As of today, db4objects releases its Eclipse based Java to C# source code conversion tool "sharpen" as free software.
sharpen
is the "secret sauce" that enables us to provide the [db4o object
database engine] in native versions for the Java and .NET platforms
from a single code base.
Features include:
- mapping between Java and .NET native type systems
- compliance with C# coding conventions
- user defined namespace/class/method mappings
- method to property mappings
- Generics support
- partial conversions
- mixing native and converted C# sources
- VS solution file support
- Ant integration
sharpen
is used extensively in the db4o build system, generating most of the
db4o engine core code and the unit test suites from the Java sources.
Before
you start dreaming: sharpen is not a "magic wand". Don't expect to feed
it an arbitrary Java app and receive a running .NET version at the push
of a button. The translation process will require some design
compromises on the Java side, and parts of the .NET code still have to
be hand crafted and integrated into the converted sources. Still, we
believe sharpen provides an amazingly smooth way to bridge the gap
between Java and .NET and create real cross platform applications.
We
are looking forward to see which sharpen propelled applications will
cross the language chasm, and we're hoping on your feedback and your
contributions that will help to cover automatic conversion of even more
Java constructs and idioms, moving Java/.NET cross platform integration
to a new level.
sharpen is released
under the GPL. The
svn repository,
documentation and
issue
tracker are online. All that's missing now is you bringing your Java
app to the .NET platform. To get you started,
here is the full
anatomy of a simplistic application developed with sharpen. Have fun!