I think that Gary is touching on something very important, and needing development.
There is something to working with Delphi and the Delphi community over all that is not met in any other widley used developpment environment/or language other than perhaps in my own experience aspects of PhP.
The beneficial effect of Delphi is quite compelling.
For example if I had released a programme that did what Delphi 2005 Pro did even after the second service pack this year, or had reduced the help system to some sort of neathandral (nameless big computer company based in USA) scheme of things, as D2005 followed, I would have expected any one using my stuff to complain and walk away for ever.
But here I am seriously wanting to know more about Delphi 2006.
Is is some sort of weakness in my make up that I want more self inflicted punishment I ponder? No I think it is a sense that there was/is a little more to Borland and Delphi than other software houses can even yet provide. And there is something about the flavour of people who use products like Delphi that is conducive to community attitudes and development.
When I followed the link in a recent posting in this news group relating to the "Does Visual Studio Rot the Mind? - Ruminations on the Psychology and Aesthetics of Coding" an address made by Charles Petzold (
http://www.charlespetzold.com/) in New york recently (October 20th 2005), I believe I saw in that address the essance of what makes the difference for Delphi.
Although that gentleman did not talk directly about Delphi, he did address an issue on the effects that use of certain kinds of IDE will have on the human brain over periods of time.
I suspect that time and further study will prove that incredibly experienced man's intutitive observations to be correct.
What I see Delphi having done for us is give a structured language, object orientated, that still some how lets me do free hand programing with out the IDE dictating everything. Instead the IDE is a tool to help caution and advise me, prompting me with the options and the information I need, and when there is a properly functioning help system (as we used to have), direct linking to the further information I need, even for third party components (as used to work!).
The Borland IDE has in my experience allowed me in certain ways to flow in thought and in creativity in problem anaylasis and solution finding, in an almost unconsciouss way, that, I know from other friends, does not happen so easily, if at all, in other highly controlling IDEs.
There is a depth in the Delphi compiler that I have literally seen programmers using other software houses IDEs gasp at when they have observed the kind of code that can be put to it.
A small example, when a non-Delphi programmer of many years saw that I could return an object like Tmemo even as the result of a function and use it like this (a bit redundant but you'll know what I'm getting at)
urlString := getMemo(23).hint;
he was literally astounded. When he saw the ease of casting he at first it was a trick I was doing on him! and Delphi Interfaces seemed to him as a dream.
And there is much more of greater depth that could be touched upon by others who are better able.
I feel that something of what Gary is talking about needs to be rekindled.
In this topsy turvy world of IT and ISV and XXX and YYYand ZZZ it would seem WISE to keep things like Delphi alive and expanding, not only in the MS world.
And if Borland is genuinely going to make a longterm commitment to that, then that means that we:
1) need to keep buying it and2) encourage others to use it.3) We need to re-invigourate the users group concept bringing in more skill training, develpopment and externsion4) and get more local colleges and techs using it.
That is if Borland are going to genuinely keep it alive.
If so then we need a conscious active "partnership" between the developer-users and the IDE producers. Perhaps even shareholding . . .
Its in everyone's interest.
Delphi 2005 showed aspects of faltering steps, I look forward to learning if the physiotherapy Delphi 2006 has recieved will keep it alive and out of the wheelchair, and Delphi 2007out of the grave!
If Charles Petzold is right, and I believe he has some very good points to make, it is good for us and for our clients, that we use products like Delphi, and avoid things that will, in Petzold's estimation, lead to mental atrophy!
Paul A. Norman
On 16/11/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi all,
Further to recent comments on the Delphi User Group activity, I was
reminded of where we came from, and why, and how the User Group functions.
At yesterday's meeting with John Kaster, I sat beside Andy Bell, who with
a bunch of others, attended the Delphi Retreat in Sydney just before
Delphi was released out of Beta. We were enthralled and enthused.
The result when we came back was the Delphi User Group, with meetings in
the Board Room at Banklink, courtesy of Andy and Steve Agnew.
We met every week for quite some time providing the necessary support, as
there was little around at that time.
As time went on we then met every two weeks, then every month for a long
time.
The Online list appeared, and then meetings became every three months, and
then sporadic as they are now.
The necessity for group meetings became less as we all became familiar
with the product, the language, and the toolset.
Now with the amount of help available throught the newsgroups, and
material via Google, there is less of that need. It is presentations like
yesterday's that bring the troops out of the woodwork.
It was a pleasure to hear John speak, and to get the latest goss from
inside. Delphi 2006 looks to be far more desireable than Delphi 2005. I'm
loading the Beta as we speak.
I asked John K. if there were plans for a Code Contest with Microsoft.
That would be great to prove a point. (Except we know MS likes to set the
rules ... in it's favour of course!!). Lets see if that happens. Anyone
like to put their hands up?
Any other comments?
cheers
Gary
> 40
>
>
> ---
> Richard Vowles, Solutions Architect, Borland New Zealand
> email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> phone: +64-9-9184573
> cell: +64-21-467747
> other: MSN [EMAIL PROTECTED], skype: rvowles
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> On Behalf Of Leigh Wanstead
> Sent: Wednesday, 16 November 2005 1:26 p.m.
> To: NZ Borland Developers Group - Delphi List
> Subject: RE: [DUG] migrate app from firebird to informix
>
> May I ask how many people yesterday? No need to be acurately? 10 or 100?
>
> Just curious
>
> Regards
> Leigh
>
> http://www.salenz.com
>
> Jason Saggers wrote:
>> We had quite a turn out a John Kaster yesterday, which would suggest
>> the (Auckland) community is still there...
>
> Hey, I came up from Wellington - enjoyed the talk to.
>
> Alister Christie
> Computers for People
> Ph: 04 471 1849 Fax: 04 471 1266
> http://www.salespartner.co.nz
> PO Box 13085
> Johnsonville
> Wellington
>
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