Object Pascal World

Delphi Linux ARM compiler will never happens.

2020-11-24T14:01:00.007-08:00

Is clear embarcadero care a sh*t about the voted issues...

The more voted issued after 5 years

https://quality.embarcadero.com/browse/RSP-13370

... and they just remove Linux arm compiler of the research areas for the November/2020 roadmap, check yourself

https://blogs.embarcadero.com/rad-studio-roadmap-november-2020/

And off course comments are closed. Well... RPI have no users, sure this is the reason to don´t pay the resources need ti get this working... Thanks Atanas! Great vision you have!

Today i feel is really time to move on, after 30 years with Delphi, the actual management is silly, closed vision, useless... Paying every year my subscription to get what? One IDE almost stable after 5 try?

Sorry guys, Linux ARM compiler will never happen. The poor management in the world is in charge of EMB. Is time to move at fresh green pastures. Never be more sure about this.

Game over.

Linux compiler for ARM is the most voted feature request in Delphi!

2020-06-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks!

Seems like so many Delphi users have interest on Linux ARM compiler!

2020-06-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

We are the second open report voted! That means a lot of Delphi developers really need a Linux for ARM compiler.

Thanks people for vote that! Im sure Embarcadero listen up and will not see to other side with this They really listen loyalty customers. Hope to have news soon.

P.S. in case you don't vote yet, do it here:

https://quality.embarcadero.com/browse/RSP-13370

Do you think Embarcadero must release linux ARM compiler? Vote here!

2020-05-30T09:32:00.002-07:00

As you know is the only platform missing in Delphi right now. IMHO a very important platform. We have almost 90 votes. Help with your vote to up that requirement position and maybe we can see this happen soon!

https://quality.embarcadero.com/browse/RSP-13370

Install FPC 3.1.1 + lazarus 1.7 on RASPBERRY PI 3 /RASPBIAN)

2016-09-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

How to install latest FPC + LAZARUS on RASPBERRY PI 3 Step by step (thanks to rvk member of lazarus community)

# ======================================================
# Based on clean 2016-05-27-raspbian-jessie.img
# Total install time: 38 minutes (from complete scratch)
# by rvk (v.1.1, 2016-07-08)
# ======================================================

# ======================================================
# first some essentials (5.5 minutes)
# ======================================================
sudo -i
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade -y
apt-get autoremove
apt-get autoclean
reboot

# ======================================================
# install remote descktop serveer for rdp session win10
# only neede is headless RPI (1 minute)
# ======================================================
# https://www.maketecheasier.com/enabling-remote-desktop-access-on-raspberry-pi/
sudo apt-get -y install xrdp
sudo nano /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
bitmap_compression: no # <-- change this line

# ======================================================
# some other essentials (2 minutes)
# ======================================================
sudo apt-get -y install build-essential p7zip-full subversion
sudo apt-get -y install libx11-dev libgdk-pixbuf2.0-dev libcairo2-dev lpango-1.0 libpangox-1.0-dev xorg-dev libatk1.0-dev libgtk2.0-dev

# ======================================================
# we NEED to extend the swapfile (1 minute)
# ======================================================
sudo nano /etc/dphys-swapfile
CONF_SWAPSIZE=512 # <-- change this line
sudo /etc/init.d/dphys-swapfile stop
sudo /etc/init.d/dphys-swapfile start

# ======================================================
# if you're not on raspbian-jessie this could work too
# ======================================================
# dd if=/dev/zero of=/path/to/swapfile bs=1M count=512 # For 512MB swap file
# mkswap /path/to/swapfile
# swapon /path/to/swapfile

# ======================================================
# install fpc and lazarus trunk (total 28.5 minutes)
# ======================================================
sudo -i

# ------------------------------------------------------
# first fpc
# ------------------------------------------------------
mkdir /usr/local/fpc
cd /usr/local/fpc

# ------------------------------------------------------
# We need a bootstrap compiler fpc 3.0.0 (2.5 minutes)
# There is NONE AVAILABLE so we need to download complete
# fpc-3.0.0.arm-linux-raspberry1wq.tar
# ------------------------------------------------------
wget ftp://ftp.freepascal.org/pub/fpc/dist/3.0.0/arm-linux/fpc-3.0.0.arm-linux-raspberry1wq.tar
tar xvf fpc-3.0.0.arm-linux-raspberry1wq.tar
cd fpc-3.0.0.arm-linux
tar xvf binary.arm-linux.tar
tar zxvf base.arm-linux.tar.gz
cd ..

# ------------------------------------------------------
# checkout fpc trunk (3 minutes)
# ------------------------------------------------------
svn co http://svn.freepascal.org/svn/fpc/trunk trunk
svn export --force trunk trunktmp
cd trunktmp

# ------------------------------------------------------
# compile fpc trunk (11 minutes)
# ------------------------------------------------------
make all OPT="-dFPC_ARMHF" PP=/usr/local/fpc/fpc-3.0.0.arm-linux/lib/fpc/3.0.0/ppcarm

# ------------------------------------------------------
# install fpc trunk (2 minutes)
# ------------------------------------------------------
make install OPT="-dFPC_ARMHF" PREFIX=/usr/local PP=/usr/local/fpc/trunktmp/compiler/ppcarm
rm /usr/local/bin/ppcarm
rm /usr/local/bin/sameplecfg
ln -sf /usr/local/lib/fpc/3.1.1/ppcarm /usr/local/bin/ppcarm
ln -sf /usr/local/lib/fpc/3.1.1/samplecfg /usr/local/bin/samplecfg
make install sourceinstall OPT="-dFPC_ARMHF" PREFIX=/usr/local
rm /usr/share/fpcsrc
ln -sf /usr/local/share/src/fpc-3.1.1/fpc /usr/share/fpcsrc

# /usr/local/bin/fpcmkcfg -d basepath=/usr/local/lib/fpc/3.1.1 -o /usr/local/bin/fpc.cfg
# this doesn't seem to work correctly ???

samplecfg /usr/local/lib/fpc/3.1.1 /etc
# Running on linux
# Write permission in /etc.
# Writing sample configuration file to /etc/fpc.cfg
# Writing sample configuration file to /usr/local/lib/fpc/3.1.1/ide/text/fp.cfg
# Writing sample configuration file to /usr/local/lib/fpc/3.1.1/ide/text/fp.ini
# Writing sample configuration file to /etc/fppkg.cfg
# Writing sample configuration file to /etc/fppkg/default

# ------------------------------------------------------
# then Lazarus
# ------------------------------------------------------
mkdir /usr/local/lazarus
cd /usr/local/lazarus

# ------------------------------------------------------
# checkout lazarus trunk (1.5 minutes)
# ------------------------------------------------------
svn co http://svn.freepascal.org/svn/lazarus/trunk trunk
svn export --force trunk trunktmp
cd trunktmp

# ------------------------------------------------------
# compile lazarus trunk (6.5 minutes)
# ------------------------------------------------------
make all OPT="-dFPC_ARMHF"

# ------------------------------------------------------
# install lazarus trunk (2 minutes)
# ------------------------------------------------------
make install OPT="-dFPC_ARMHF" PREFIX=/usr/local

# ------------------------------------------------------
# remove menu-cache to make Lazarus visible in menu
# ------------------------------------------------------
exit # from sudo
killall lxpanel
find ~/.cache/menus -name '*' -type f -print0 | xargs -0 rm
exit # from pi

# ------------------------------------------------------
# connect on Windows via Remote Desktop Connecton (mstsc.exe)
# user pi password rapberry
# Menu > Programming > Lazarus
# create small test-project and run
# ------------------------------------------------------

# ======================================================
# note: recompiling lazarus as use pi
# will create a working copy under ~/.lazarus/bin
# ======================================================

Enjoy!

Codetyphon 5.3 and Remobjects 8.3 : installation instructions

2015-07-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

While i love to work on delphi side its lack support for some IOTs devices like raspberry PI, Beaglebone, and Linux mainly.

You have two options sit and wait for Embarcadero managers take the decision and release the long waited linux compiler (10 years of wait i think) or get dirty and try Lazarus.

Lazarus/typhon need to link statically all the packages you install and is very *sensitive* . The result a perfect compiled package will produce many times your typhon exe get corrupted and you need to start the process from zero.

Note from Sternas : 'If you try to rebuild experimental IDE, my suggestion is to save bin32/typhon.exe or bin64/typhon.exe first. If the new typhon.exe has problem replace it with backup typhon.exe'. Thanks for this easy tip! :)

After a lot of try and error process, here a guarantee (?) procedure to install RO 8 on CT 5.3

If you already have a Typhon fide working start over on Codetyphone menu *Remove and Build Typhon BigIDE*.

Then open and compile every RO package ending with _ CodeTyphon . Don't install!

Some packages reference RO standard packages (no CodeTyphon) just replace with the appropriate Codetyphon package version and compile.

On Remobjects.inc you need to disable RemObjects_UseEncryption adding a dot at first
or Remojtecs_Core will not compile.

{.$DEFINE RemObjects_UseEncryption}

If you plan to use Pascalscript just download from GITHUB site.

https://github.com/remobjects/pascalscript

And copy the Add-on folder to

C:\codetyphon\typhon\components\pl_PascalScript\source

Remember to change missing packages with Codetyphon packages.

One time all is compiled restart the idea and go to Install Packages. Add all the RO/DA packages at one time.

Save and rebuild IDE.

Work done. You have RO/Da working on CT 5.3.

Enjoy!

My still not working stable enough, FireMonkey app.

2013-12-23T08:38:00.004-08:00

In my previous post i comment about a recent app my company release.

This one is just a simple app in kiosk mode with a few screens, not very impressive if just ask.

The detail is this one have to consume a web services. The web services is implemented with Delphi using RemObjects library.

As i say before, i code and deliver this time using Oxygene because the Firemonkey pair app auto close alone after 2 to 3 hours working. No error, no chance to debug, no way to fix this.

In my last post i advice about have no time to test with XE5 update 2. So, just for the shake i test my FM app with update 2 and sadly, the results are the same. And i must add, now the process to debug seems a little more bad working than before.

I love to ear anybody else experiences with real world app and fire monkey. I see a few videos , one very impressive about capturing video on real time. The main point to me is stability and seems like Embarcadero is working there. Can we cross fingers for the next release?

In any case , in the meantime, i have to start another android project very complex and i believe cannot start with XE5 at this stage. It will be Oxygene 100%. The bad part is the UI design, but, again, Oxygene is a very pleasant tool to code.
I really hope XE6(?) give me the confidence im lost in FireMonkey.

If anybody have another experiences about this, im open.

Enjoy!

My first real world Android app, coded in pascal.

2013-12-11T20:53:00.001-08:00

I want to share my experience building a very simple android app.

My app have 3 screens, main screen, data screen and configuration screen. That just connect to a RO Server build with delphi and working ver well from some like 5 years i think.

I have to make a design decision. What to use? I have an familiar tool with so many minor changes i can do a app in hours, and on the other hand i have Oxygene , a good tool, but requiring a *lot* of knowledge of java and android secrets.

You can easy understand my smart decision was Delphi.

So, i start.

Design the UI was easy, very easy. In a few hours i have all the UI and basic behavior. get some bugs here and there, but my app was working. That was impressive and was very happy to have a android app working without know ANYTHING from Android!

Then i need it to connect to my delphi server. The main problem was the lack of support from RO to delphi mobile.

I must use SOAP for this. After a few problems, solved for RO stuff, i get running.

Ok, time to test! The app start to have some bugs, exit without message, crashed here and there... I can´t get it working more than 2 hours on my tests.

I try everything to simplify even more the app, use threads to be sure is not overload, lets figure, whatever you can imagine. No luck. Always goes out with errors related to canvas, graphics, etc, the most part of the time.

What to do? My app must run in kiosk mode 24x7, i can't release some unstable. Cant find a solution there, always close with signal 11, invalid pointer operation, or canvas error.

Ok, lets try to do some, not at the same quality, i think, but running to test Oxygene stability.

My app was ready on 2 days, and do all the stuff i need. I have running it from years, stress test, and the result was a super stable app, connecting using standard RO channels, reboot if it don't find the server at a stipulated time, and have 150 Kb (vs 15 mb on Delphi)

My conclusion:

The process of working on Oxygene was amazing. I have a lot of prejudices before start. The need to know java an android by example, but the reality is code completion, gendarme and oxidizer do the most part of the work and all the android related questions where there to be solved with a simple google search.
Same for the UI, i find my working quick and easy to adjust my UI using external editors and adjusting XML by hand when needed. Even at the last time, i don't use editors and add some controls by hand.

Im a delphi lover, i love delphi and i was a delphi lover for years. Everybody here knows it, i even be very contrary to the idea coming from RO to not support delphi mobile, and feel that as a betray.

Now i must say FM is not ready yet , and even when it will be ready if some day happens, is a very different option ( i don't want to say inferior) than that Oxygene offer. Now i understand why mh complains a lot about what FM have to offer and why the better way to go is Oxygene.

I hope not lost my friends of the delphi Community but i always be honest and i don't plan to stop being honest now.

Is great to have bot options and maybe in a next release Delphi will be ready to a cooler experience.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I can't test XE5 update 2, because it ruins my XE5 install. Im downloading the iso and will try with a fresh install.

Using GExperts to comment code with date, time and author

2013-12-06T08:00:00.001-08:00

I am a happy user of GExperts . From my beginnings in Delphi consider it more a part of the IDE , irreplaceable for its flexibility , speed and how many tasks easier to perform daily.

Luckily I have already migrated to Delphi XE5 and despite being in an experimental version I've used without problems since.

One of the virtues of this package is the ability to add date and time code . this time I want to give a little tip that I find to also add an automatic comment that includes better detail the moment of change , the author and let us start writing a detailed after insertion.

First , we access GExperts settings.

Select the option to add date and wrote this

Enclosed in quotation marks I have placed the literal text and want to appear in my code and have added a date format option with hour minutes and seconds.

Then add my initials and finalize an arrow that makes reading the subsequent comments .

Then save the changes and at the press anywhere in the editor Ctrl + Alt + code To get this:

leaving the cursor at the right point to start writing the comment

An important detail is that eventually the line if they return the edited down to the next line but even with activated comment (this is because we put 3 slash /// . Whether they produce this effect is placed just 2 slash // .

Enjoy!

Embarcadero DROPS Anydac support Delphi XE also.

2013-03-07T11:51:00.002-08:00

With all that noise on the line, we forget to comment this detail: you can't use FireDac on previous delphi version. The only version supported is Delphi XE3.

Several questions come to my mind.

For wich reason a company drop support not only to others pascal compilers , supossing they are a real competence, but to all delphi customers having previous delphi versions?

How can this not bring money to EMB? Why a Delphi 2010 or Delphi XE2 user CAN'T buy Firedac?

And what STOP THEM to do the same limitation on next versions and force us to buy the latest delphi IDE to continue using Firedac?

EDIT/UPDATE: As all you already knows, EMB put reverse to this and now support previous compiler. Congrats EMB.

Embarcadero DROPS Anydac support for Linux

2013-03-01T20:37:00.005-08:00

Embarcadero buy Anydac company and transform to Firedac product. They promise two weeks ago to ENHANCE this libraries, Dmirty Areiev (former anydac developer) also promise that. Great news right?

The bad news are old anydac customers, you lost! Fpc/Lazarus users you lost too! You have a linux server working with anydac? Sorry: Game over!

Sorry folks, I'm really shocked for that. We invested a lot of time on make anydac work for linux and nobody care, and nobody will pay for this.

Edit: You just can work with the old code from any dad, the future releases probably work, probably don't. your mileage can vary.

Devexpress will never support Firemonkey

2012-09-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

After asking to staff at devexpress, they say will not support firemonkey while the API suffer of changes from Embarcadero.

That are really bad news to developer express customers and in particular to Delphi users.

Sadly, we will not see in years a DX crossplatafform version at all. Not strange, after all even the .NET version of devexpress don't work over linux or mac. I bet for the same lack of e**s to take risk and support users.

I will have it in mind next time i click renew on my dx subscriptions, you see...

Linux repositories compatibles with RemObjects

2011-01-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes is hard to have a updated version of lazarus and fpc working with remobjects version.

For this reason , im publishing and updating versions tested with remobjects latest stable release on my repos.

the stable version will be the tested with RO and the testing version will be the guarantee to compile ro packages.

Here are the instructions.

Repository Lazarus / testing FPC versions

Installation instructions:

open a console or terminal window on your ubuntu or debian based linux box.

Add the key GPG

gpg --keyserver hkp://pgp.mit.edu:11371 --recv-keys 63EF10AF

Add the key to APT system:

gpg --export 63EF10AF | sudo apt-key add -

Check whether the key was built:

sudo apt-key list

Add the repository to its list of repositories

You can use synaptic or edit /etc/apt/sources.list directly. Add the line:

deb http://www.petrobox.net/lazarus/ lazarus-stable universe

deb http://www.petrobox.net/lazarus/ lazarus-testing universe

remember, the tested version will be the STABLE version only.

Install Lazarus

from the same console windows type

sudo apt-get update

then

sudo apt-get install lazarus

that's all.

Enjoy!

Namaste.

Lazarus on OS X (short version)

2010-05-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

Simple steps to have working lazarus on MAC OS X.

Is required Mac OS X 16.2

1) Install full XCODE, download from apple orinstall from Mac OS X cd.

2) Install FPC from here .

3)Download lazarus sources , build and use.

Steps to get and build

Open a terminal.

go to devs folder

cd /Developers

get source of lazarus

svn co http://svn.freepascal.org/svn/lazarus/trunk lazarus

when finish, change to downloaded sources folder

cd /Developers/lazarus

build it...

make clean all

run it!

./startlazarus

Enjoy.

DCPCrypt for 64 bits is here

2010-02-21T07:01:00.000-08:00

The best library for encryption and decryption in delphi and lazarus is working in 64 bits now (Only in lazarus/fpc, while embarcadero don't release a 64 bits compiler).

Thanks to the amazing work of David Barton, library creator, we can get enc/dec at faster speeds using 64 bits.

You can download it here

Thanks David!

Enjoy!

Edited: The project is now hosted in lazarus-ccr project. a unique code builds on both,32 and 64 bits. I dont tested the lazarus-ccr code.

Happy New Year! FPC 2.4.0 is here!

2010-01-03T06:16:00.000-08:00

From the lazarus list, Marco van de Voort annouce:

"Happy New Year!

As a special present, we have placed a new major release of the Free Pascal
Compiler, version 2.4.0 on our ftp-servers.

Changes that may break backwards compatibility are documented at:
http://wiki.freepascal.org/User_Changes_2.4.0

Downloads are available at:

the main FTP server at

ftp://ftp.freepascal.org/pub/fpc/dist/2.4.0/

and

ftp://freepascal.stack.nl/pub/fpc/dist/2.4.0/"

Is the most delphi compatible version EVER! Great news for delphi developers needing Mac Os and Linux targets.

Enjoy!

Lazarus(FPC) forms even more compatible with delphi.

2009-12-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

Starting with FPC version 2.5.1 lazarus and FPC allow to save forms in lfm format without the need of LRS files.

This change make even easy migrate code from Delphi to Lazarus.

Prereqs:

Lazarus trunk version.
FPC trunk version (tested with version 2.5.1, don't know which is the minimal version required).
(Edited: minimal version required is FPC Version 2.4.0. Thanks Paul!)

The steps are:

1) Go to project options, tab miscellaneous and select fpc resources.

2) Copy dfm file to lfm file.

3) Open pas file on lazarus.

4) search your dfm reference and replace it for

{$IFDEF LCL}
{$R *.lfm}
{$ELSE}
{$R *.dfm}
{$ENDIF}

5) Search the include for lrs file at inicialization section and remove it.

6) HIT F12 (to see the lfm file).

7) You can safely ignore warnings about properties non presents in lazarus. That is true for the most of cases, but like you are a serious programmer will always read the warning messages to evaluate importance of the message, right? ;)
Save

8) Build. Done!

As always, don't forget to add need uses clauses in header of units ( i mind LclType, LResources,etc).

Enjoy!

Zeos Libs dont work on 64 bits systems

2009-09-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, i know. Please don't cry.
If you are a utopia code writer, thinking you can develop a terrific database system using lazarus + FPC + zeoslib on a 64 bits system, you are a dreamer!

I discover yesterday , 3 AM, in the hardest way, after ending migrating a Remobjects/DatAbstract server. It compile excellent, but ZEOS have a lot of bugs in 64 bits world.

So, my friend, keep dreaming theres a better world, or take the zeos code and bring it to the 64 bits universe (i'm checking right now how to help, and make it happens!)

After so many years with 64 bits on the market, you always will get a rock in the middle of your way, sadly.

Namaste.

New repo for FPC Stable version

2009-05-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Now you can select one of two options:

deb http://www.petrobox.net/lazarus/ lazarus-stable universe

having fpc 2.2.4 and lazarus 0.9.27

or

deb http://www.petrobox.net/lazarus/ lazarus-testing universe

having fpc 2.3.1 and lazarus 0.9.27

I have some troubles using fpc 2.3.1 , solved when downgrade to 2.2.4. If is your case, now you have a easy solution.

Namaste.

Nominate Lazarus at Sourceforge 2009 awards

2009-05-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

Lazarus Ubuntu Repo updated x86 and AMD64 binaries

2009-04-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

New prebuild debds available.

fpc 2.3.1 build 13026

lazarus 0.9.27 build 19581

Enjoy!

Namaste.

Repos lazarus testing version 0.9.27

2008-10-16T13:38:00.001-07:00

Upgrade to repos and change of key

Add GPG key

gpg --keyserver hkp://pgp.mit.edu:11371 --recv-keys 46CC8C32

Add to APT:

gpg --export 46CC8C32 | sudo apt-key add -

Check if key is ok

sudo apt-key list

sudo aptitude update

sudo aptitude safe-upgrade.

Enjoy.

Namaste.

Using Logmein with Ubuntu 64 bits.

2008-09-26T09:14:00.001-07:00

If you are a user of Ubuntu 64 and you need to acess logmein you will ahve a few problems because theres not java plugin for firefox working ok.

The open source plugins availables are incompatible with sun java or lack of functionalities.

On the other hand, Flash plugin work out of box in ubuntu hardy 64 bits.

After do a little research i found a simple method to get logmein working.

We will install a special version of swiftweasel, running 32 bits code inside a 64 bits OS.

1)Double check universe and multiverse repos are enabled, if dont just goto System -> Adminstration -> Software sources and enable them.

2) Donwload that script, unzip and runit. More detailed instructions from the author here.

3) Choice your distro.

4) Choice internet navigator.

5) Installing progress.

6) Want install Flash? Is not a needed step, ubuntu install it rigth.

7) Install Java? Is required for use logmein.

8) Install Mplayer Plugin? Recomended.

9) The install scripts ask for your username

10) Done. We have a 32 bits firefox running on our 64 bits system.

11) Install the logmein plugin for firefox.

Get it on the logmein web, labs section, aqui . Dont install the deb file, just save that.

Open a terminal , go to the place you save the deb file and type::

sudo dpkg -i --force-architecture logmein-client_1.0.387-1_i386.deb

Done, now you can enjoy using logmein in your 64 bits system.

Namaste

Lazarus testing repositories updated

2008-09-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

There's new version in my repositories.

FPC version 2.3.1 revision 11736
Lazarus 0.9.25 svn revision 16526

The instructions on how to configure repositories here.

The code include support for TFrame.

To activate tframe support do the following:

Go to configure build lzaraus, avanced options, field options add:

-dEnableTFrame,

build and enjoy.

I hope it help you.

Namaste.

PHP Toolkit available - Delphi or lazarus forms to PHP in a single step

2008-09-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

It is gratifying to announce that is has released a set of automatic translation of Delphi applications to PHP, more specifically using VCL4PHP.

As the author of the same suggests, allows for three things:

1) Will automatically convert forms delphi or Lazarus to VCL4PHP, while retaining the same provision.
2) Convert Lazarus in a IDE for PHP.
3) Create extensions for PHP using language as pascal.

If you want to see a simple example of its potential diriganse to this site.

The homepage of the project is here

Namaste.