 |
BorlandTalk.com
Borland discussion newsgroups
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Lew
Guest
|
 Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 7:38 pm Post subject: Woe I am no longer. |
 |
|
Hello all,
This is a new 'follow on' posting subsequent to an earlier posting titled
'Woe is me'.
Firstly thanks to all for the comments and suggestions which gave me amply
food for thought and some great ideas.
I have decided to go the Delphi route. Delphi 7 with software assurance to
thus obtain Delphi 8 when its released.
The good folk at Borland have agreed to let me upgrade from my BCB3 which
will save me $$.
After 'playing' with BCB3 again, and being reminded of its painfully slow
compiler, and then reading about all the unknowns regarding BCB??? etc. I
decided to take a look at what Delphi is all about.
I borrowed a copy of Delphi 3 and took a look. Coming from a VB background I
was startled! The similarity in programming syntax is amazing! Within 30
minutes I had written a small application of 5 forms writing and reading
files, as well as using all the other familiar Windows objects. What a
breeze. And, to top it all, I compiled it into a standalone .exe file!! To
make certain it was standalone (600MB), I copied it to another PC with no
previous applications installed (Win98) and it ran 100%.
After reading up on Delphi 7 and its capabilities, as well checking out all
the support available, plus loads and loads of code, objects etc. available,
and adding to that the soon to be (if not already) available Delphi 8 to
support .NET combined with the exited buzz coming out of Borland (you can
almost feel the vibe), there can be only one choice, in my opinion, to suite
my requirements.
My decision has also been based on my personal software experiences over the
past 25 years - pitfalls, highs and lows.
To me .NET appears to be the mother of all browsers! One great big
interpreter! Another engine, encompassing and outdoing (market-wise) all
those engines out there (Java included) that are becoming a threat to MS.
..NET to me is somewhat reminiscent of the old interpreted Basic, anyone
remember AppleBasic, TurboBasic, TurboPascal??
Already the .NET framework is at version 1.1 and no doubt within 2 years be
at version 3.0 at least! By 2007 MS will probably announce another mighty
revolutionary change to its software by introducing a total revamp of its
operating system, one big interpreter encompassing everything, .NET/OS/APPS
all in one, probably rename the whole damn mess WindowFrame!
As I see it, Win32 OS and applications will still be around and required
over the next 10 years, albeit by not so many within the industry in which I
operate in 10 years time. Many no doubt might over the next 10 years opt to
change OS to Linux or such other - Delphi will enable me to still continue
earning a living writing applications for my clients who would be using
these platforms, or those still with Win32, or indeed those having changed
(upgraded?) to .NET (WindowFrame).
Should I however be much younger, I would opt to becoming fluent in C/C++
without question, Low level programming will always be the most powerful
IMO - all the OOP 'languages' after all have to be written at the
nut-and-bolts level?!?
I am looking forward to using Delphi - life is again interesting!!
Thanks again folks for all the advise,
Lew.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Ted Byers
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 8:12 pm Post subject: Re: Woe I am no longer. |
|
|
"Lew" <lew (AT) businet (DOT) co.nz> wrote
| Quote: | Hello all,
[snip]
I borrowed a copy of Delphi 3 and took a look. Coming from a VB background
I
was startled! The similarity in programming syntax is amazing! Within 30
minutes I had written a small application of 5 forms writing and reading
files, as well as using all the other familiar Windows objects. What a
breeze. And, to top it all, I compiled it into a standalone .exe file!!
To
make certain it was standalone (600MB), I copied it to another PC with no
previous applications installed (Win98) and it ran 100%.
How on earth did you manage to get a binary that is 600MB? And that with |
only five forms? ;-)
The largest I ever managed was 15MB, and that was with many dozens of forms,
along with dozens of additional classes and many many many hundreds of
thousands of lines of code! ;-)
Seriously, I am not surprised. The similarity you see is due to the common
history of C/C++, Object Pascal and VB in the algol group of languages. I
used this relationship to leverage my knowledge of FORTRAN to assist my
efforts to learn Pascal and then BASIC (yes, I learned the hardest of the
three first  , and subsequently C/C++ and JAVA.
My feeling is that if you found VB adequate for your needs, Delphi was most
suitable for you and while I like C++ better, it would be overkill for you.
But then, if you started to work with C++, you might find it a little
painful to give up everything that it supports that is difficult to
replicate in Delphi (or at least I haven't figured out how to do so).
Cheers,
Ted
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sebastian Ledesma
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: Woe I am no longer. |
|
|
Cool.
By the way, distribuiting VB apps was always a pain in the @ss. You must use
a 'virgin' machine each time
to make sure that all your components are registred along the installation
process. Sometimes version conflicts
with others was very hard to detect (the best way was to force the copy of
your OCX and make crash the
other app ). Also we detected several problems when using
VB6+multithread forms and cript_protection (the
very first time you run the app, the keys are generated in the registry, but
if the application its protected this process fail,
also when you recompile your code the old registry keys are no longer
valid!!).
Well at least my company dont force me to use VB, just to integrate some
external developed apps in our projects.
Saludos
Sebastian
"Lew" <lew (AT) businet (DOT) co.nz> escribió en el mensaje
news:3faaa509 (AT) newsgroups (DOT) borland.com...
| Quote: | Hello all,
.... And, to top it all, I compiled it into a standalone .exe file!! To
make certain it was standalone (600MB), I copied it to another PC with no
previous applications installed (Win98) and it ran 100%.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kristofer Skaug
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: Woe I am no longer. |
|
|
Lew wrote:
| Quote: | I am looking forward to using Delphi - life is again interesting!!
|
Congrats!
--
Kristofer
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lew
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Woe I am no longer. |
|
|
.... just checking to see who's awake!!!  - should be 'stand alone was <
600KB!!!!'
WOW at 600MB I'd stay with VB!
Cheers,
Lew
"Ted Byers"
| Quote: |
"Lew" <lew (AT) businet (DOT) co.nz> wrote in message
news:3faaa509 (AT) newsgroups (DOT) borland.com...
Hello all,
[snip]
I borrowed a copy of Delphi 3 and took a look. Coming from a VB
background
I
was startled! The similarity in programming syntax is amazing! Within 30
minutes I had written a small application of 5 forms writing and reading
files, as well as using all the other familiar Windows objects. What a
breeze. And, to top it all, I compiled it into a standalone .exe file!!
To
make certain it was standalone (600MB), I copied it to another PC with
no
previous applications installed (Win98) and it ran 100%.
How on earth did you manage to get a binary that is 600MB? And that with
only five forms? ;-)
The largest I ever managed was 15MB, and that was with many dozens of
forms,
along with dozens of additional classes and many many many hundreds of
thousands of lines of code! ;-)
Seriously, I am not surprised. The similarity you see is due to the
common
history of C/C++, Object Pascal and VB in the algol group of languages. I
used this relationship to leverage my knowledge of FORTRAN to assist my
efforts to learn Pascal and then BASIC (yes, I learned the hardest of the
three first , and subsequently C/C++ and JAVA.
My feeling is that if you found VB adequate for your needs, Delphi was
most
suitable for you and while I like C++ better, it would be overkill for
you.
But then, if you started to work with C++, you might find it a little
painful to give up everything that it supports that is difficult to
replicate in Delphi (or at least I haven't figured out how to do so).
Cheers,
Ted
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Leroy Casterline
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: Woe I am no longer. |
|
|
"Lew" <lew (AT) businet (DOT) co.nz> wrote:
| Quote: | I have decided to go the Delphi route. Delphi 7 with software assurance to
thus obtain Delphi 8 when its released.
|
I think you make a good decision. I did the same thing (but coming from
BCB rather than VB). Even if there is no D8 for Win32, D7 (with a few
bug fixes) will carry me through end-of-life for Win32, and D8 will
provide a good transition to .NET (if what Borland has been saying is
true).
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
