Convert Code Between Tech Stacks With ChatGPT

One of the trickiest challenges in software development is switching between tech stacks. Sometimes you’re working in C#, then suddenly you need to port logic over to Python for a machine learning project, or convert a Node.js snippet into Go for performance testing.

Doing these translations by hand can be tedious, and searching online often leads to mismatched snippets. This is where ChatGPT has become a secret weapon — paste in code from one stack and it can rewrite the logic in another, complete with idiomatic conventions for that language.

Here are a few ways this can work in real-world scenarios.


Example 1: Python to C#

Suppose there’s a Python function that calculates the factorial of a number:

def factorial(n):
    if n == 0:
        return 1
    else:
        return n * factorial(n - 1)

Ask ChatGPT:
“Convert this Python function into C#.”

It produces:

public class MathUtils
{
    public static int Factorial(int n)
    {
        if (n == 0)
            return 1;
        else
            return n * Factorial(n - 1);
    }
}

Now there’s a ready-to-use C# implementation of the same logic.


Example 2: Node.js to Python

Here’s a simple Node.js snippet for fetching data from an API:

const fetch = require("node-fetch");

async function getUser() {
    const response = await fetch("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users/1");
    const data = await response.json();
    console.log(data.name);
}

getUser();

Ask ChatGPT:
“Convert this Node.js code into Python using requests.”

Result:

import requests

def get_user():
    response = requests.get("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users/1")
    data = response.json()
    print(data["name"])

get_user()

Now it runs in Python without having to rethink the logic.


Example 3: SQL to LINQ (C#)

Sometimes an SQL query needs to be translated into C# LINQ for use with Entity Framework.

SQL:

SELECT Name, Email
FROM Users
WHERE IsActive = 1
ORDER BY Name;

Ask ChatGPT:
“Convert this SQL query into a C# LINQ expression for Entity Framework.”

Result:

var activeUsers = dbContext.Users
    .Where(u => u.IsActive)
    .OrderBy(u => u.Name)
    .Select(u => new { u.Name, u.Email })
    .ToList();

This avoids the manual rewrite step.


A Quick Reality Check

It’s worth noting that ChatGPT isn’t always 100% correct. Sometimes the generated code compiles right away, but other times there may be a build error or runtime issue because of a library mismatch, missing import, or slight syntax difference.

When that happens, don’t throw the result away — iterate on it. Paste the error message back into ChatGPT and ask:

“Here’s the build error I got when running your code. Can you fix it?”

In most cases, you’ll get a corrected version that works. Think of it as a coding partner rather than a magic solution.


Why This Is Helpful

  • Time Saver – No need to learn all the nuances of a new language or framework right away.
  • Learning Aid – Compare side-by-side and understand how concepts map across stacks.
  • Consistency – Keeps logic intact across multiple platforms.
  • Iterative Process – Even if the first result isn’t perfect, refining it is quick.
  • Flexibility – Works across frontend, backend, databases, and scripting languages.

Final Thoughts

Learning the fundamentals of each stack is always important, but ChatGPT can serve as a fantastic bridge when code needs to be converted quickly. It’s like having a multilingual coding buddy who can translate ideas in seconds.

Just remember: treat it as a collaborator, not a compiler. Sometimes the first output won’t run perfectly, but with a little iteration, you’ll usually have working code long before you could have written it from scratch.

So the next time you’re moving between Python, C#, Node.js, Go, or any other tech stack, try pasting your code into ChatGPT. Chances are, you’ll have a working equivalent in the new language before your coffee gets cold.