Pseudo++

Pseudo++ is a pseudocode (based on the romanian Bacalaureat syntax) to C++ transpiler. It was designed to help highschool students "compile" the code they write on paper before they learn how to write proper C++ code in order to better learn and understand fundamental concepts in programming.

Structure

The program is split into multiple stages: preprocessing, processing and code output.

Input

Upon start, the user is prompted in the terminal to select the file (with the extensions .pc) they want to transpile and the file (PATH) to write the output to.

Preprocessing

The program analyses the code, line by line and word by word, and adds ';' after the end of logic instructions and operators. This way, the processor manipulates the code more easily.

Processing

The program analyses the preprocessed code, line by line, and transpiles it to C++. It tranforms keywords to their C++ counterparts (daca to if, for example) or performs certain operations where necessary, such as negating the running condition in a repeta ... pana cand loop to fit the do ... while C++ syntax and logic. The processor splits lines into "symbols" (words, numbers, characters, keywords etc). "Unknown" symbols (which have no reason to appear in the program, such as unknown variables or misspelt keywords) and "illegal" symbols (using keywords as variables, for example) throw errors. Regular keywords and expected symbols are transformed into valid C++ code.

Other

This is a transpiler. It only checks for syntactic errors. It does not check whether the operations performed are valid or not.

Output

The program will output in the file chosen in the beginning by the user (or "./main.cpp" by default) the transpiled C++ code.

graph LR
    pre["Preprocessor"]
    pro["Processor"]
    simbol["Symbol"]
    necunoscut["Unknown"]
    ilegal["Illegal"]
    identif["Identifier"]
    cpp["C++ Code"]
    eroare["Error"]
    cc["Keyword"]

    pre --> pro
    pro --> simbol
    simbol --> cc & identif --> cpp
    simbol --> necunoscut & ilegal --> eroare

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Syntax

• input: citeste <identifier> (<data type>)
• output: scrie <identifiers | literal>
• if statement: daca <conditions> atunci <instructions> stop
• while-do: cat timp <conditions> executa <instructions> stop
• repeat until/while: repeta <instructions> pana cand | cat timp <conditions>
• for-loop: pentru <identifier> <- <value | identifier>, <value | identifier>, <value | identifier>
• variables: <identifier> <- <value> | <operations>

File structure

• helpers.py contains most functions and enums used for syntax checking and errors. The operators, keywords and data types are also defined there. These are used by the other files.

graph TD
    help["helpers.py"]
    erori["Errors"]
    enum["Enums"]
    func["Functions"]
    clase["Classes"]
    pro["processor.py"]
    pre["preprocessor.py"]
    main["main.py"]
    
    help --> erori & enum & func & clase
    clase --> pre & pro
    erori --> pre & pro
    func --> main & pre & pro
    enum --> pro

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Visual diagram of the program

sequenceDiagram
    autonumber
    participant ps as Pseudo++
    participant main as main.py
    participant pre as preprocessor.py
    participant pro as processor.py
    
    ps->>main: Input file
    main->>pre: Characters are added (where necessary)
    pre->>pro: The code is transpiled to C++
    pro->>main: The C++ code is written in the output file

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