The name Delphi is inspired by the ancient Greek city of Delphi, which was a sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo. It was the center of the world for the ancient Greeks, as they believed it housed the Oracle of Delphi. Similarly, Delphi for software developers is like a temple where they can build excellent applications.
Delphi is based on the Object Pascal language and offers a comprehensive set of components and libraries that enable developers to create applications quickly and efficiently. It has a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) that offers advanced features like code refactoring, debugging, and profiling.
Delphi offers a wide range of applications development and deployment options. Developers can use Delphi to develop native Windows applications, 64-bit applications, mobile applications for iOS and Android, and cloud-based applications. Its cross-platform capabilities and support for multiple platforms make it highly flexible and versatile.
The applications developed using Delphi are highly performant, reliable, and scalable. It supports a wide range of third-party components that enable developers to add new functionalities to their applications easily. It also offers support for multiple database systems, including Oracle, SQL Server, InterBase, and Firebird, making it highly useful for database applications.
Embarcadero, the current owner of Delphi, has continued to enhance and evolve the tool over the years, releasing new versions with enhanced capabilities and features. The latest version, Delphi 10.4 Sydney, was released in May 2020 with several new features and improvements.
Some of the notable features included in Delphi 10.4 Sydney are:
1. Delphi Language Server Protocol (LSP) – It is a new language server protocol that enhances the performance and stability of the IDE.
2. FireMonkey support for macOS 64-bit – It enables developers to create macOS 64-bit applications effortlessly.
3. Inline variable declaration – It enhances the code readability and speeds up the development process.
4. Parallel programming library – It offers support for parallel programming and simplifies the development of multi-threaded applications.
5. Delphi Compiler support for iOS and Android – It enables developers to compile iOS and Android applications directly from the IDE.
Delphi is widely used in various industries, including finance, healthcare, education, and gaming. It is highly valued by developers for its ease of use, flexibility, and high performance. Many Fortune 500 companies, including Bloomberg, Boeing, and NASA, use Delphi to build mission-critical applications.
In conclusion, Delphi is a powerful software development tool that enables developers to create advanced applications quickly and efficiently. Its key features such as cross-platform support, powerful IDE, and flexible library of components make it a preferred choice for developers. With its latest version, Delphi 10.4 Sydney, it has become even more advanced and feature-rich, making it an ideal choice for modern application development.