[DUG] Delphi Update

[Charlie]

Thank you Jolyon. I've always appreciated your point of view.  For me in 
the US the decision to upgrade is either a $500 or $800 decision until 
12/31. Since I don't have any "programming" income to offset that $$ 
it's a tough call especially if I have to also pay for one or more of 
the options you mention below.
Sure wish some decisions, at least, were easy.
Thanks,
Charlie

On 11/14/2011 2:08 PM, Jolyon Smith wrote:
> 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 
> <mailto: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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