关心delphi的未来发展请看：
Octane and Delphi Q&A - by Anders Ohlsson
Abstract: Q&A about the future of Delphi
Q. What is Octane?
Octane is the code name for the next release of Borland?/sup> Delphi? Octane will support both Microsoft?/sup> Win32?/sup> and NET Framework development with the Delphi language and Visual Component Library (VCL) framework.
Q. What is Delphi for .NET?
Delphi for .NET is a set of integrated development tools planned as features in Octane for building new Delphi applications on .NET and to assist in migrating existing Win32 Delphi applications to .NET. Borland has already released preview versions of this technology in Borland?/span> Delphi?/sup> 7 Studio, including a .NET compiler for the Delphi language, and previews of VCL for .NET. The aim with these technologies is to allow a Delphi developer to move to .NET, taking their Delphi skills and much of their current Delphi source code with them.
Q. When will Delphi for .NET be released?
Delphi for .NET will be released as part of Octane. Octane is planned for release at the end of 2003.
Q.do
I have to wait for it to be released? What can Ido
today?
Borland?Delphi?/sup> 7 Studio shipped with the Delphi for .NET Preview Edition. This preview is aimed at allowing developers to begin
exploring the .NET Framework within the Delphi language with which they were comfortable. Since then
, we have released regular updates to this Preview Edition, adding further iterations of the compiler. An updated Preview Edition of VCL for .NET allows developers to actually start migrating their existing applications to .NET.
Q. How compatible is VCL for .NET with VCL?
VCL for .NET is a large subset of the most common classes in VCL for Win32. Wherever possible, we抮e aiming for full compatibility between VCL and VCL for .NET. In many cases, Delphi source code that operates on VCL classes and functions should recompile with minimal changes;
in some cases with no changes at all. VCL for .NET is a large subset of VCL;
therefore, most but not all VCL classes will exist in VCL for .NET. However, source code that calls directly to the Win32 API may require changes. Third-party controls Win32 VCL controls will need to be available in .NET versions as well for compatibility. However, unlike the situation with CLX on Linux?/sup>, the .NET framework is still built on Windows?/ins>, so the Win32 API calls, or alternatives, are in most cases still going to be available. The current Delphi for .NET Preview also includesdo
cumentation covering common issues around migrating VCL code to VCL for .NET.
Q. Will I have full access to both VCL for .NET objects and .NET Framework objects?
Absolutely! Once Delphi source code is compiled in .NET, it is a first class .NET citizen. Full access is available to both VCL .NET objects as well as the complete Microsoft?/sup> .NET framework objects in the same project. Objects can be extended or accessed from other standard .NET languages, etc. There are no compromises using Delphi for .NET.
Q. What is Project Sidewinder?
Sidewinder is the code name for another important Borland .NET initiative. Project Sidewinder is a RAD Development Environment for pure C# Language .NET development. Sidewinder is to .NET as Borland?/sup> JBuilder?/sup> is to Java.?It is an Enterprise-focused development tool built on top of the Microsoft?/sup> .NET Framework, targeting developer productivity and standards compliance. Sidewinder抯 focus of Enterprise specialty is in three key areas. First, integrating all phases of the Application Lifecycle into a single seamless .NET solution. Second, providing a .NET development solution geared toward heterogeneous environments, integrating multi-vendor platforms such as Java and CORBA?/sup> with .NET and multi-vendor ADO.NET support such as Oracle,?/sup> IBM?/sup> DB2,?/sup> Microsoft?/sup> SQL Server, and Borland?/sup> InterBase?/sup>. Third, accelerating application development beyond RAD with model-driven development.
Q. When will Project Sidewinder be released?
Sidewinder is planned for release in the Summer of 2003.
Q. Will current Delphi features continue to be available in Octane?
Yes, existing Delphi 7 Win32 features will continue to be available and enhanced in Octane for Win32 development. Many Delphi Win32 features will also be ported to .NET as well in Octane.
Q. What if I plan to continue Win32 development?
There is still strong demand for Win32 development and Borland is committed to supporting Delphi on the Win32 platform as long as there continues to be strong demand for Win32. Therefore, Borland plans for Delphi include supporting both Win32 and .NET. There are now over 2 million active Win32 developers between Borland?/sup> Delphi?/sup> and Borland?/sup> C++Builder?/sup>, and the Borland commitment to this development community has not changed.
Q. What about Delphi and Linux?
Borland?/sup> Kylix?/sup> is now the No. 1 IDE for native Linux development, and as the Linux platform continues to grow, we anticipate the demand for Delphi development on Linux to continue to grow as well.
Q. Why would I buy Project Sidewinder for C# and .NET development?
Borland?/sup> Sidewinder and Microsoft?/sup> Visual Studio?/ins> will both provide integrated development capabilities such as form design, edit, compile, and debug. Sidewinder, however, is specifically focused on providing an environment that integrates and accelerates the complete application lifecycle solution, from requirements, to design, to development, and performance testing. Both Sidewinder and Visual Studio .NET will support building .NET applications for the Microsoft platform. Sidewinder however, provides a solution that enables developers to build Microsoft .NET applications that are interoperable in heterogeneous environments such as Java and CORBA, and leverage multiple vendors?/ins> Enterprise databases such as IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft. Borland is taking RAD to the next level with Sidewinder introducing model-driven development for .NET designed to increase developer productivity ten fold. A leap in productivity not seen since RAD was invented.
Sidewinder and Octane both share a new common IDE core. Delphi developers will be immediately productive in the new Sidewinder IDE, and Sidewinder can be configured similar to the familiar Delphi look-and-feel. And lastly, Octane will include Delphi versions of Borland .NET specific features and productivity enhancements that will be introduced in Sidewinder. Sidewinder is the natural C# development environment for Delphi developers.
See also Open Letter to the Delphi Community
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