Marco Tech Blog

June 19, 2015

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1

The Update 1 of RAD Studio XE8, C++ Builder XE8, and Delphi XE8 is available for Update Subscription customers, as anticipated.

posted by marcocantu @ 3:29PM | 15 Comments [0 Pending]

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

I am sorry because I have to write this post. I am a
Delphi fan since version 3, but if your policy is to
ask money for bugfixes then I will NEVER buy any new
version. Basically it is in your interest to write
buggy software...

Comment by David on June 19, 15:47

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

 Hi! Can somebody answer this question about an error 
occurring after having installed this update?

Comment by Peter on June 19, 15:58

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

Hi Marco,

Just FYI.
I have an active RAD Studio Pro subscription.
My desktop machine is running Windows 10 Pro Insider 
Preview Build 10130. After installing the 
Subscription Update 1 for RAD Studio, Delphi, and 
C++Builder XE8 my Rad Studio is no longer starting.
Looks like I will have to reinstall it from scratch :(

Also, I am curious if there is a way to buy your late
latest book? 

Comment by Zenon on June 19, 23:34

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

To any one having technical issues with update installation, refer 
support.embarcadero.com for help, opening an installation issue. 
As a reminder, installation support is free to all customers.

Comment by Marco Cantu [http://www.marcocantu.com] on June 20, 07:16

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

David,

I think there is quite a bit of misunderstanding. Our policy it to move 
to a license+subscription model, like most of the other software 
developments tools (starting with Visual Studio) -- those using a 
different policy use a pure subscription, in general, meaning you 
loose the license if you stop paying.

As part of this policy, we are committed to providing more fixes for 
a longer time and also for older products. Needless to say, it will be 
very difficult to do the same outside of an Update Subscription 
policy, as the cost will be hard to justify (and we'd even have legal / 
accounting issues).

As for having interest in writing buggy code, this is ludicrous. We 
get more customer complaints (and rightfully), have to get 
developers go back to the same code, spend more in support, and 
getting upset customers. This is and will never be a meaningful 
strategy, and while I see a few developers suggesting it, I really 
think they are just spreading FUD. Bugs happen, and even more in 
a tool of the complexity of our software with dependencies on 
operating system and platforms APIs from multiple vendors.

And it is really because bugs happen, vendors change their 
operating systems and tool integration, and saying us customers 
"sorry, not our fault" would be a lame defense, that we are pushing 
a model in which we agree providing continuous upgrades and fixes 
to our software, rather than asking developers to by a new version 
(and migrate their code to it) to have their bugs resolved. Would that 
be a better policy? I strongly disagree.

Let me add a final point. By moving developers from yearly or twice 
a year upgrades to Update Subscription, Embarcadero is making 
LESS MONEY, not more. This is the cheapest way for our 
customers to get our software. So we are not trying to make us 
customers spend more, we agree on getting less money in 
exchange of a more stable relationship.

And we are even adding extra value, including exclusive content, for 
update subscription customers. So if you consider the overall 
scenario, I think you can see why the company is chancing its 
policy and why this is overall a better options for most of our 
customers.

Comment by Marco Cantu [http://www.marcocantu.com] on June 20, 07:36

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

Thanks for the updates. Marco: David's point is a
common issue raised. A good solution in my opinion
would be to include a year's worth of SA with any new
RAD Studio family Professional SKU and above purchase.
I think Embarcadero would also be happier and end up
with more users who would renew and maintain their SA
subscription.  That way, the six-monthly release cycle
would new users happy rather than left out, and thus
more likely to continue subscribing.

Comment by Navid on June 20, 11:24

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

Hello everyone,

I have RAD Studio Enterprise subscription and I am
wondering if the new update install works fine or do I
need to reinstall all the packages again after the update?

Kind regards 

Comment by Uros Cotman on June 22, 23:02

Version change frequency  

 The huge list of bugs fixed is of course good. But that mean the 
feature list for XE8 is too big or there are tests that failed. This is the 
danger with a fixed release date. You are forced to release a not 
ready product.

Please consider change to floating release date where the release 
happen when all known bugs are fixed and all test pass. This will 
raise confidence among customers and generate better long term 
profit. I talked to an old-time Delphi customer that upgrade XE7 to 
XE8 without subscription license. He now consider to leave Delphi 
for other more stable platforms...

Comment by Roland Bengtsson on June 23, 06:56

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

 I want to download the ISO, but I haven't installed
XE8 yet. Where can I download it?

If I go to
https://maintenance.codegear.com/downloadlinks/DELPHIXE8Down.htm
it seems the download doesn't include XE8.

Don't you think it would be much easier to include a
link in the same page where you download the web
installer?

Thanks.

Comment by abab on June 23, 12:22

Binary compatibility 

Hi Marco,

is XE8 Upd 1 binary compatible with plain vanilla XE8?
I mean: 3rd party tool developers, when deploying DCU
files for XE8, need to worry about it?
Thanks! 

Comment by Alexandre Machado on June 23, 21:14

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

A couple of answers:

- the Subscription Update 1 requires a full uninstall/install, as there 
is a large number of changes. We are trying to move to a different 
install architecture for the future, but this has been the case for 
several years now

- the Update 1 is binary compatible with third party component 
packages and DCU files. Just remember, when un-installing, to use 
the check box to KEEP the registry entries, and everything should 
stay in place

- one of the advantages of a complete transition to the update 
subscription is the business will be less tied to individual releases, 
thus giving us more flexibility in ship dates. With a more traditional 
business model, this is more difficult.

- Marco

Comment by Marco Cantu [http://www.marcocantu.com] on June 26, 06:58

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

Any plans for a future Delphi release which can
compile to WebAssembly (see
https://github.com/WebAssembly/design and
https://www.w3.org/community/webassembly/)? WebAssembly in
development with involvement from Mozilla, Microsoft,
Apple and Google. I'd love to be able to compile my
Delphi apps to WebAssembly and run them in the browser.

Comment by Jim Smith on June 27, 02:16

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

Hi,

Any answers for the question above from June 22?

"Do I need to reinstall all the packages again after 
the update?"

Thanks!

Comment by Thomas on July 3, 13:05

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

To Moderator

Hi,

I just posted a question but I think I found the 
answer below.

Thanks,
Thomas
 
"
- the Update 1 is binary compatible with third 
party component 
packages and DCU files. Just remember, when un-
installing, to use 
the check box to KEEP the registry entries, and 
everything should 
stay in place
"

Comment by Thomas on July 3, 13:09

RAD Studio XE8 Update 1 

Marco,

I've tried to use the GetIt feature to install 
AbbreviaD, etc, but get errors on all installs about 
a missing RTL file.

I cannot find where this is addressed. Can you point 
me to a page that deals with this issue?

Thanks. And thanks for all your great work.

Mic Thurber

Comment by Mic Thurber on July 19, 19:38