Marco Tech Blog

March 7, 2006

Delphi Everywhere

John Kaster reveals one of DevCo's mottos.

posted by marcocantu @ 3:28PM | 10 Comments [0 Pending]

Delphi Everywhere 

 I've used Delphi since 1 - have not bought 2006 as I
have a  fully upgarded 2005 for win32 development and
can't justify spending for 2006 until the future of
the devco is clear and even then might wait for the
next version.
Having the same development environment for linux and
window's mobile would fill a niche that is otherwise
hard to fill and would certainly make me a buyer.

Comment by John on March 7, 16:33

Delphi Everywhere 

 This is all nice, thoughts, plans, roadmaps and so.
But, i do not see a new company yet that eventually 
it all this stuff make comes true...

Comment by objectref on March 7, 17:01

Delphi Everywhere 

 We all know what happened to Kylix... Do you think
DevCo will be more effective in porting Delphi on
other platforms than Borland has been?

Comment by James on March 7, 20:25

Delphi Everywhere 

I think one of the problems with Kylix was that it was
targeted at Linux.  OSX seems a much more sensible
market to me - it has a culture of not being free and
of paying for a high-quality product, and the sort of
developers who work on that platform are the sort who
appreciate great IDEs and good UI tools, and don't
mind using uncommon languages (eg Objective C), all of
which are applicable to Delphi as well.

In addition, Apple used to love Pascal and designed a
version of object-oriented Pascal (I think this was
before Delphi).  Someone from those days in Apple
might like the idea of Delphi on OSX and be able to
support it from within their company.

The caveat to that is that if Delphi on OSX was not a
high-quality product (say, the calibre of Kylix 1) it
would, rightly, bomb.  But I know I only use Windows
for work now (C++ Builder), and I'd use Delphi on OSX
if it was available.

Comment by David M [] on March 8, 00:04

Delphi Everywhere 

James: MacOS could be a more appealing platform than 
Linux. Despite its "open" roots, the Linux community 
is somewhat "closed" about the development tools 
they use, vi/gcc and Java/PHP/Perl rule. No standard 
widget API. A lot of user used to console 
applications. Relatively small desktop user base.
Selling a closed source, not-free tool is very 
difficult. IMHO Borland didn't chose the right 
approach, they should have tried to move Windows 
Delphi developers toward Linux, i.e. bundling Kylix 
with Delphi, discount for Delphi owners, etc. 
instead of trying to appeal to gcc developers. They 
should have targeted server development, not desktop.
MacOS could be very different. A standard API, large 
desktop base, customers used to GUI applications, 
and used to pay for them.

Comment by Luigi D. Sandon on March 8, 01:18

Delphi Everywhere 

Dont know if this is a solution. But it is interesting.

http://www.opendelphi.org/

Comment by Cassard on March 10, 11:24

Delphi everywhere 

That would definitely be the way to go.
In a .NET-dominated (read M$-controlled) windows
world, being platform-agnostic, yet capable of
delivering hi-performance REAL executables which feel
comfortable (read native) in each environment would be
a great way to distinguish Delphi from any other dev
platform.
Ok, there's been Kylix, and it failed to attract
developers in the Linux world. That didn't surprise me
too much: Linux programmers simply can't conceive a
tool which is not completely free and open sourced.
Aiming Kylix at them was a mistake. Dot.
MacOs developers are different: they are used to pay
for what they get, if they think it's useful and
reasonably priced. 
An example: RealBasic (www.realsoftware.com) is a nice
object oriented basic compiler with a RAD IDE and a
growing community of developers which started as a
mac-only development tool "for the masses", and is now
a true cross-platform (mac-linux-windows) dev tool.
It is not either free or open source (pro version
costs 499$), but thousands of mac developers bought
it, just because IMHO it is MUCH easier to put
together a sw solution with RB than with any other
available tool. It can't be compared to Delphi in
terms of features, and it lacks some OO wizardries
we're used to take for granted, but if you need to
solve a problem fast, it works.
The simple fact is : developing software on the Mac
using available tools (XCode and COCOA/Objective-C) is
hard for the novice, and if you accept to climb that
steep learning curve, you find yourself stuck in the
Apple market, which is an interesting growing niche,
but can't be numerically compared to the Windows market.
Another problem there is the absence of a true market
for component makers. If you need something like, say,
ExpressQuantumGrid or ExpressScheduler (to name two
great vcl/clx products among thousands) you're out in
the cold. Apart from basic GUI objects (buttons,
etc.), everything else is up to you. Not very
attractive for people like me, who need to deliver
first-class solutions in ridiculous time (sounds
familiar?).
Someone could say : "what about Java? It's free, it's
OO, runs everywhere...". Right. But it's SLLLOOOOWW!!
And, in most cases, your programs won't look native on
both (Win/Mac) platforms, and that is a problem,
expecially for the typical Mac user's perspective. 
Furthermore, buying professional components for java
is not something anyone can afford (they're mostly
aimed at corporate developers with stellar budgets,
not small shops like you and me).
Well, to make a long story short, there is a need for
a tool like Delphi, with its fast native compiler,
unparalleled RAD experience, VCL and its huge
component-makers community in the MACOSX world. It
would attract both Mac developers and Delphi
developers as well, giving them a unique opportunity
to target the most important sw markets on the planet
with a single source code base and leveraging the
skills they already have.
I've been a TP/BP/Delphi enthusiast since 1986
(getting old...) and I wrote tons of code since. I
recently bought a Mac mini for my daughter, and i've
casually discovered a vibrant, committed community of
developers who make software the way it should be:
easy, powerful and reasonably priced. I'd like to be
part of it, but I would miss my beloved Delphi, for
the reasons i've (rather lengthly, i admit..) just
explained.  
I don't think Delphi's future is in .Net, I don't like
the framework, I'm perplexed about its performances, I
think it's a nightmare to deploy and, last but not
least, it is completely in the hands of Microsoft.
If I'd need .Net, I'd buy VS2005. 
I really hope DavidI & Co succeed in what they're
doing, and I hope they look around and see the
opportunities to distinguish Delphi from any other tool. 

GO DELPHI!

Comment by Fulvio Romano [] on March 18, 10:22

Delphi Everywhere 

O O O Oh!!
This is what I have been waiting for!

I have one popular Delphi App and people are asking
for an OSX Version. So I would have to rewrite that
Application using another Tool - EXCEPT IF there was
Delphi for OS X.... I am hoping this to come true!!!
PLEASE Borland, Please!

Comment by Tom on June 9, 14:27

Delphi Everywhere 

 What can it be more fruitfull and best seeling than a
"Delphi OSX".
Please, please give us peace - make the Delphi for OSX
dream come true.

Even without VCL but simly applowing to call the
native API's I would buy a Delphi for OSX for sure!

Comment by Gad D Lord [http://www.mtgstudio.com] on May 2, 16:09

Delphi Everywhere 

 Agreed.

I would buy a Delphi OSX instantaneously

Comment by Jonathan on August 20, 03:32