Borland Delphi (now a product of Borland's subsidiary, CodeGear) is a software development package created by Borland. The eleventh and latest version, Delphi 2007 supports the Delphi programming language (Object Pascal) and C++ for the 32 bit Microsoft Windows platform, as well as Delphi and C# for the Microsoft .NET platform.

Delphi's most popular use is the development of desktop and enterprise database applications, but as a general-purpose development tool it is capable of, and is used for, most types of development projects.

The Delphi product is distributed as various suites: Personal, Professional, Enterprise (formerly Client/Server) and Architect.

Distinguishing features

The main features that distinguish Delphi and Kylix from other IDEs are:

The Pascal-based programming language

The VCL/CLX (Visual Component Library)

A strong emphasis on database connectivity

A large number of third party components.

Delegation of interface implementation to a field or property of the class

Implementation of message handlers by tagging a method of a class with the integer constant of the message to handle

COM independent interfaces with reference counted class implementations

Can be compiled into native x86 code or managed .NET code

Advantages

Delphi exhibits the following advantages:

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

Based on a well-designed language - high-level and strongly typed, with low-level escapes for experts (McConnell 1993:49)

A large community on Usenet and the web (e.g. news://newsgroups.borland.com and Borland's web access to Delphi newsgroups)

Can compile to a single executable, simplifying distribution and reducing DLL versioning issues

Many VCL (Visual Component Library) and third-party components (typically available with full source code) and tools (documentation, debug tools, etc.)

Quick optimizing compiler and ability to use assembler code

Multiple platform native code from the same source code

High level of source compatibility between versions

CrossKylix - a third-party toolkit which allows you to compile native Kylix/Linux applications from inside the Windows Delphi IDE, hence easily enabling dual-platform development and deployment

CrossFPC - a sister project to CrossKylix, which enables you to cross-compile your Windows Delphi applications to multi-platform targets - supported by the Free Pascal compiler - without ever leaving the Delphi IDE. Currently CrossFPC is in a closed beta test, only available to members of the development team.

Class helpers to bridge functionality available natively in the Delphi RTL

The language's object orientation features only class- and interface-based polymorphism

Delphi 2005, Delphi 2006 and Delphi 2007 all support advanced refactoring features such Method Extraction, etc.

Disadvantages

Limited cross-platform capability for Delphi itself.

A reluctance to break any code has led to some convoluted language design choices, and orthogonality and predictability have suffered.

The newer versions of Delphi have suffered some stability issues.

History

Delphi was one of the first of what came to be known as RAD tools, for Rapid Application Development, when released in 1995 for the 16-bit Windows 3.1. Delphi 2, released a year later, supported 32-bit Windows environments, and a C++ variant, C++ Builder, followed a few years after.Delphi 2006

The chief architect behind Delphi was Anders Hejlsberg, who also developed its predecessor Turbo Pascal. Hejlsberg would later move to Microsoft in 1996, where he worked on Visual J++, and was a key participant in the creation of the Microsoft .NET Framework, becoming the chief designer of C#.

In 2001 a Linux version known as Kylix became available. However, due to low quality and subsequent lack of interest, Kylix was abandoned after version 3.

Support for Linux and Windows cross platform development (through Kylix and the CLX component library) was added in 2002 with the release of Delphi 6.

Delphi 8, released December 2003, was a .NET-only release that allowed developers to compile Delphi Object Pascal code into .NET CIL. It was also significant in that it changed its IDE for the first time, from the multiple-floating-window-on-desktop style IDE to a look and feel similar to Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET. But still, the new IDEs have the "Classic Undocked" windows layout available, for a classical look and feel.

The next version, Delphi 2005 (Delphi 9), included the Win32 and .NET development in a single IDE, reiterating Borland's commitment to Win32 developers. Delphi 2005 includes design-time manipulation of live data from a database. It also includes an improved IDE and added a for ... in statement (like C#'s foreach) to the language. However, it was criticized by some for its bugs; both Delphi 8 and Delphi 2005 had stability problems when shipped, which were only partially resolved in service packs.

In late 2005, Delphi 2006 was released and federated development of C# and Delphi.NET, Delphi Win32 and C++ into a single IDE. It was much more stable than Delphi 8 or Delphi 2005 when shipped, and improved even more after the service packs and several hotfixes.

On February 8, 2006, Borland announced that it was looking for a buyer for its IDE and database line of products, which include Delphi, to concentrate on its ALM line. The news met with voluble optimism from the remaining Delphi users.

On September 6, 2006, The Developer Tools Group (the working name of the not yet spun off company) of Borland Software Corporation released single language versions of Borland Developer Studio, bringing back the popular Turbo moniker. The Turbo product set includes Turbo Delphi for Win32, Turbo Delphi for .NET, Turbo C++, and Turbo C#. Each version is available in two editions: Explorer - a free downloadable version - and Professional - a comparatively cheap (US$399) version which opens access to thousands of third-party components. Unlike earlier Personal editions of Delphi, new Explorer editions can be used for commercial development.

On November 14, 2006, Borland announced the cancellation of the sale of its Development tools; instead of that it would spin them off into an independent company named CodeGear.Photo of Delphi 2007 box as released by CodeGear in spring 2007.

Delphi 2007 was released on March 16, 2007. It was the first Delphi release by CodeGear. Furthermore, it was the first version of Delphi since version 7 that only allowed compilation of native 32-Bit Windows Applications. New features included support for MS Build and enrichments to the Visual Component Library for Windows Vista. Furthermore, CodeGear introduced DBX4 as the next version of dbExpress. For the first time, it was possible to download Delphi online from the Internet, and activate it using a license key. International customers were instantly served by releasing the product not only in English on this day, but also in French, German and Japanese. RAD Studio 2007, which inclues .NET development, was released on September 5, 2007.

The name

Delphi was originally a confidential research project at Borland which evolved into a product that was to be called AppBuilder.

Developer Danny Thorpe chose the Delphi codename in reference to the Oracle at Delphi. One of the original goals of Delphi was to give database connectivity to programmers as a key feature and a popular database package at the time was Oracle database; hence, "If you want to talk to [the] Oracle, go to Delphi". As development continued, the name grew on them and there was growing support within Borland for the name Delphi.

Shortly before the first release of Borland's AppBuilder, Novell AppBuilder was released, leaving Borland in need of a new name. After much struggle, the name Delphi prevailed.

Microsoft hirings

Anders Hejlsberg, the main architect of Delphi and Turbo Pascal, was hired by Microsoft in 1996, where he has since led the design of both the Java dialect J++ and C#. Chuck Jazdzewski, who was chief scientist and architect of Borland's Delphi technology, left Borland and joined Microsoft in 2004. Danny Thorpe, Chief Scientist at that time, likewise left Borland and joined Google in 2005 only to later join Microsoft in 2006.

Related software

Delphi for PHP

Delphi for PHP is an IDE for PHP. It provides true RAD functionality. It features Delphi or Visual Basic like form designer, integrated debugger (based on Apache web server). It also includes VCL library ported to PHP. Support for Web 2.0 features like AJAX, makes it a unique IDE.

This product was announced on March 20, 2007, and is based on Qadram Qstudio, which Codegear is now whole and sole owner of.

Products developed with Delphi

There are many products developed with Delphi:

Borland products: Borland Delphi, Borland C++ Builder, Borland JBuilder versions 1 and 2

Call Accounting Software: PhoneControl

Computer games: Astral Masters, Astral Tournament, Smugglers series, Soldat, Quake conversion from the C source, Space Rangers, Space Rangers 2: Dominators

Customer relationship management: Sage SalesLogix

Database management: MySQL Tools (Administrator, Query Browser, Migration Toolkit)

Database development: Quest Toad

Document scanning and management: SolarSys DocScan Pro

Electronic Medical Records: Vista CPRS

Engineering Software: Altium Designer/Protel (Electronics Design)

Image viewers: FastStone Image Viewer, FuturixImager

Internet messaging: Skype (VoIP and IM), The Bat! (e-mail client), PopTray (e-mail check tool), FeedDemon (RSS/Atom feed viewer), XanaNews (newsgroup reader), Xnews (newsgroup reader)

Medical Imaging: Sonomed VuMax II Ultrasound Biomicroscope.

Bioinformatics: ADME boxes, TOX boxes (for pharmacy predictions).

Music production: FL Studio (formerly FruityLoops)

Report generators: [FortesReport] (opensource report generator package for Delphi and Kylix).

Shells: SharpE

Software development: Dev-C++ (IDE), DUnit, Help & Manual (help system authoring), Inno Setup (installer engine), ConTEXT (Programmers editor)

Web authoring: Macromedia HomeSite (HTML editor), TopStyle Pro (CSS editor), Macromedia Captivate (screencast)

Web browsers (MSIE shells): Avant Browser, Netcaptor

Utilities: Spybot - Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware (anti-spyware), Total Commander (file manager), Copernic Desktop Search, PowerArchiver, ASuite

Clones and alternatives

There are several Object Pascal compilers out there, but there are also products that try to clone the whole framework provided by Borland Delphi.

Some of these can get Delphi code running in ways not possible with Delphi (such as supporting different operating systems, free distribution and educational use, and allowing examination of the compiler source) and allow for some vendor independence. These are typically used educationally and to get the server parts of Delphi apps running on non-mainstream operating systems; most had Linux support years before Kylix.

Bloodshed Dev-Pascal - A very polished graphical 32-bit Windows editor (though not RAD) as a frontend for both GNU Pascal and Free Pascal.

Lazarus is an RAD IDE which uses the Free Pascal Compiler. The internal classes hierarchy can base itself on several graphical toolkits, such as GTK, Win32, Windows CE API, Qt and others.

CrossFPC - a free toolkit to integrate the Free Pascal compiler, targeting various OS and hardware platforms, into the Windows Delphi IDE. See more about it from this mailing list discussion.

OpenSibyl is another effort to build a RAD on top of Free Pascal. However it is geared towards OS/2, and still in initial stages.

Virtual Pascal is a x86 32-bit Turbo Pascal and Delphi compatible compiler mainly aimed at OS/2 and Windows, though it developed a DOS+Extender and an experimental Linux cross-compiler too. The compiler is on the level of Delphi 2, the site hasn't changed significantly in two years and the development of Virtual Pascal has stopped.