Octane and Delphi Q & A - Write by Anders Ohlsson
Delphi future development Q & A
Q. What is OCTANE?
Octane is the development code of Borland Delphi next version. Octane will support Microsoft Win32 and .NET Framework, developers will be developed using the Delphi program language and visual component Frequency Library (VCL).
Q. What is Delphi for .NET?
Delphi for .NET is a set of integrated development tools, which will be new features of Octane. Developers can use Delphi for .NET to build new Delphi applications under the .NET platform and help developers existing Win32Delphi applications to .NET. Borland has been put in this technology preview version in Borland Delphi Studio 7, which contains a Delphi program language .NET compiler, and VCL for .NET. The purpose of these technologies is to help Delphi developers are converted to the .NET platform, transplant their existing original program code to .NET and retain their original skills.
Q. When will Delphi for .net will be launched?
Delphi for .NET will be included in Octane, while Octane plans to launch at the end of 2003.
Q. I need to wait until it is launched? What can I do now?
Borland Delphi 7 Studio contains a preview version of Delphi for .NET. This preview version allows developers to explore .NET Framework using the Delphi program language. We also provide several updated preview versions to add more features to the compiler. Among them, updates to VCL for .NET allow developers to start transplant their existing applications to .NET.
Q. What is the phase of VCL for .NET and VCL?
The VCL for .NET contains most of the universal categories of the most popular VCL library in the Win32 platform. Borland is exhausted, all possibly providing full compatibility between VCL and VCL for .NET. The Delphi original program using the VCL category may only require a small amount of modifications to recompile in .NET, it is also possible to completely do not need to be modified. VCL for .NET is the maximum subset of VCLs, so neither the category, but not all, it will exist in VCL for .NET. Program code for direct calling WIN32 APIs in the original program may be modified. The Third-Party component and Win32 components also need to have .NET version to maintain compatibility. However, the CLX on Linux is different, and .NET Framework is still built on a Window platform, so Win32 API calls and other compatible calls can continue to use. At present, the Delphi for .NET preview also contains a documentation for porting VCL to VCL for .NET universal issues.
Q. Can I use the VCL for .NET object at the same time as the .NET Framework object?
This is absolutely ok! Once Delphi's original program is compiled into .NET, it is the native program code of the .NET environment. You can access VCL.NET objects at the same time as well as complete Microsoft .NET Framework objects. Objects can also be inherited or accessed by other program languages. Use Delphi for .NET to fully develop all .NET's features.
Q. What is Sidewinder?
Sidewinder is another Borland's development code for major products in .NET. The SideWinder project is a .NET RAD development environment that uses the C # program language. Borland hopes that Sidewinder is in the .NET performance like Borland's JBuilder successfully on Java. SideWinder is an enterprise-level development tool based on Microsoft .NET Framework, which is targeted to provide developers high productivity and industrial standards. Sidewinder provides an enterprise-level development standard in three key points. 1st, Sidewinder integrates the processes developed by all application systems in a single .NET solution. Episode 2, Sidewinder provides the ability to integrate the heterogeneous environments to integrate multiple manufacturers, such as Java and Corba. Multiple vendors are also provided for Ado.Net support, such as Oracle, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, and Borland InterBase. Step 3, Sidewinder provides productivity than the traditional RAD's higher application system by model drive development mode. Q. When will Sidewinder be launched?
Sidewinder is planned in the summer of 2003.
Q. Is the function of Delphi continue to be included in Octane?
Yes, the existing Delphi 7 Win32 function will be included in Octane and will be more enhanced. Many Delphi Win32 features will also be ported to .NET and Octane.
Q. If I want to continue Win32 development work?
For Win32 development, there is still a strong demand, Borland promises that as long as the customer still has demand for Win32 development, Borland will continue to support the Win32 platform's Delphi. So the Borland plan allows Delphi to support Win32 and .NET. At present, Borland has more than 2 million developers of active Delphi and C Builder, while Borland has never changed from the commitment of this development community.
Q. How will the future of Delphi and Linux?
Borland is the first native Linux development integrated environmental manufacturer, and the Linux platform is in a sustained growth, and we also hope that the demand for Delphi development on the Linux platform can grow. .
Q. Why do I want to buy Sidewinder for development for C # and .NET?
Borland Sidewinder and Microsoft Visual Studio provide integrated development capabilities, such as form design, editing, compilation, and degne. However, Sidewinder is also very important in providing and accelerating a complete support environment. From demand analysis, design, to development and efficiency testing. Borland Sidewinder and Microsoft Visual Studio supports development .NET application, but Sidewinder provides the ability to allow developers to integrate Microsoft .NET applications and Java, CORBA, allowing for companies database, such as IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft's database products. Borland also pushes the RAD to the next development level, joining the ability of the .NET model drive development for Sidewinder to provide productivity of the 10x number of developers. This is a large productivity that the RAD tool has never seen before the invention.
Sidewinder and Octane use a new core integration development environment. Delphi developers will have productivity immediately in this new Sidewinder IDE, and the Sidewinder can also be configured as a environment similar to Delphi integration. And Octane also includes a Delphi version of Borland's specific feature developed by .NET, of course these functions will also appear in Sidewinder. For Delphi developers, Sidewinder is the most natural, appropriate C # development environment. Please refer to the public letter of the Delphi community
