Embarcadero has bought the AnyDAC data access components library from DA-SOFT. This is considered the best data access library for Delphi, and I'm personally very happy that is will become part of the Delphi "Enterprise" product. We plan offering this technology, in the near term, as an add-on for existing users, and fully integrate it in future versions of Delphi and C++Builder.

Not only we are buying the library, but also retaining the great database expertise of Dmitry Arefiev, AnyDac author, who will keep improving the library, help us port it to mobile platform, and add features to it. I've been in touch with Dmitry over the last couple of years, and somehow helped the discussions with Embarcadero get started way before I joined the company... and I'm very happy to be now personally involved in the deal and the coming offers.

This is great news for all Delphi developers using databases, that is most of them! While I liked the simplicity of dbEpxress, its features set remained very stable since it was introduced, and the transition to dbExpress IV started in Delphi 2009, was never fully completed. AnyDAC provides a much more powerful framework, offering at the same time an abstract and universal data access layer, but letting developers hook to tons of specific features of individual databases. Also, the complete source code (drivers included) is part of the library, unlike dbExpress, that has DLL-based drivers. I could go on and will do this soon, but for now you can refer to the library documentation at http://www.da-soft.com/anydac/docu/frames.html.

It is also great news for current AnyDAC customers, as they'll be able to leverage their investment, given this data access library will become more mainstream. Embarcadero is going to make specific support and upgrade offers to current AnyDAC customers in the coming weeks. Dmitry will keep working on the library, fix bugs and offer enhancements, so you should not worry about its future. Quite the opposite: Embarcadero is willing to invest even more on AnyDAC.

You can find the official press release here:  http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/embarcadero-technologies-acquires-high-performance-enterprise-database-connectivity-technology-for-developers . In the coming days, we'll provide more information (possibly an extensive FAQ), for now feel free to ask here in my blog.

PS. I told you, this is going to be a great year for Delphi ;-)