[DUG] Delphi Update

[Jolyon Smith]

Yes, and yes.  :)

I had been off the upgrade train since D7 but XE2 prompted me to get back
into the harness (to mix some metaphors).

My primary interest was in the iOS and (future) Android support with only
passing interest in OS X development, but - and read into this what you
will - I have since downloaded and installed X Code for iOS/OS X and
Eclipse and the Android SDK.

Delphi + VCL is still unbeatable when it comes to Win32 (and now Win64)
development, but for OS X, iOS and Android, I am increasingly convinced
that "FireMonkey" was a mistake and that a core cross-platform VCL
supported by platform native extensions for the visual part of the VCL
(along with language extensions if required - a la the FPC approach to OS
X, for example.  The same approach taken with Windows support in Delphi
originally of course, with the declarative approach to Windows message
handling and the "automated" keyword (albeit that is now deprecated)) would
have been the right way to go.

So I'd say yes - if you want to stay current with Delphi there is value in
doing so, and for some things you may find FireMonkey is a viable solution,
but for iOS / Android development my own view is that the native tool sets
for those respective platforms currently - sadly - represent the most
viable long term choices until a real contender for the title of "Delphi
for iOS/Android" comes along.

Being able to coax the likes of Prism and Delphi into emitting code that
happily runs on iOS/Android may make for some interesting technical
challenges and some sideshow fun projects, but those approaches are
destined to forever be on the fringes and the margins of those platforms,
imho.

Some would say that Delphi too exists on the fringes of the Windows eco
system, although it found itself drifting there rather than coming in at
the fringes from the outset.  And this too may become more of an issue with
the apparent ground-shift coming in Windows 8, but the extent of that on
the likes of "traditional" WinXX development tools is still largely yet to
be seen.

+0.02



On 15 November 2011 01:55, Charlie <kerscher at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> First thanks for the suggestions for webhosting.
> Secondly, I haven't updated Delphi since RAD Studio 2007 and so if I
> don't update by 12/31 and want the current version afterwards I won't be
> eligible for an update. The only customer that I had has just gone out
> of business. I really like Delphi. I really don't know if I'll ever have
> another customer. I've always wanted to be a "programmer" but became a
> jack of all trades in order to satisfy the needs of my customers.
> It seems to me that the future is iPhones, iPads and such. So is
> updating Delphi prudent? Or is now the time to persue other options?
> Thank you,
> Charlie
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