I think C#'s WinForms is just as productive as Delphi's VCL. Unfortunately Microsoft abandoned it. Though I only used older versions of Delphi, so I don't know if recent improvements made it pull ahead.
However both have limitations in more complex areas, such as rich text (html), data binding and targeting mobile and desktop with a mostly shared code-base.
Glad to see Delphi still alive and being developed. I never used it much but I did use C++ Builder Explorer or something that they released for free probably 10+ years ago. Also does anyone remember Kylix, Borland's short lived Delphi for Linux?
Unimportant tangent, but I think FireMonkey is a terrible name for a UI framework. I don't know why, but I hate it.
The C# world also has quite a few paid libraries, especially for UI stuff.
Quite a few years ago I worked at a company using Delphi, and judging by their homepage they are still using it. A company making industrial machinery, with a tiny internal software department for the software for provisioning and maintaining the machines, as well as the control room software. Usability and development velocity is more important than looking hip, and easy access to hardware interfaces is paramount. And compared to developer salaries those license costs really aren't that bad
On Microsoft, Apple, and game consoles, it is still pretty common to pay for development tools.
Also pretty common in enterprise tooling, which is the market of tools like Delphi.
The alternative is everyone getting surprised that their favourite free software development tools (only free thanks to VC money), eventually goes away.
I have not tried the IDE, but I like FreePascal. The compiler is fast and it has great multiplatform and cross-compilation support. In particular for older platforms.
It feels more stable and mature than most other languages. I do not know if there are enough developers keeping it alive, but hopefully it will mostly get bug fixes and ports to new platforms. Better if they do not mess with the language or standard libraries. Those that want a programming language that keeps breaking backwards compatibility every few months have plenty to choose from already.
[+] [-] lpcvoid|7 days ago|reply
Lazarus is a pretty sweet solution on Linux (or Codetyphoon, if you want more out of the box components).
[+] [-] CodesInChaos|7 days ago|reply
However both have limitations in more complex areas, such as rich text (html), data binding and targeting mobile and desktop with a mostly shared code-base.
[+] [-] HauntingPin|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] pjmlp|7 days ago|reply
Although .NET also follows along, pity that it took so many years for Microsoft to actually care about native compilation beyond NGEN.
[+] [-] baal80spam|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] nazgulsenpai|7 days ago|reply
Unimportant tangent, but I think FireMonkey is a terrible name for a UI framework. I don't know why, but I hate it.
[+] [-] vbezhenar|7 days ago|reply
I think it's quite an accomplishment to survive in the modern world of free software development tools.
[+] [-] wongarsu|7 days ago|reply
Quite a few years ago I worked at a company using Delphi, and judging by their homepage they are still using it. A company making industrial machinery, with a tiny internal software department for the software for provisioning and maintaining the machines, as well as the control room software. Usability and development velocity is more important than looking hip, and easy access to hardware interfaces is paramount. And compared to developer salaries those license costs really aren't that bad
[+] [-] piokoch|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] _fizz_buzz_|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] pjmlp|7 days ago|reply
Also pretty common in enterprise tooling, which is the market of tools like Delphi.
The alternative is everyone getting surprised that their favourite free software development tools (only free thanks to VC money), eventually goes away.
[+] [-] giancarlostoro|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] 1899-12-30|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] OCTAGRAM|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] andsoitis|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] davikr|7 days ago|reply
[+] [-] 1313ed01|7 days ago|reply
It feels more stable and mature than most other languages. I do not know if there are enough developers keeping it alive, but hopefully it will mostly get bug fixes and ports to new platforms. Better if they do not mess with the language or standard libraries. Those that want a programming language that keeps breaking backwards compatibility every few months have plenty to choose from already.
[+] [-] wolvesechoes|7 days ago|reply