[DUG] Delphi 10.2 Tokyo ready for production?

[Jan Bakuwel]

Hi Bevan,

Thanks for your response!

On 21/09/17 13:44, Bevan Edwards wrote:
>
> Hi Jan,
>
> I have had that headache of upgrading components from one RAD Studio
> version to the next for some time now, which is why I'm always
> hesitant to move projects to the latest version (although I am now on
> the subscription model, so I download the updates and new versions as
> they become available).
>
> I mostly develop in C++Builder, but I think that the experience is the
> same as with Delphi.
>
> Migrating from XE3 to XE8 was a bit of a nightmare, but I eventually
> completed that migration.  I started on the migration from XE8 to RX
> Seattle (I had to lookup the name to remind myself), but that was also
> a bit of a mission, so I never completed it.
>
> With 10.1 Berlin I found the migration much easier, but perhaps it was
> because I had done part of the work in Seattle and also because I had
> a bit more time to sort things out.  But then moving to 10.2 Tokyo was
> a Breeze (essentially everything I had done for Berlin more or less
> just worked in Tokyo).
>
> Going from XE5 to Tokyo is probably going to be a similar mountain of
> work as what I experienced going from XE3 to XE8, but I think it's
> well worth it.

For the project I'm currently working on migrating it (to 10.2 Tokyo)
should not pose too much trouble.


> I now use Tokyo as my main development platform and have streamlined
> the process of migrating old projects (replacing components which have
> not been maintained or upgraded with the new versions).
>
> I believe the annual subscription model is a necessity from XE8
> onwards (unless you want to pay full price at each upgrade), but if
> you're using it on a regular basis then it's worth the investment.

Indeed.

>
> In your situation, the question is whether it's worth the investment
> for an occasional in-house developed project.  The answer is probably
> not, unless there is (a) some benefit in the target platforms offered
> (over and above what is available in XE5), and (b) you will have the
> time to put into overcoming the learning curve to use those new target
> platforms (assuming it's different from what you've been doing).


What prompted me to write this email is that while debugging for days I
got the feeling I was working with a substandard product (XE5 +
FireMonkey). Multithreading is a basic necessity in any responsive GUI
application these days. And even if one would not create their own
threads, threads are created by the RTL in many occasions. I wasn't too
pleased finding out that - apparently - XE5 FireMonkey RTL wasn't tested
well enough. I have the hope that things are much better in 10.2 Tokyo
but then I've been bitten by that sort of thinking before.

If by upgrading I would get a well tested production ready development
platform for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android and Linux, I'd be tempted to
once more spend the money.

>
> As far as I'm aware there is no Linux platform support in Tokyo, but
> it is on their roadmap.

There is, but as far as I can tell only in the Enterprise or Architect
editions (https://www.code-partners.com/product/delphi)

> I have played around with mobile applications in both Berlin and
> Tokyo, but I haven't produced anything for use outside of my
> development environment yet (too few hours in the day/week/month).
> I have also not deployed any apps on MacOS yet (haven't needed to and
> haven't had a Mac machine available, until recently).
>
>
> I hope that helps - feel free to ask any further questions.

It sure does, many thanks!

Jan