Delphi is 30 Years Old!

Delphi RAD (Rapid Application Development) 1.0

People who know the Delphi programming language are probably revealing their age. Many people think that Delphi is already obsolete, but in reality, it is not: IsDelphiDead.com

The last time I used Delphi was in 2018 when I left a Cambridge startup software company. From 2009 to 2018, I wrote over 400,000 lines of Delphi code (with some C++, Inline Win32 Assembly).

Delphi’s 30th Anniversary

In 2025, Delphi celebrates its 30th anniversary since its release. Since its debut in 1995, Delphi has gained a reputation for its efficiency and stability, making it a preferred tool for many developers. Over the past 30 years, Delphi has seen both glory and decline, yet it continues to have a loyal user base worldwide.

The Birth and Glory of Delphi

Delphi was initially launched by Borland in 1995 as a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool for Windows. It evolved from the DOS-era “Borland Turbo Pascal” and introduced the Visual Component Library (VCL) along with a highly efficient compiler, enabling developers to build complex applications quickly. In 1999, with the release of Delphi 5, it reached its peak user base, even surpassing Visual Studio as the preferred tool for developers.

Challenges and Decline

However, this golden era was short-lived. After the release of Delphi 7, Borland faced internal management issues and intense market competition, leading to its decline. Delphi’s creator, Anders Hejlsberg, left the company and joined Microsoft, where he developed the C# language, dealing a significant blow to Delphi. Meanwhile, the rise of Java and .NET further squeezed Delphi’s market share. Additionally, Borland’s high pricing strategy drove many developers toward alternative tools, causing Delphi’s user base to shrink rapidly.

Rebirth and Growth

Despite these challenges, Delphi did not vanish. After being acquired by Embarcadero, it underwent continuous technological improvements, leading to the Delphi XE series, which supports cross-platform development. These versions enable developers to create applications for Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux, meeting modern development needs. Globally, Delphi continues to have a strong presence in Brazil, China, Germany, Russia, and Africa. In particular, Delphi remains influential in China, especially in education and enterprise applications.

Looking to the Future

As technology evolves, Delphi is actively adapting to new trends. From a single-platform development tool to a comprehensive multi-platform and multi-device development environment, Delphi has consistently pursued innovation. Moving forward, Delphi will continue to enhance its cross-platform capabilities, improve development efficiency, and provide stronger support for developers worldwide.

On this 30th anniversary, let’s pay tribute to Delphi and appreciate its remarkable contributions to the developer community. We look forward to Delphi continuing to lead technological advancements and creating more possibilities for developers.

Smart Programmers Use Delphi

The phrase “Real programmers use C++, smart programmers use Delphi” once circulated widely in the IT industry, highlighting Delphi’s simplicity and efficiency. The earliest versions of Delphi were even called “VB Killers” because they enabled rapid development of native WIN32/64 applications on Windows. Delphi’s code execution is highly efficient since it is compile, unlike VB, which is interpreted.

As a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool for Windows, Delphi is loved by developers for its simplicity, efficiency, and powerful features. Compared to C++, Delphi is easier to learn and enables faster development. Compared to Visual Basic, Delphi is more powerful. This is why programmers who use Delphi are often considered “smart programmers.”

Delphi / Object Pascal

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