Python-to-C Translator

A Python-to-C code translator that converts a subset of Python into equivalent C code. It implements a custom scanner (lexer) and a custom parser using Flex (Lex) and Bison (Yacc). The program tokenizes and parses Python syntax, generates corresponding C code, and manages a symbol table to track variable declarations and values.

Unlike traditional compilers that construct an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST), this translator directly generates C code using string manipulation during parsing.

How It Works

1. Lexical Analysis (Scanning)
   • The Flex scanner tokenizes Python code into keywords, identifiers, operators, and numbers
   • It also implements a stack-based system to manage Python-style indentation and translate it into C-style {} blocks
2. Syntax Analysis (Parsing)
   • The Bison parser applies Python grammar rules and translates statements into C syntax
   • It handles assignments, arithmetic expressions, conditionals (if), and loops (while)
3. Symbol Table Management
   • Tracks variable declarations and stores values to ensure proper C code generation
   • Detects undefined identifiers and reports errors
4. C Code Generation
   • Produces a C main() function with:
   • Variable declarations based on the symbol table
   • C-equivalent statements for assignments, conditionals, and loops
   • Formatted print statements to output variable values

Installation & Usage

• Before compiling, ensure you have the following installed:

  -  bison (for parsing)  
  -  flex (for lexical analysis)  
  -  gcc (for compiling)  
  -  make (for building)  

• For Debian/Ubuntu run:

  sudo apt install bison flex make gcc

• For macOS (using Homebrew) run:

  brew install bison flex make gcc

• For Windows (using MSYS2) run:

  pacman -S --needed mingw-w64-x86_64-bison mingw-w64-x86_64-flex mingw-w64-x86_64-gcc make

• To compile the translator, run:

  make

• To translate a Python file into C, use:

  ./parse < testing_code/p1.py
  ./parse < testing_code/p2.py
  ./parse < testing_code/p3.py
  ./parse < testing_code/p4.py

• The translator detects syntax errors in Python files. Try running:

  ./parse < testing_code/error1.py
  ./parse < testing_code/error2.py
  ./parse < testing_code/error3.py
  ./parse < testing_code/error4.py

Tools and Technologies

• C
• Flex
• Bison