Actually not true. Java can be natively compiled from source or bytecode (or a mix) and this can be done for free. Check out:
http://gcc.gnu.org/java/ One of the issues I see here is that .NET is not a Delphi exclusive and if support grows as strong as some people in this list believe it will then there will be lot's of free tools, IDE's and compilers for it (witness Mono and sharpdevelop for instance). Given that MS, HP and Intel submitted the CLI and C# specs to the ECMA as an open spec there is a good chance that .NET could be a true competitor to the Java market at which point Delphi user's may not be so happy to shell out the wads of dough required to upgrade or purchase Delphi when you they could download a C# IDE for free and start producing code. At the moment I see two strong favourites emerging in Java (remember Java 1.5 is just around the corner) and .NET. Certainly if pushed in the .NET direction I don't see any great compelling reasons to continue developing in Delphi over C# when C# is an open standard and there are plenty of good C# IDE choices out there already (including but not limited to C# builder which you have to pay for). If you're keeping an open mind on which architechture/technology to go with you also need to keep an open mind to what might happen in the future of Delphi. As a Delphi user I don't want to see a language and IDE of it's calibre die but I also don't want to be left high and dry if support for it should decline or stop. ----- Original Message Follows ----- > Phil Scadden wrote: > > >>Short answer: YES! > >> > >>My take on this situation is as follows: > >> > >>1. Microsoft has already been bitten once having to > support multiple >>architectures (see Alpha and MIPS), and > to avoid this problem in the future >>(see x86-64 and > IA-64) they hace created .NET as a platform neutral > > >>environment. > > Unless .NET can run a great deal faster than Java, then > > this is a very risky strategy. A port of Linux to > > x86-64/IA-64 would allow developers to create native > > applications (open office) that would run rings around > .NET applications compiled to CLR. > > There's no reason to expect that CIL code /can't/ run at > the same speed as Java bytecode. They're the same basic > concept, just a different implementation. > > Where it might fall down is in the implementation of the > VM and the crap added to CIL to support various "look how > much better than Java we are" features. > > Oh, and Java isn't 'native' at all, just in case you were > confused about that. Where Linux wins is that a huge > amount of source code is available to allow you to > recompile your favorite applications on a new platform, > without having to wait for the author to release a > platform-specific variant. If the source /isn't/ > available, you still have to wait. > > -- > Corey Murtagh > The Electric Monk > "Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur!" > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > ----------------- > New Zealand Delphi Users group - Delphi List - > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Website: http://www.delphi.org.nz > To UnSub, send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with body of "unsubscribe delphi" > Web Archive at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/delphi%40delphi.org.nz/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Zealand Delphi Users group - Delphi List - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: http://www.delphi.org.nz To UnSub, send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body of "unsubscribe delphi" Web Archive at: http://www.mail-archive.com/delphi%40delphi.org.nz/
