DELPHI 101

WHAT IS DELPHI?

Delphi is a programming language and software development kit (SDK) from Embaacadero Technologies. Delphi programming model is based on Object Pascal. Though Delphi programming is primarily used for developing Windows applications, it can also be used to build mobile, web, and console applications .

ORIGIN OF DELPHI

Delphi’s predecessors — date back to — as early as 1968. In 1968, Niklaus Wirth began work on a programming language called Pascal, which he completed in 1970 with its first working implementation appearing on a CDC6000 Computer. In the 1970s, Wirth worked with Jensen on Modula, the next child of Pascal. In the very early 1980s, Turbo Pascal was born and received good press for its excellent compilation and execution speed. In the 1990s, a project began at Borland with the Greek Mythological code-name “Delphi”. 1995, Borland’s Delphi was introduced as an — Object-Oriented — version of Turbo Pascal.

WHY DELPHI?

The primary strength of Delphi is that it compiles incredibly quickly, meaning that Delphi applications with a relatively large codebase can be compiled and run on a machine with limited resources. No runtime environment is required to execute the Delphi object code. Delphi has very few dependencies, particularly regarding different versions of Windows. Applications built years ago still work on the latest versions of Windows.

DELPHI-VERSIONS

Several versions of Delphi with features and improvements have been released over the years. Delphi 1 was released in 1995 and Delphi 10.4 the latest version was released in 2020.

EASY TO READ

Code written in Delphi is easily readable compared to other programming languages, for example, to concatenate strings “+” sign can be used rather than using a function. To group a set of code statements, begin and write blocks can be used instead of using brackets.

WORKS EVERYWHERE

Applications created in Delphi will work everywhere including

➔ Windows

➔ Macintosh

➔ Linux

➔ Browsers

➔ Mobile Devices

POPULAR SOFTWARE MADE WITH DELPHI

There are several popular applications created with Delphi including:

➔ Skype — Leading chat, telephony, video calling, and VoIP application

➔ Macromedia Dreamweaver — Website building tool which was later bought by Adobe.

➔ Nero Burning ROM — CD/DVD burning tool.

➔ WinRAR — Famous file compression utility