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Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

lazarus-ide.org

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Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#31

Post by dguaraglia »

fiddlerwoaroof wrote: post #29
gfody wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lazarus is basically a Delphi 2 clone. Delphi ditched the multiple floating windows design starting in version 3 and every subsequent version has been the more traditional "MDI" design similar to Visual Studio. I really like that Lazarus kept the floating window design because it's nice to be able to see your desktop, the wallpaper is more pleasant than whatever solid color background is on the MDI client, and you ca…

This isn't true, Delphi 4 definitely had the multiple windows setup

But you could disable it. The multi-window thing was something Delphi lifted directly from Visual Basic, and even VB dropped it (well, more like it got swallowed by VB.NET and Visual Studio.)

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#32

Post by gfody »

fiddlerwoaroof wrote: post #29
gfody wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lazarus is basically a Delphi 2 clone. Delphi ditched the multiple floating windows design starting in version 3 and every subsequent version has been the more traditional "MDI" design similar to Visual Studio. I really like that Lazarus kept the floating window design because it's nice to be able to see your desktop, the wallpaper is more pleasant than whatever solid color background is on the MDI client, and you ca…

This isn't true, Delphi 4 definitely had the multiple windows setup

I think maybe Delphi 5 was the first version where it stopped even being an option. I remember 3 was MDI and I'm surprised I never bothered looking for the option to switch it back.

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#33

Post by yardshop »

gfody wrote: post #28
wolfgke wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> main frustration was multi-windows interface. Multiple windows are very comfortable if you have multiple displays connected to your computer.

Lazarus is basically a Delphi 2 clone. Delphi ditched the multiple floating windows design starting in version 3 and every subsequent version has been the more traditional "MDI" design similar to Visual Studio. I really like that Lazarus kept the floating window design because it's nice to be able to see your desktop, the wallpaper is more pleasant than whatever solid color background is on the MDI client, and you ca…

The floating windows were still very much present in Delphi 7, my preferred arrangement [0]. D7 was the last "good" version before the .NET era. Actually I remember the buzz around Lazarus and Free Pascal really growing when the .NET versions of Delphi came out. So I think its fair to say Lazarus took plenty of influence from versions later than D2.

[0] http://i.imgur.com/gHQR6aH.png

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#34

Post by SXX »

wolfgke wrote: post #26
SXX wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me as for the guy who only look at Lazarus not as developer, but as user who just go to compile map editor of our game (developed by other very skilled developer) main frustration was multi-windows interface. Not that I can't understand why some would prefer to work in that mode, but that alone make it feel more dated than it's actually is. It's still weird why they still ship it in multi-window mode by default,…

> main frustration was multi-windows interface. Multiple windows are very comfortable if you have multiple displays connected to your computer.

I do have two monitors and understand multi-window mode has it's uses, but for any person who used to [name standard IDE] it's frustrating first impression. It's basically gives false sense of complexity to the tech that actually easy to use.

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#35

Post by squarefoot »

dguaraglia wrote: post #31
fiddlerwoaroof wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't true, Delphi 4 definitely had the multiple windows setup

But you could disable it. The multi-window thing was something Delphi lifted directly from Visual Basic, and even VB dropped it (well, more like it got swallowed by VB.NET and Visual Studio.)

With monitors getting bigger we can abandon the multi window way and embrace something better, but surely not MDI which to me is even worse. Tiling is the answer: a giant single window containing the entire application, and a layout definition stating what section appears where and at what size (read: area percentage). Options to maximize the active area can be implemented, but the goal should be freeing the user from being forced to find and move windows from below other windows or partially gone out of the screen.

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#36

Post by necessity »

Jack4E4B wrote: post #9

Lazarus is awesome because of the speed of the compiler, the fact that it has a GUI that works, and is OPEN SOURCE. So one wonders WTH is going on with all the other compiled languages that have nothing like this? And no QT is not the answer, we need a built-in good enough GUI! =)

IIRC Delphi compilers are usually single pass and thus really fast

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#37

Post by adrianlmm »

samuell wrote: post #4

Lazarus/FPC checks so many nice boxes: [x] Statically compiled [x] Native UI on Linux/Mac/Win [x] Typically compiled without code changes on Linux/Mac/Win [x] Small binaries [x] No GC [x] Readable, somewhat python-like syntax [x] Still, doesn't rely on indentation for nested blocks [ ] (Fill in)

I've created small projects in Lazarus and you are right in all points except in the small binary part, also I would add that it comes with db drivers for Postgrees, MySQL and Firebird SQL out of the box.

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#38

Post by gfody »

yardshop wrote: post #33
gfody wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lazarus is basically a Delphi 2 clone. Delphi ditched the multiple floating windows design starting in version 3 and every subsequent version has been the more traditional "MDI" design similar to Visual Studio. I really like that Lazarus kept the floating window design because it's nice to be able to see your desktop, the wallpaper is more pleasant than whatever solid color background is on the MDI client, and you ca…

The floating windows were still very much present in Delphi 7, my preferred arrangement [0]. D7 was the last "good" version before the .NET era. Actually I remember the buzz around Lazarus and Free Pascal really growing when the .NET versions of Delphi came out. So I think its fair to say Lazarus took plenty of influence from versions later than D2. [0] http://i.imgur.com/gHQR6aH.png

oh dang I used D7 for years and didn't know you could configure it into this mode. I would've preferred it at the time.

I'd say clearly Lazarus is tracking the best of Delphi, not just version 2 from 1995.

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#39

Post by gfody »

squarefoot wrote: post #35
dguaraglia wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But you could disable it. The multi-window thing was something Delphi lifted directly from Visual Basic, and even VB dropped it (well, more like it got swallowed by VB.NET and Visual Studio.)

With monitors getting bigger we can abandon the multi window way and embrace something better, but surely not MDI which to me is even worse. Tiling is the answer: a giant single window containing the entire application, and a layout definition stating what section appears where and at what size (read: area percentage). Options to maximize the active area can be implemented, but the goal should be freeing the user fro…

I think Visual Studio has the right idea with being primarily MDI but then all of the various windows can detach and float to other screens and wherever. I think if Windows would just render your desktop background on the MDI background instead of a solid color that would be a nice system setting.

Re: Lazarus – A Delphi-compatible cross-platform IDE

#40

Post by iajrz »

rgacote wrote: post #22
scardine wrote: post #7

I wish porting projects from Delphi was easier. I was trying to make Python bindings for the AcBR library[1] and failed miserably. Shameless plug: if you think you are up to the task and is not too expensive contact paulo at xtend.com.br [1] http://acbr.sourceforge.net/drupal/

I'd definitely use it more if I could port over the last few Delphi apps I have in production. My Delphi 7 is getting a bit old... Aside from single-file executables, the biggest advantage to Lazarus (and also Delphi) [to me] is that all the libraries are also built in the language. No needing to bounce down to opaque DLLs just to display some GUI element.

A bit old is an understatement :^) why not update to more recent iterations of Delphi?
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