Overview
Delphi today is a powerful tool focused on rapid application development. Despite its strengths, Delphi’s popularity is lower compared to many other development tools. According to Stack Overflow’s commonly-used programming language list, Delphi has a usage rate of 3.23%.
This number seems small when compared to technologies like JavaScript, Python, or C#, which reached 63.61% popularity. However, Delphi still boasts millions of users worldwide. Notable companies using Delphi include Hilton and BT Group.
Although companies do not openly share their use of Delphi, the technology remains an attractive choice for both small and large companies. Why do businesses continue to use Delphi? Let’s find out.
The Legacy of Old Popularity
Delphi has been around for a long time. Anders Hejlsberg, now the Chief Architect for Microsoft’s C# and .NET, designed Delphi about 30 years ago. Initially, Delphi competed with Visual Basic and Visual C++ on the Windows platform. In its early years, Delphi was more popular than Visual Basic and nearly as popular as Visual C++.
Borland, the original maker of Delphi, eventually decided to shift focus to professional services instead of leveraging Delphi’s popularity. In 1996, Anders Hejlsberg left Borland to join Microsoft and contributed to the development of C#. Microsoft then heavily marketed C# and .NET, targeting high-level organizational leaders and using its strong reputation. This strategic marketing, combined with Borland’s shift in focus, led to C# overshadowing Delphi.
Despite its reduced popularity, many existing applications continue to be maintained in Delphi. Delphi-based products remain leaders in various industries, including leisure, hotel management, telecoms, theme parks, dairy herd management, media, and even NASA. Delphi is known for its excellent backward compatibility with its predecessor, Turbo Pascal. This compatibility allows organizations to continue using and updating applications that have been in use for up to 40 years.
One key reason companies continue to use Delphi today is the legacy of its past popularity and the significant investments they have made in developing Delphi software over the years. Despite being a time-tested old tool, this doesn’t mean Delphi is not modern.
Reasons Why Companies Stick to Delphi
Let’s explore what Delphi offers to modern businesses, making them stick to Delphi even though more popular technologies exist.
Interoperability
Delphi excels in interoperability with other technologies. It can link with C and C++ object code, shared objects, and DLL files. It also supports .NET assemblies and integrates well with Python. This flexibility allows companies to extend their Delphi applications without a complete rewrite.
Support for five environments
Modern versions of Delphi support development for Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Android, and iOS. This cross-platform capability lets companies use a single codebase for multiple operating systems, reducing development time and costs.
Rich ecosystem and active community
Delphi has a robust third-party ecosystem with numerous libraries, tools, and components that enhance its capabilities. The active and supportive Delphi community helps developers solve problems, share knowledge, and stay updated on best practices. This makes it easier to maintain and enhance Delphi applications.
Full-stack capabilities
Delphi has historically provided a comprehensive development environment capable of handling both server-side and client-side development. Many companies still rely on Delphi’s full-stack capabilities for maintaining and developing their existing systems.
Language features
Delphi includes modern programming features such as interfaces, generics, and anonymous methods. These help developers write clean, efficient, and maintainable code. While not on the cutting edge, these features ensure Delphi remains competitive with other modern languages.
Enterprise grade
Delphi is considered an enterprise-grade development tool. It offers robust performance, a rich set of features, and the stability needed for large-scale enterprise applications. According to a popular information agency, 55% of companies using Delphi are enterprises. So, as your company grows, Delphi provides the flexibility to meet expanding needs.
Need Assistance With Managing Your Delphi Software?
Like every software, Delphi may require expert assistance to ensure it operates smoothly. Softacom has skilled Delphi developers who deeply understand the language and its capabilities.
Do you need to develop Delphi software from scratch? Our team can help you with clear agreements, set deadlines, and a transparent budget without hidden costs.
Do you need expert advice on maintaining, extending, or optimizing your Delphi software? We provide consultation on performance tuning, bug fixing, feature enhancement, and integration with other systems.
Or do you want to update your legacy Delphi software?
