Why analysis comes before translation
Code translation becomes more reliable when meaning is separated from syntax.
Syntax replacement reaches its limits quickly
Two languages may express the same operation through very different structures. A rule based only on source text becomes fragile as soon as scope, types or control flow change.
Analysis exposes technical intent
Resolving symbols, types and dependencies turns a stream of tokens into understandable operations. Translation can then target intent instead of a particular form.
A common representation reduces duplication
When several technologies share an intermediate model, reusable analysis and transformation can be separated from adapters specific to each language.
Differences remain explicit
A common model must not hide behaviour that cannot be translated directly. Those gaps should be detected, documented and, when necessary, submitted for human judgment.