I'm currently in the process of modifying a C++ code that was written for UNIX system so that it works by compiling from Visual Studio. I had to change some built-in functions' names and I had to change the way dynamic arrays are defined.My question is, can I say that I'm 'porting' this code from UNIX to Windows/Visual Studio or is 'porting' used only when changing from one programming language to another (porting from C++ to Java)?
Question about the use of the word 'porting' in programming
terminology
According to Wikipedia, and my own personal experience, the term porting refers to making software work for a platform for which it was not originally intended. This process sometimes requires a change in language, but not always.The term is not generally applied to the process of adapting software to run with less memory on the same CPU and operating system, nor is it applied to the rewriting of source code in a different language (i.e. language conversion or translation).When people say that Java programs are more portable, they mean that it takes less additional work to make them compatible with a variety of different machines and operating systems.