HN Reader

Delphi is still great, even though the usage declined and not many people, especially newcomers know about it (or C++ Builder).

It is still probably the best drag and drop experience for UI components, with Qt Creator being a runner up.

A bit shame, as most likely the popularity declined due to draconial licencing model at the time. Now they have Delphi Community edition, which is free.

If you have some free time, try it, you won't regret it. Especially good for hobby projects.

Some interesting trivia, Netflix' cofounder Marc Randolf spent time at Borland.

RAD Studio is kind of the closet experience to VB6 where you simply drop controls on a form and can easily wire it up.. with a much better language.

The tools were/are too expensive and Microsoft pile drove them from early dominance to niche by undercutting them handily, and it's been extractive rather than growth oriented since. There is the Lazarus/FreePascal project which offers an alternative.

I was surprised to see Delphi still getting pretty solid use in some circles. I had no idea.

Talked to a dev who was an advocate for it some years back.

Here's the summary snippet from the post because the server is dead:

  "Embarcadero is very happy to announce RAD Studio 13 Florence along with Delphi 13 
   and C++Builder 13 is available to customers starting today. The RAD Studio 13 
   Florence release offers a 64-bit version of the RAD Studio IDE, an updated C++Builder 
   Clang compiler, Delphi language extensions, AI components, an AI companion, along with 
   a number of enhancements of existing features, and a significant focus on quality."

Not a good sign when the website (granted it's the blog website, not the main one) for a commercial development tool is unreachable.

Sad, because I still have a soft spot in my heart for Delphi.

Never mind ... clearly i am the issue.