Java->PHP translator

[webhappy]

Hi,

I have released a Java->PHP translator at www.NewOOP.com

Please try it out (but please make sure you have at least 1.4.2 of the Java Runtime Environment to execute the translator). You may download the JRE here: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html (it's around 8 MB for online installation to 14 MB for offline installation).

I pretty much made this project just to be able to use Eclipse IDE on web projects (and yes, it completely beats any PHP IDE).

Currently, the plan is to let developers play around with it (however, the source to the translator is closed-source).

The persistence layer needs some redesigning, but it's working! Most Java code at this point should translate without error to PHP (including method overloading, packages/namespace, static methods). Perhaps the biggest features missing are inner and anonymous classes.

[goldbug]

Originally posted by webhappy
I pretty much made this project just to be able to use Eclipse IDE on web projects (and yes, it completely beats any PHP IDE).

Isn't there already is a PHP plugin for Eclipse? (http://www.phpeclipse.de/?)

[webhappy]

It's the features in Java-editing that are what really give Eclipse an edge. For example, the built-in refactoring engine is quite nice to use. Also, the auto-compilation will underline any errors, and you can simply hit ctrl-1 for recommended fixes (most of the time, you can simply hit enter for the first suggestion). There is a very nice search engine.

Basically, my understanding is that the plug-in can't really use the JDT features all of a sudden with PHP files.

There's really too many features in Eclipse to list here, but once you play around with it for a few hours, you realize how many small things are missing from PHP IDEs.

[Sgarissta]

So the answer to not having a good (enough) PHP Editor, isn't to write a better editor, but translate java code to php.

Seems like a pretty weak argument to me. If you want to translate java to PHP because you prefer writing java, then good for you. But if it is as you say just to get a better editor, then why not write a better editor? That makes so much more sense...

[webhappy]

Um... the translator is much more flexible than trying to write a plug-in or editor that includes as much features as Java IDEs have. Just because I wrote it because I liked Eclipse doesn't mean client users have to use Eclipse. They can use their favorite IDEs.

I realize that I need to find a forum for Java users, but very few hosts have PHP5 at the moment, which would discourage the Java programmers from trying this software.

Even for users who are already used to PHP, the built-in persistence layer is a worthwhile project in itself. The other PHP peristence layer projects force users to write specifications in XML, and then compile/build PHP files (as far as I know the only other PHP persistence layers are Metabase and Propel). This project lets users write in only Java to produce working PHP code.

"But if it is as you say just to get a better editor, then why not write a better editor? "
I actually can't help but feel very puzzled. Eclipse IDE is worked on by IBM employees, was started when IBM donated more than $40 million worth of source code, is open-source with many developers, etc. Can we really have an open-source project for a PHP IDE that would have this type of developer support? This also excludes the fact that there are many other tools for Java users, such as UML editors, that aren't present for PHP.

[goldbug]

Originally posted by webhappy
This also excludes the fact that there are many other tools for Java users, such as UML editors, that aren't present for PHP.

Just to nitpick....

ArgoUML -- UML diagramming tool, can export class diagrams as Java, C++, C#, PHP4, and PHP5

Umbrello can also export to PHP, but I've not used it in some time, can't say if it does PHP5 or not.

[webhappy]

Well, with PHP5--and its OOP emphasis--out, there are definitely more tools available, but you have to admit that there is much more available for Java.

I actually don't use UML tools that much, but I remember trying ArgoUML and opting for Visual-Paradigm's instead (this was for a Java project).

I tend to be very happy w/ the code-generation and refactoring capabilities that Eclipse provides. Then again, I only have about 30-40 classes, so the package browser tends to be enough so far.

[webhappy]

As an update, I'm going to see if I can create output that will run on PHP4. PHP5 is getting adopted at a glacial pace.

Also, I may release the entire project open-source soon, as I will be very short on time after Sep 20.