Hey! I have a few questions about Delphi...

Is there a free compiler / interpretter for Delphi (if any, which) and / or an IDE?

Is Delphi easy to learn, or hard? I mean, I know plenty of languages (C, C++, Java, Perl [some], HTML, Javascript, Ruby, VB6 [woot], Python...) so it shouldn't be to hard, it's just the time that I have to put in to learn it.

Is there a way to make graphical applications in Delphi? And also, what about full blown applications? Is it a full language like C++, or a toy language like VB6 ( just examples )?

Thanks in advance. I want to learn Delphi for, uhm, the fun of it!

>> Is there a free compiler / interpretter for Delphi (if any, which) and / or an IDE?

Yes, a somewhat limited version is available for free. An interpreter isn't needed as the compiler produces Windows native code.
Delphi, being a complete product, comes complete with an IDE.
http://www.codegear.com/ (for the full thing)
http://www.turboexplorer.com/ (for the free thing)

>> Is Delphi easy to learn, or hard?

As everything, it's easy to learn the basics but you can spend years mastering it.

>> Is there a way to make graphical applications in Delphi?

Of course.

>> And also, what about full blown applications?

Of course.

>> Is it a full language like C++,

Borland's C++ compiler is written (in part) in Delphi...

So you can write compilers in Delphi? What about an operating system?

EDIT: Can you recommend any books on Delphi for me?

i don't think you can write an OS in Delphi. why? because it is using Win32 platform. but you can write it in Pascal which is the father of delphi.

free delphi books:
- http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/torry/
- http://www.efg2.com/Lab/Library/Delphi/
- http://www.delphi3000.com
- http://www.bsdg.org/SWAG/
- http://www.programmersheaven.com/
- http://www.matlus.com/scripts/website.dll
- http://delphi.about.com
- http://www.festra.com/
- http://www.felix-colibri.com
- http://www.drbob42.com/Delphi/index.htm

also i recommend delphi.about.com

best regards,

and no, I can't recommend any recent books as I've not recently read any (I'm concerned almost fulltime with Java these days).

But anything by Marco Cantu is sure to be good (unless he's gotten a lot worse with age).

and do listen to Dr Bob. He's a great guy I've met several times.

Hey can you help me with this stupid installer? I downloaded the free TurboDelphi, but the stupid compiler needs some dependancies. I have .NET 2.0, but it says it needs 1.1, so it doesn't install. And if I try to download any of them, it brings me to an unavailable page. Help!

Edit: Yay I installed it! Woot now I actually have to start learning Delphi.

Two more questions:
1) Is there any way to embed Delphi code into a website? Like a Java applet, but it runs in the background. ie: Is there a way to use Delphi like Javascript? I mean to make a filter of some sort for spam on a forum?
2) Is Delphi a lot better than VB? Can someone list cons/pros to VB for me? I know VB well for the most part, and Delphi looks simliar (Visual Form editor, etc.)

.NET 2.0 is for some reason not enough when you want to run something that needs .NET 1.1.
You need to install .NET 1.1 as well (it won't overwrite 2.0).
go here: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/net...k/default.aspx

"Is there any way to embed Delphi code into a website? "
You can create serverside modules for IIS and Apache in Delphi (though maybe not in the free version).

"Is Delphi a lot better than VB?"
Certainly. Far more powerful, better editors, a real programming language.
If VB looks a bit like Delphi it's because the people making VB looked at Delphi and liked what they saw. Initial versions of VB looked nothing like that.

So wait...
You can create serverside modules for IIS and Apache in Delphi (though maybe not in the free version).

can you hook me up with a tutorial or howto site on web-delphi stuff?

So VB6 is like a Delphi knock-off, but for noobs (sorry, couldn't think of a better term...)