - "It depends".

I'd suggest there are (at least) three different levels you need to look at:

Code:

     +------------------+
     |   C++ syntax   |  <= POTENTIALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD
     +------------------+
     | OS/library APIs|  <= POTENTALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD
     +------------------+
     | User interface |  <= POTENTIALLY VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
     +------------------+

I'd suggest the following:

1. Baseline the code you need to port:
a) Count the #/modules and the #/lines of code in your Windows app

2. GCC/MS C++ syntax:
a) Do a test compile of a few representative modules
b) Count the #/compile errors; count #/compile warnings
<= THIS MIGHT GIVE YOU A "BALLPARK" FOR HOW PORTABLY
THE CODE IS WRITTEN
c) Extrapolate the effort

3. User interface:
a) Do a Google search for different Open Source UIs.

It runs the gamut from Qt (roughly analogous to MFC) through Tcl/Tk
(roughly analogous to VB) through Java/Swing (which would have
the added benefit of continuing to run on Windows after you port it).

Don't forget to consider making the user interface a web interface
(potentially the easiest, most robust solution of all).

b) Make a rough prototype in one or more of your "candidate UIs".

c) Extrapolate the porting effort
<= THE EFFORT WILL BE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO HOW
WELL DESIGNED THE APP IS: TO WHAT EXTENT IT SEPARATES
UI FROM FUNCTIONALITY ... AND TO WHAT EXTENT IT JUMBLES
THE TWO TOGETHER...

Good luck .. PSM

Moons · 05-25-2004, 01:51 PM

Thanks a lot,

I think it's enough to start me up...I have to first try to run it on the Linux compiler to see what works or not

dima_l · 06-03-2004, 01:24 AM

Hi!

I need to port a large project from MVSC to Linux. Does anybody know some utilities to create Makefile for Linux from Visual Studio project file? (Assuming that the source code is portable)

Thanks a lot