Delphi.NET preview pack consists of the Delphi for .NET CIL compiler, VCL for .NET and produces safe code. Designed to provide the first experience with Delphi for .NET next year! Conclusion is simple: "Delphi is going .NET, though the timescale may disappoint the most diehard .NET fans. Even if you don't ever intend to do any .NET programming yourself, the changes to Delphi that will take place as Borland retools Delphi for the .NET framework will improve your life” said Zarco Gajic, Delphi senior developer.
“We plan to continue supporting more and more .NET technologies in Delphi - such as Compact Framework, .NET Whidbey, and Yukon, all the way to Longhorn, WinFX, and beyond. So whether you're a long time Delphi Win32 developer or a soon to be .NET developer or both - if you haven't yet upgraded to v7 or v8, I highly recommend the upgrade to Delphi 8 (which includes D7 for Win32 in the box) it's a great value for both Win32 and .NET developers.” said Michael Swindell, from Borland Software Corporation.
At the German EKON9 conference, was presented a very detailed Delphi roadmap. This doesn’t cover only the future .net 2.0 support (Highlander), but includes the plan for a native 64-bit compiler and multiple versions of the VCL for compact framework and Avalon.
The Roadmap
- Dexter (end 2005) will have ECO 3 (with ECO Basic in all Delphi editions), specific support for 64bit .net, a full-blown version of Together for Delphi, focus on performance and quality.
- Highlander (2006) will support net 2.0 and provide a VCL for .NET 2.0, VCL for Compact Framework, support for 64bit .NET 2.0
- Delphi for Vista (2007) will include a VCL for Avalon and Indigo support
- Delphi/C++ for win64 (circa 2007): the name says it all
