New Features
What's new in Delphi Prism XE
The following is a list of features new in Delphi Prism XE and new in version 2011 released a few months prior to the Delphi Prism XE launch.
New name, new functionality
The latest release of Delphi Prism is called Delphi Prism XE and signifies the product is available with Embarcadero ToolCloud technology for simplified network licensing. It also provides access to earlier versions of Delphi Prism including 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Subversion integration
New support for Subversion, the powerful source control system, helps you to perform common Subversion commands directly from within the IDE.
MonoDevelop integration
MonoDevelop is a free, open source and feature rich IDE for Windows and Mac. With the inclusion of MonoDevelop in Delphi Prism XE, you can now develop on Mac as well as Windows. Additionally new project templates are included specifically for Mac OS X to ensure you are using the Mono libraries.
Visual Studio 2010 Shell
Delphi Prism XE now comes with the Visual Studio 2010 Shell IDE which can be used if you do not own Visual Studio. New features in this IDE are improved monitor support, an enhanced code editor, improved debugging and easy access to the latest .NET functionality.
Supports .NET 4.0 and Silverlight 4.0
Develop using the latest Microsoft technologies - .NET 4.0 and Silverlight 4.0. Improvements include better native/managed interoperability, threading improvements, enhanced garbage collection and more.
New compiler features
Among the major new features to the compiler are:
- New expressions include 'for' loop expressions (loop based on an expression), 'if' expressions (for simple inline conditional expressions) and 'case' expressions (for larger conditional expressions)
- Support for .NET 4.0 BigInteger constants - for arbitrary length signed integers
- Support for .NET 4.0 Dynamic Types - ideal for working with dynamic languages
- Support for 'begin/end' assembly entry points
Additional new language features include support for new 'readonly' local variables, .NET 4.0 turples, .NET 4.0 PIA import support, .NET 4.0 tail calls, partial interfaces and more.
Automatically convert C# code
Paste or import C# code snippets or .cs files into Delphi Prism XE and they get automatically converted into Delphi Prism XE code.
iPhone support
Delphi Prism XE works with MonoTouch from Novell to produce applications for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Code obfuscation capabilities
A free licence of REMObjects Oxfuscator is included to obfuscate your code and discourage reverse engineering. Easily run the obfuscation routines standalone or include them in your build process.
Free licence of Raize CodeSite
A free licence of Raize CodeSite Logging System is included to enable developers to conduct local or remote logging of an application and send logging data to either a live display or a log file.
Features
Advanced Delphi Programming Language
Delphi Prism XE provides a powerful yet easy-to-learn language with features not found in Visual Basic / C# that help developers create applications for the .NET platform. Delphi Prism XE supports advanced programming features including Aspect Oriented Programming, generics, sequences, queries and support for parallel computing. Delphi Prism XE supports both Windows Forms - including support for partial classes and third part controls - and WPF, for which it provides full design and run time support.
Cross Platform for Windows, Mac and Linux
Create applications on Windows and Mac operating systems (with the aid of MonoDevelop) and run applications on Windows, Mac and Linux (using the Mono runtime). Additionally target multiple versions of .NET including .NET 2.0, .NET 3.0, .NET 3.5, .NET 4.0, .NET CF 2, Silverlight 2, 3 and 4. Even run applications on the iPhone, iTouch and iPad using MonoTouch (sold separately).
Visual Studio Integration
Install Delphi Prism XE into your existing Visual Studio 2008 or 2010 installation. Or if you don't own Visual Studio, use the included Visual Studio 2010 Shell which provides much of the functionality. Take advantage of productivity enhancing functionality such as Windows and Web form designers, IntelliSense, method hints, error markers, automatic conversion of C# code to Delphi Prism XE code, integrated debugging and much more.
Comprehensive Data Support
With ADO.NET support (Enterprise only) to connect to .NET data sources and the dbExpress framework for connecting to InterBase, Delphi Prism XE has support for a wide variety of data sources.
Multi-tier support - Enterprise only
Create .NET applications that can interact with native DataSnap application servers. There is full support for accessing server methods and IAppServer based DataSnap servers.
ASP.NET and Silverlight
Delphi Prism XE supports the creation of ASP.NET websites and Silverlight Rich Internet Applications (RIA's) when installed into Visual Studio. Additionally Delphi Prism XE supports for visual designers and third party controls.
Editions
Delphi Prism XE Professional edition
Delphi Prism XE Professional edition includes:
- Delphi Prism XE programming language and Oxygene compiler
- Visual Studio 2010 Shell - a Visual Studio 2010 based IDE to programme using Delphi Prism XE
- Support for MonoDevelop for cross-platform development
- dbExpress local database connectivity support to InterBase
- Includes logging and obfuscation tools
- InterBase SMP 2009 Developer Edition
Delphi Prism XE Enterprise edition
Delphi Prism XE Enterprise includes everything in the Professional edition, plus:
- Database server connectivity to InterBase
- Support for building .NET DataSnap clients that connect to native Delphi DataSnap servers
- ADO.NET support to connect to .NET data sources