An integrated development environment (IDE) for Delphi can streamline workflows, making it easier to deliver high-quality applications. The best Delphi IDE is essentially an all-in-one toolkit for crafting, testing, and deploying your application.
Advanced IDEs empower developers to modernize data access components while preserving code security. Yet, not all of them ease the complexities of multi-platform development in the same way. So, let’s look at the five most popular Delphi IDEs and compare their features, benefits, and compatibility capacities.
Table of contents
- RAD Studio
- C++Builder
- Lazarus
- CodeTyphon
- Visual Studio Code + Delphi Extension Pack
- Data Access Components for Delphi
- Conclusion
RAD Studio
Embarcadero’s official Delphi IDE and one of the most feature-rich environments for corporate use, RAD Studio offers powerful debugging tools and form designers for complex, multi-tiered projects.
RAD Studio features
- Integrated Delphi and C++ support. Use both languages within the same IDE, simplifying multi-language projects and collaboration.
- Visual Component Library (VCL). It includes updated UI controls and WinRT APIs for Windows 11.
- Advanced debugging and profiling. You can use a proprietary debugger for Delphi applications on Windows or LLDB v12 debugging for non-Windows apps.
- RAD Server for enterprise applications. Build REST API servers with Swagger support, simplifying multi-tier app development.
Benefits of RAD Studio
| Quick app design, prototyping, and deployment across platforms. | Integration with version control systems simplifies collaboration between teams. | A library of built-in components and 3rd-party integrations that reduces development time. | Support for the latest mobile and desktop platforms. |
C++ Builder
C++ Builder (part of RAD Studio) offers a powerful IDE for Delphi and C++ development. It provides robust cross-platform capabilities, advanced debugging tools, and a visual design environment.
C++ Builder features
- Modern C++17 support. Use a Clang-enhanced compiler with full C++17 support. It also integrates the Dinkumware Standard Template Library (STL), providing developers access to essential data structures and algorithms.
- Visual development tools. Design user interfaces using a drag-and-drop interface.
- Integrated debugging and testing. Advanced debugging, memory profiling, and testing tools streamline your development process and reduce time to market.
- Continuous integration support. Integrate with popular CI tools like MSBuild, CMake, and Ninja, automating builds, testing, and deployment for more efficient development cycles.
Benefits of C++ Builder
| Switchable languages within the same IDE that simplify workflows for multi-language teams. | Advanced UI design and data binding features for easier development of complex apps. | Access to the latest C++ features and popular libraries like Boost and SDL2. | Connectivity with native databases, cloud integration, and debugging for scalable apps. |
Lazarus
This free, open-source IDE is widely popular among budget-conscious developers for its “write once, compile anywhere” philosophy. With Lazarus, developers can create applications for various platforms, including Raspberry Pi.
Although it lacks the advanced features of commercial IDEs like RAD Studio, Lazarus is often considered one of the best Delphi IDE tools thanks to its high customizability and active community support.
Lazarus features
- Cross-platform development. Lazarus allows developers to write code once and compile it for different platforms.
- Rich visual components and libraries. Access a broad range of visual components through the Lazarus Component Library (LCL). This Delphi VCL-compatible library simplifies GUI design across platforms.
- Lack of dependencies. Create programs without platform-specific dependencies, simplifying distribution and reducing issues related to missing libraries.
- Debugging and code analysis. With GNU Debugger (GDB), you can set breakpoints, step through code, and inspect variables to resolve issues efficiently.
Benefits of Lazarus
| Modifiable source code and a flexible library of plugins. | Active community support that ensures constant updates and bug fixes. | Ideal for small teams thanks to its lightweight nature and minimal resource requirements. | Different widget sets for native-looking apps across environments. |
CodeTyphon
CodeTyphon is a free, open-source environment based on FreePascal, designed for cross-platform development. While Lazarus has caught up in some areas, CodeTyphon remains a comprehensive solution for developers seeking a Delphi-compatible IDE that supports multiple operating systems.
However, CodeTyphon has had licensing and copyright issues, including concerns over removed copyright notices and using the KSDEV code. The license prohibits redistribution and bundling, which conflicts with open-source principles.
CodeTyphon features
- Extensive component library. Access a wide array of bundled components, libraries, and samples.
- Cross-platform capabilities. Support over 200 OS-CPU-Platform targets, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and BSD variants.
- Integrated development tools. Seamlessly transition between designing, coding, and debugging within the all-in-one suite, covering the entire development lifecycle.
- Embedded form designer. Visually design app interfaces using the drag-and-drop form designer.
Benefits of CodeTyphon
| Full-cycle development support for Delphi and FreePascal. | Community that contributes to new features, bug fixes, and security patches. | Quick environment configuration to start compiling for multiple platforms. |
Visual Studio Code + Delphi Extension Pack
As you know, Visual Studio Code (VSC) is a versatile, lightweight IDE that supports almost every major programming language. As for the Delphi Extension Pack and DelphiLSP, these packages let you integrate Delphi development directly into VSC.
Delphi Extension Pack features
- Rich code editing. Enhance Visual Studio Code with Delphi-specific features like improved syntax highlighting, snippets, and web support.
- Pascal and Delphi language support. Access comprehensive support for Pascal and its dialects, including detailed syntax highlighting and extensive snippets.
- Multi-language development. Work on different projects simultaneously, supporting multiple languages and maximizing versatility with LSP-compatible editors.
- DelphiLSP support. You can integrate DelphiLSP for code completion and error checking, although some features are still in early development.
Benefits of VS Code combined with Delphi Extension Pack
| Thousands of VS Code extensions for version control, debugging, and CI/CD. | Adjustable color themes, team-specific configurations, and customization profiles. | Usable for web development, backend programming, and more. | Delphi IDE look and keyboard shortcuts for easy adaptation. |
Compatibility Comparison of Delphi IDE tools
| IDE | Operating systems | Visual designer | Open-source |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAD Studio | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Raspberry Pi | ✔ | ✘ |
| C++ Builder | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux | ✔ | ✘ |
| Lazarus | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Raspberry Pi | ✔ | ✔ |
| CodeTyphon | Windows, Linux, macOS, OpenIndiana, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly, Solaris, and more | ✔ | ✔ |
| VSC with Delphi Extensions | Windows, macOS, Linux (for VSC) | ✘ | ✔ (IDE) |
Data Access Components for Delphi
Universal Delphi Data Access Components (UniDAC) from Devart streamline data handling the cross-platform development capabilities in popular Delphi programming IDE solutions, including RAD Studio, Lazarus, C++Builder, and FreePascal.
Additionally, UniDAC allows applications to work with data from various cloud services, databases, and many other third-party systems. We also provide extensive documentation, including guides on how to connect DAC to SQL Server or Oracle with minimal disruptions.
Benefits of DAC
| High performance and low memory consumption, compared to similar solutions. | Simplified database connection management and data handling across multiple systems. | Development for major desktop and mobile platforms with regular updates for compatibility. |
| Broad support and integration with cloud services and enterprise-level solutions for flexible app development. | In-memory datasets for quick data processing and real-time data manipulation. | Secure connections (SSL, SSH, and HTTP/HTTPS) protocols for communication. |
Conclusion
When selecting the best Delphi IDE, the key factors include compatibility with operating systems and programming languages, technical support, and customizability. But most importantly, using it should feel natural, so we recommend taking each of them for a test drive to find the one you’ll be comfortable using.
Companies can further enhance their development efficiency with multiple IDEs with Devart’s UniDAC, which streamlines database connectivity and data handling. Moreover, Data Access Components from Devart provide a 60-day trial with full access to all features.
So, if you’re curious to see why it has become a tool of choice for many companies and developers, give it a shot.
