When translating from c++ to python: make the compatibility layer simple

Python vs C++ Keywords Comparison

This document provides a detailed comparison between Python and C++ keywords, demonstrating how Python can mimic C++ functionalities using custom classes and libraries.

1. Control Flow Keywords

Concept	C++ Keyword	Python Keyword / Custom Code	Comparison
Conditional	if, else, else if	if, elif, else	C++ uses else if whereas Python uses elif. Both have similar functionality for conditional branching.
Loops	for, while	for, while + Switch class	Both languages use for and while for loops. Python’s Switch class provides a switch-like mechanism for Python, while C++ has a native switch statement.
Loop Control	break, continue	break, continue + goto	Both languages use break and continue for controlling loops. Python can use the Goto mechanism to jump between blocks.
Function Return	return	return	Both languages use return to exit a function and return a value.
Switch	switch, case	Switch class (custom)	C++ has a switch statement, whereas Python uses a custom Switch class to simulate similar functionality. Python’s match (3.10+) can also mimic this behavior.

2. Exception Handling

Concept	C++ Keyword	Python Keyword / Custom Code	Comparison
Exception Handling	try, catch, throw	try, except, raise	Both languages have similar exception handling mechanisms. C++ uses catch, while Python uses except. C++ exceptions are strongly typed; Python's are more dynamic.
Finally Block	No direct equivalent	finally	Python has a finally block that runs regardless of exceptions. C++ uses RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) patterns instead.
Goto Exception Handling	No direct equivalent	Goto class (custom)	Python can simulate goto-style exception handling using the custom Goto class to raise and handle jumps.

3. Functions and Methods

Concept	C++ Keyword	Python Keyword / Custom Code	Comparison
Function Definition	void, <type>	def	C++ uses specific types (int, void, etc.) to declare return types, while Python uses def for function definitions and has dynamic typing.
Lambda Functions	auto, []()	lambda	Both languages support anonymous functions, but the syntax differs. Python uses lambda, and C++ uses the [] syntax.
Macros	#define, #ifdef	cpypp (custom)	C++ uses macros for code generation and conditional compilation. Python can use the cpypp preprocessor library as an equivalent to C++ preprocessor macros.

4. Object-Oriented Keywords

Concept	C++ Keyword	Python Keyword / Custom Code	Comparison
Class Definition	class	class + Namespace class	Both languages use class to define classes. Python's Namespace class can mimic C++ namespaces.
Access Specifiers	public, private, protected	No direct equivalent	Python uses conventions (_ for protected, __ for private), while C++ enforces access control.
Inheritance Checking	virtual, override, final	No direct equivalent	In Python, all methods are virtual by default, so no explicit keyword is required. C++ uses virtual for polymorphism.

5. Memory Management

Concept	C++ Keyword	Python Keyword / Custom Code	Comparison
Dynamic Memory	new, delete	Managed automatically	C++ uses new and delete for memory management. Python has garbage collection and dynamic memory management by default.
Memory Macros	No direct equivalent	cpypp macros (custom)	Python can use cpypp for macros, though Python generally does not need manual memory management.