Difference between Delphi and Delphi.NET

12
votes

I am kinda new in programming and I was wondering what is the main difference between Delphi and Delphi.NET? I hope I can get some examples about their differences, be it syntax or structures.

By the way, is there any "simple and easy" compiler for Delphi.NET ? (such as Dev for C++ which is kinda simple)

2
.netdelphi
Delphi.NET is a now defunct product that is no longer developed. You should simply forget about it. There was only ever one compiler, the one sold by Embarcadero. - David Heffernan
With Embarcadero Prism it is possible to make .NET programming using a Delphi like language. Never used it though, and never will. - LU RD
@DavidHeffernan - Embarcadero is still selling Delphi for .Net? there is someone who is buying it in our days?!? - RBA
@RBA, no. The key word in David's original comment is was - Delphi for .NET died with Delphi 8, even though VCL for .NET survived a couple of versions afterward. Delphi Prism is the current Delphi for .NET development. - Ken White
Delphi 8 for dotnet is deprecated. But RemObjects have products for those that want to mix Delphi and dotnet. See remobjects.com. - Roland Bengtsson

2 Answers

14
votes

Delphi is the language and IDE to create native Windows, Mac and iOS applications.

Delphi.NET is a deprecated version to generate .NET applications. The current alternative to create .NET applications using a Object Pascal syntax is use Embarcadero Prism.

2
votes

The difference is quite simple: Delphi was designed originally to create applications which run on Windows OS without any other 'interpreter'. That means that you were developing an application in Delphi and Delphi will generate the machine code needed.

When .NET arrived the guys from Borland create a separate compiler which was a layer on this technology, so the Delphi developers continue to create applications which work on that, without being forced to learn a new language and a the new platform(more or less).

From my knowledge the only tools which are more or less 'Delphi' developer friendly are Delphi for .Net(from old Borland) and the Prism compiler(known also as Oxygene) from RemObjects.