Delphi History Review
// This article is taken from "Delphi Developers Guide"
From the core, D e l P h i is actually a P A S c a l compiler. Since Anders Hejlsberg wrote the first Turbo Pascal compiler since 1 5 years ago, B O L A N D has been pushing forward to the P a S c a l compiler, and Delphi 5 is another step. Turbo Pascal has the characteristics of stable, elegant and compilation speed, and Delphi 5 is no exception. It has been spent for decades of compilers experience and the latest 3 2-bit optimized compilation technology. Although the compiler's function has been significantly increased in recent years, it has only slowed down. In addition, the performance of D e l P H i is still very stable. Let's follow your memory's footprint back to see a look at the previous versions of D e l P H i and the background issued by each version.
1.3.1 Delphi 1
In the age of D O S, the programmer only two options: either B A S i C language that is easy to use, slower, or high efficiency but
But complex assembly language. Turbo Pascal combines the advantages of both in its structured language concise and true compilers. and
The programmer of Windows 3.1 is also facing two options: one is a powerful but difficult C , one is easy to use but the language is
Visual Basic. In this regard, Delphi 1 provides a completely different way of developing Wi N D O W S procedures: visualized development environment, compiled executable software, D D L, database, and no restrictions to name the visual environment. Delphi 1 is the first Wi N d o W s development tool for integrated a visual development environment, an optimized source compiler, an extensible database access engine, which lays the concept of R a D.
Compiled with the compiler of R a D tool and fast database access is very attractive for numerous V b programmers, so it
Won many loyal users. At the same time, a lot of Turbo Pascal programmers also turn to this powerful new tool. And O b J E C TP A S C A L has brought difficulties to people's programming work due to the language of P a S C A L in college, so more programmers began using D e l P H i's robust design pattern supported by P A S C A L. M i C R O S O F T V B Group failed because of the lack of serious competitive awareness in front of D e l P H I, dull and bloated Visual Basic 3 obviously could not be in the same day as Delphi 1. These occur in 1 995. At that time, B O L A N D sued L O T u s as compensation for huge losses due to a pile of infringement, and also introduced talents from M i C R O S O F T for a ratio of M i C R O S O f T in the application. The latter B O L A N D sells Q U A T T R O to N O V E L1, and Database Development is performed with D B A S E and P A R A D O X. When B O L A N D is busy developing an application market, M i C R o S O f T has quietly taken a large part of the Wi N D O W s development tool in his platform service from B O L a n d. So B O L a n d re-puts the focus on its core - development tool.
1.3.2 Delphi 2
The Delphi 2 after the 32nd-bit operating system Windows 95 and Windows NT have achieved all the original features. In addition,
Delphi 2 has also added a number of Delphi 1, such as 3 2-bit compilers can generate faster applications, and the object library is further rich and expanded, and the database support is improved, and the string processing is improved, and OLE is supported. Visual form inheritance and compatibility with 1 6-bit D ELPHI. Delphi 2 becomes a standard for measuring other R a D tools.
This is a 1 996 years. In the first year (ie, 1 9 95 years), 3 2nd Windows 95 has been introduced. This is the most important Wi N D O W S platform since Wi N D O W S3. 0. B O L a N D is urgent to want D e l P H i to be the best development tool for this platform. There was a interesting thing, Delphi 2 was originally named Delphi 32 to emphasize it is designed for 3 2-bit Wi N D O W s. But before publishing, Delphi 2 is to indicate that Delphi 2 is a mature product.
M i c R o s o f T trial to counterattack with Visual Basic 4, but due to its imperfect performance, lack of 1 6 to 3 2 compatibility, there is a fatal design defect, and it is troubled. But in any case, there is still a considerable number of people to continue to use Visual Basic. B O L a N D Hope D e l P H i can enter high-end client / server markets monopolized by tools such as P O W E R B U I L D R, but this version does not have this strength.
In this period, the company's strategic focus is undeniable to focus on the customer. This is a directional adjustment, which is undoubtedly due to the reduction in the market share of D B A S E E and P A R A D O X and the decrease in income obtained in the C market. In order to make this effort to see it as soon as possible,
B O L A N D made a wrong decision that merged Open Environment. This company mainly produces two intermediate products: an intermediate product based on D C e-e-based (known as C O R B A) and a distributed O L E patented technology that is about to replace D C O m.
1.3.3 Delphi 3
When developing Delphi 1, D e l P H i development team concentrates on the introduction of a shocking product. When developing Delphi 2, the development group mainly considers the upgrade of D E L P H i to 32-bit code, while maintaining the compatibility of the 1 6-digit version. In order to meet the needs of the I T industry, Delphi 2 enhances the functionality of the database and client / server. When the development of Delphi 3, the development group began to consider providing a complete solution to the tricky issues that Wi N D O W S developers. Delphi 3 has made this extremely complex C O m, A C T I v eX, W W W application development, "thin" customer application, multi-layer database system architecture and other technologies. Although Delphi 3 and Delphi 1 writes the basic method of the application, the code internal view of Delphi 3 simplifies the code preparation process.
This is in 1 9977. There have also been some interesting phenomena in market competition. At low end, M ICrosoft Visual Basic 5 finally started to change, it adopted a new compiler to address long-term performance issues, and also had good support for COM / A CTIVE X and some new platform features. . At high end, D e l P H i has successfully defeated P O W E R B U I L D E R and F O R T E and other products.
During the development of Delphi 3, the chief designer Anders Hejlsberg of D e l P H i decided to go to M i C R O S O F T, so the D L P H i lost an important member. However, the team did not lose any advantage, because the senior designer C h u c kJ A z DZ e w s K i has the ability to undertake the leadership role. After this, the company also lost the Chief Technology President Paul Gross, and he also went to M i C R O S O f T. Some people think that this loss is that it is an impact on the day-day software development business, but it is better to affect public relations. 1.3.4 Delphi 4
Delphi 4 is committed to making D e l P H i easier to use. The introduction of Module Explore technology allows programmers to browse and edit code in a consistent graphical interface. Code navigation and class automatically generated features make programmers only need to pay attention to the application itself without having to enter code
It takes too much energy. I D E has been redesigned to support floating and barbed toolbars and windows, and debuggers have also improved. D e l P H i4 is a leading development tool, and its technology such as M i D A S, D C O M and C O R B A is extended to the application range of Delphi 4 to enterprise.
These occur in 1 998. This year D L P H i effectively consolidates its position in competition. Although D e l P H i continues to slowly occupy the market, the frontier has been reinforced to some extent. In the past few years, D e l P H i has always been the most stable development tool in the market, and Delphi 4 has won reputation in long-term D e l P H i, because it is simple and stable.
1.3.5 Delphi 5
Delphi 5 has made progress in several aspects: First, Delphi 5 and Delphi 4, by adding more functions to make the program
More simple, programmers can focus on what to write, not how to write. These new features include: further enhancement
The function of the I d e and the debugger provides Te a M S O U R CE Group Development Software and Conversion Tools, and the like. Second, Delphi 5 also adds many new features to simplify the development of i NTERNET, including: Active Server Object Wi Zard is used to create an ASP, i NTERNET E XPRESS components are used to support XML and new MIDAS features, making D ELPHI into I A universal data platform for NTERNET. Third, Delphi 5 most important feature-stability. Just like a good wine, the great software is impossible to produce in a hurry, B O L a N D until delphi 5 is completely satisfied to launch it.
Delphi 5 is published in the second half of 1 999. This year, D e l P H i continues to penetrate to the enterprise, and Visual Basic continues to compete with its low end and it. However, the front of the front is still very strong. I N p R I S E (B O L a N D Named I N) is I n P R I S in 1 998, in addition to continuing to win long-term customers, it is confident that the reputation of B O L A N d throughout the market. Since CEO (Chief Executive President) Del Yo C A M suddenly left and the Joining Internet-Savvy CEO Dale Fuller, the company's implementation department has experienced a chaotic period. And F U L e r reappears the company's focus on software development. I hope that I N P R I S can eventually returns to the correct track.
1.3.6 future
Although historical is important, more important is the future of D e l P H i. With historical guidance, we can definitely be a long time in the future.
