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Borland builds Delphi 8 on .Net

Posted on 5 Nov 2003 at 17:58

Borland has released its next-generation Delphi development system, previously codenamed 'Octane'. It provides full .Net, as well as Win32, support. The new release, to give it its full name, is Delphi 8 for the Microsoft .NET Framework.

As well as a new IDE, with features such as code-folding and bracket and brace highlighting, there is also extensive support for Application Lifecycle Management - the ability to design, test, and optimise programming code using specialised programs.

Jason Vokes, Borland's European Product Line Manager, described it as a major release for Windows developers, and highlighted the role of code visualisation. With this feature, code files can be imported and be viewed and manipulated graphically, inspecting code properties for example.

As well as creating .NET Framework-based applications it simplifies the porting of existing Win32 apps. 'It will,' says Vokes, 'be the enabling factor for a lot of existing apps to come through to .Net'. This will, of course, be encouraging for Microsoft, and its bid to establish .Net as the de facto way of delivering Web Services.

Previously, with Delphi 7, there was a .Net runtime interface for the Delphi language. Now there is full support for the framework.

Anticipating the new release, in an interview earlier this year, Borland's industry guru David Intersimone said: 'We've made it very easy to use a similar style of programming and - in many places - the same code, using the .Net framework or the VCL [Borland's Visual Control Library]. And we still have support for Windows and Linux component libraries for CLX cross-platform development. So, by the end of this year I think we will have Windows, .Net and Linux support with the Delphi language.'

The Object Pascal-based system has come a long way since its ground-breaking release - for Win16 - back in 1995. Full .Net support is obviously intended further extend its lifespan. 'Delphi users have always been at the leading edge of Windows development', said Vokes, 'and there's no reason this shouldn't continue.'

The announcement of Delphi 8 coincides with BorCon, Borland's developer conference, which is taking place in San Jose. The code should be shipping before Christmas.

To be available in three additions - Pro, Enterprise, and Architect - UK pricing will be £670, £1,670, and £2,000, respectively. Note that the product includes the Win32-orientated Delphi 7 as well. Upgrade pricing is available. Notably, Delphi 7 Architect users can upgrade for £999.