Essential Delphi links

[Kaiousama]

I would like to port my application to delphi7, but i'm a totally n00b to this language,
Can you suggest me some good links to find tutorials/code samples? (i've tryed search engines but the results were very ugly, only old sites for delphi 3-5 without any good tutorial/sample)

Many many thanks, best regards.

[unmei]

i use only Delphi for my "private" projects, but sadly i cannot provide you links, just two hints:

-the language did not really change, the tutorials for old versions are still usable. However Delphi 7 can do a lot of stuff (mainly interaction with windows) more elegantly by using new procedures/function wrapping system calls where you had to use ugly workarounds in the past. Also new basic datatypes like int64 and widestring are great ;)

-the help coming with Delphi is excellent. For most stuff there are even 2 versions, the old plus a new version ("CRX" or something compared to the old "VCL") which also tells you the analogy in C/C++. Also have a look at the Windows SDK help it deals with all the Windows related stuff. The part of the help explaining language basics is not that great IMHO (many words to say few things), i seldom use it.

I have never read a tutorial for Delphi, if i have a problem with a component, i go to the help's index and type the type (ie Tcomponent, Tbutton etc) and i usually find my info ..useful in these helps pages are also the "see also" and "example" links many pages have.


If you need code samples, tell me and i will look if i have something matching. Warning! i believe my coding style is rather ugly and don't even ask for dynamic object creation and destruction samples, i have problems on this myself and don't want to give out samples that might lead you on a wrong path :(

[Blight]

Lots of components (some with source):
http://www.torry.net/
http://delphi.icm.edu.pl/

Lots of tips & tricks:
http://www.delphifaq.com/
http://www.delphipages.com/tips/

More links:
http://www.delphi-dolphin.com/
http://www.delphi3000.com/


There's tons more, but these are pretty helpful.

[Kaiousama]

Many thanks guys, i just needed a seed point to start my search from, and your links/suggestions are exactly what i need, thanks :)

I've decided i'll arrive to a stable point in my VisualBasic application developement and after that point i'll port the application (crossing all my fingers) to delphi (in order to make it better and make the application linux portable)

[Valiant]

what are the benefits of delphi over VB? why use delphi and not c++?

[Kaiousama]

From what i've seen (only a very little), Delphi doesn't need any runtime to be distribute with the executalbe, and it is muuuuch easyer than c++.

[vhelp]

Hi Valiant..

I have Borlands C++ Builder AND, Delphi 6.

All I can say is Delphi all the way. C++ may have a number of
programming advantanges (compliations are a "kick in the butt" though)

C++ is (IMO) way to rough, and unless you've ben programing in C for
many years, and grown w/ it thorugh the OOP era, Delphi is the way
to go. Quick and easy app development. Instead of waisting time
trying to track and find those nasty compilation errors (due to simple
programming errors) which can take forever is begginer level, In
Delphi, you point, drag, click here and there, and set some events
and away you do w/ super fast comilation. I basically learned Pascal
over night, some 1987'ish ago, when Turbo Pascal v3.0 was around then.
The good old days of easy programming. Before that, it was BASIC.

I have C++ Builder cause I wanted to develop .DLL's and things, and
also to work w/ AVIsynth filter designs. I found out the hard way,
that you really can't develop such filters for AVIsynth in C++ Builder
(w/out spending a great deal of time "trial and error" and cutting up
MCV's C source and related files) in order to finally get C++ Builder
to even work w/ AVIsynth - - that's IF you can meet w/ success, and
from what I've heared, very few people if any, occomplished this.

The way I see it is like this, in plain English..

If you are willing to learn to program for "quicky" application designs,
then Delphi (or even VB) is the way to go - period.
But, if you are not strapped for time, and have the patiance and actually
WANT to learn C++ and whatnots, then C++ is the language to learn,
but it will always have it's issues, no matter how good you are. I
don't have much issues when it comes to Delphi though. I'm no guru
in Delphi (Pascal) but I've ben using it on and off since 1987 I think,
if that counts for anything in your opinion.

I don't care much for .NET either. If you were a serious app developer,
from what I heard, beware of this approach. I heared that it is an
easy de-complible ready. I'm sure you can de-compile Delphi and C++
but it's ben noted tat anything done in .NET is as good as giving
everyone your SOURCE CODE !! Somthing to think about :rolleyes:

Delphi all the way :D
-vhelp

[Valiant]

@vhelp: thanks for the not so short answer :)
I've never touched Delphi or VB, I did my first code fragments in Turbo Pascal in school, learnt quite nothing, later I've come across Perl at work, C++/Java at the university.

You've made a good point: C(++) compiler / linker errors, omg. I've spent too much time searching for this errors.

However, I don't think we wanna discuss C++ vs. Delphi in depth :)

[vhelp]

@ Valiant..

However, I don't think we wanna discuss C++ vs. Delphi in depth :)

Noop.. you're right :D

Take it easy,
-vhelp