If you think of the development tools as one huge hunk of related and inseparable code, you're right; it's huge and maybe unmanageable.
If you think of Delphi as a collection of related but separable technologies you'll notice it's not that big or unmanageable: You've got the IDE, you've got the VCL, you've got the standard component palette and you've got the compiler. Let's try taking things apart: (1) IDE: If Delphi would go Open Source I'm sure this bit would be totally separated from the rest of the code. The commercial distribution of Delphi can't do this because the IDE needs to load bits of the VCL and those bits change but the OS version may be distributed by source (ie: not compiled) so you'll simply compile and link to the VCL you need. I think the IDE arena will benefit from being open source and mistakes will not "kill" Delphi because you'll simply use the IDE release that works for you with the version of VCL that works! (2) VCL: Most of us already have the sources for the VCL. Some of us know the VCL by heart. Making this open source would work. (3) Standard VCL palette: The JVCL would be happy to handle this, I'm sure. (4) Compiler: While this is not for the faint hearted, the community already includes people capable of handling this. Just visit the ASM newsgroup at Borland, you'll meet them all. Besides all of this, please note there's no Open Source IDE out there with the capabilities of Delphi. Add to the mix the fact that BDS already includes "personalities" for handling languages other then Pascal and you'll be able to spring interest in other developer communities as well: C++, Java, C#. The conclusion: While I don't think Delphi will become Open Source in the near future, I do think it would be a viable solution. And I'd love to have an Open Source Delphi! > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:delphi-talk- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert Meek > Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 6:58 PM > To: 'Delphi-Talk Discussion List' > Subject: RE: Borland to sell off developer tools > > I have to agree with you. The Open Source community efforts I've > see move much too slow to favor the professional, and BDS itself is just > too > big to leave to a disparate group of self-interested parties. Look at the > Jedi group. They have one of the biggest followings around...more people > use their libraries than not, and yet they can't get the manpower to make > fixes to components that are years old! And one of the biggest reasons I > believe this is true is because committees or not, these groups are always > "run" by one or two devoted people who set down the rules and lead the > way. > I've seen too many arguments among top-level members start on the open > groups and then be taken privately to even imagine what it must be like on > them! I realize this is as necessary as it is bad for them...such is > life! > > > from Robert Meek dba Tangentals Design CCopyright 2006 > > "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion > that the gift of Fantasy has meant more to me then my talent for absorbing > positive knowledge!" > Albert Einstein > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:delphi-talk- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of Dean Stow > Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 10:48 AM > To: Delphi-Talk Discussion List > Subject: RE: Borland to sell off developer tools > > I fear that open source will KILL it. > > Anyone interested in open source moved to Linux already. > __________________________________________________ > Delphi-Talk mailing list -> [email protected] > http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi-talk > > __________________________________________________ > Delphi-Talk mailing list -> [email protected] > http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi-talk __________________________________________________ Delphi-Talk mailing list -> [email protected] http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi-talk
