[DUG] The BDE API formerly known as the Paradox Engine

[Paul Heinz]

Robert Martin wrote: 

> Moving from BDE to a relational database is a BIG step.  We 
> use IBOjects which has BDE replacement components that is 
> very good.  However you would have to leave paradox behind at 
> that point.
> 
> BDE SUCKS big time.  Although I was AMAZED to read that 
> CodeGear is developing a BDE like replacement for a future 
> Delphi !!!!!!  I was stunned.  Obviously enough people still 
> use the BDE to make this an attraction.

Just to play Devil's Advocate a bit, it's not that the underlying
concept of the BDE is inherently a bad idea. Namely, navigational to
relational mapping - it's not original to the BDE by any stretch - it's
more that the BDE is SUCH a badly flawed implementation of the concept.

It's obvious to me that BDE (or IDAPI if you remember it's previous
incarnation) 'grew' out of the Paradox Engine API kit that Borland once
sold - I know that since we one of the few companies who appear to have
actually bought a copy!

So IDAPI and the BDE are fundamentally crippled by underlying
'Paradox-isms' (such as Null is the same as Empty string) which have
never been addressed and then ever more layers of code have been piled
on top of these bad foundations in various attempts to fix earlier badly
designed layers that can now never be removed. Cached Updates anyone?

I pity any Codegear developer assigned to work on the BDE codebase. It
probably violates the Geneva Convention for 'cruel and inhumane
treatment equivalent to torture'. Mind you, Microsoft could probably get
the DOJ (who seems to be their friend now) to argue that Codegear
developers are patent-violating 'unlawful enemy combatants' so it's
either GITMO or the BDE for them. 

Good code is released, bad code just escapes!

TTFN,
  Paul.