Beta Tool Converts Java to C#

Microsoft has released a beta version of the Java Language Conversion Assistant (JLCA), a developer tool that translates source code written in Java to C#. The JLCA supplements the previously announced Visual J# product and is the final piece in Microsoft’s Java User Migration Path (JUMP) strategy. It simplifies the process of moving Java code to C# and offers an alternative to using Visual J#, which allows programmers to continue using the Java programming language for .NET.

The translation process is not fully automatic, however. In the long run, most customers will be best served by migrating from Java to C# programming, and those who make the migration need to be aware of the alternatives for making that transition.

JLCA Features and Supported Libraries

The JLCA is an add-in to the Visual Studio .NET integrated development environment (IDE), Microsoft’s tool suite for professional developers. The add-in allows developers to select a Visual J++ project and produce a new project containing the translated code, while leaving the original files unchanged.