Delphi/Kylix Programming

May 8, 2004 8:42 AM

Anyone familiar with programming in Delphi and/or Kylix? Seeking to make some very simple (hopefully cross-platform) apps, I'm on the verge of taking the plunge and need someone to encourage/dissuade me. (I have a vanilla C background and kinda recall Pascal, if that matters).

... Particularly vexing are all the different versions of Delphi I see.

posted by RavinDave to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

If you want proper cross-platform, I'd advise wxWindows. I don't think there's proper pascal bindings for wxWindows though, but if you don't mind sticking with C (well, C++ for the wxWindows interface but you can stick to C as much as you want for the rest (it won't make things prettier, but then again nor will using C++)) it's very nice. Or you could use perl. A very nice language, with decent wxWindows bindings, and if you don't want a scripting language, saving perl in compiled state has become a lot easier with the new B and B::Bytecode interface.
posted by fvw at 9:12 AM on May 8, 2004

(yes, it's not exactly answering your question, but perhaps rambling on the border of the topic can be of help; If not, my apologies)
posted by fvw at 9:13 AM on May 8, 2004

Response by poster: As a fan of Mahogany from early on, I had considered wxWindows, fvw, so the advice is very welcome (and very helpful -- didn't know perl was compiling now). I didn't mention it though, because I was hoping to hear about the strengths/weakness of Delphi, intending to compare it to my wxWindows options later.
posted by RavinDave at 9:22 AM on May 8, 2004

Tcl/Tk.

Seriously <g>
posted by abcde at 7:20 PM on May 8, 2004

Kylix is a bit of a train wreck, I'm afraid. Which is a shame considering Delphi is still a joy to program in if cross-platform isn't necessary.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:55 PM on May 8, 2004

I don't think Delphi will help you with the cross-platform programming, but it is a exceptionally easy language to pick-up and use. My reccomendation (if you can afford it) is to go for the professional version, and cherry pick a bunch of libraries (mySQL & the indy internet components for example).

As for strengths / weaknesses. IMHO Delphi isn't that good at the database stuff, but for everything else it rocks.
posted by seanyboy at 1:07 AM on May 9, 2004