Delphi 64-bits... in 2011 or maybe 2012 or 2013

Delphi 64-bit issue is gonna hurt lots of people...

The first problem people "notice" are 64-bit issues, such as, Explorer Integration, System Services, IIS 64-bits, 64-bit "aware" utilities.

- Let me start with Explorer integration. other than ShellPlus (you can read about it on this blog), I could not get my delphi-made 32-bit Explorer to work in Windows 64-bits. (let's not talk about Windows CE devices).

(There's FreePascal 64-bits, but if you can get a working decent explorer integration to work correctly without crashing and requiring so many DLLs).

- There's IIS 64-bits. Did anyone recently hear about php 64-bits, perl 64-bits, ASP.NET 64-bits? maybe I'll wait until every one gets rich from their web-applications and my Delphi-based Interweb-application is still "under-development"...

- There's other nifty system utility applications that needs native 64-bit access, such as Registry Editors, Driver front-ends, Database front-ends that simply don't play well in 64-bits mode.

For example, there are those popular registry editors... that don't work well in 64-bits... and getting killed by those C/C++-based 64-bit Registry vendors. There is no easy way to access 64-bit Windows registry low-level from 32-bit modes...

- Another touted development model is the driver-front-end, where the driver guy spends months writing those drivers and then makes a quick front-end in Delphi... With Delphi 64-bits coming maybe in Delphi 2010 or 2011, we'll "drop" Delphi and just use native C++ to write those front-ends. oh well...

- The biggie is 64-bit IIS mode, 64-bit apache, where the ISAPI DLL or Apache module needs to be in 64-bits mode to work... You can run a 32-bit app in 64-bit IIS, but when you want to compete with big-iron C++ vendors, you need full 64-bit mode. Most of the delphi guys write those ISAPI filters and small web-server utilities... I've never seen a 64-bit ISAPI filter written in Delphi or web-server control panel written in Delphi either.

but wait, there's more. suppose you want to make a plug-in to a 64-bit application, such as 64-bit MSI, or 64-bit adobe, wait, maybe i'm getting ahead of my self...

Corrections:
This article came out before Delphi 2010 came out. Delphi 2010 and no 64-bit Delphi, oh well...


Article update 2013 March -
This article now contains invalid information since FreePascal has x64 support and they fixed bugs with their 64-bit integrations. Delphi XE2 with 64-bit was released. If you are using Delphi 2010 or Delphi XE, you should upgrade. Article contained correct information at that time.

Welcome to Delphi Airlines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5BlIYR-47g (or google for "MadTV airplane skit")

Keeping our customers happy.


Welcome aboard to Delphi Airlines.
It is 2007 and we are more committed to bug fixing than ever
and that's why we like to play important information to the roadmap (rarely updated)


First, please make sure you are securely licensed.
Licenses can be purchased at US$800 (+ US$150 more for S&H + Taxes and more)
To install, make sure you install it correctly by activating it correctly.
Too many activations, and you may have to call for customer-service.
To "resell" or sell an old version of Delphi, the resale value is US$0/- and you cannot sell it.


If you "activate" too many times, you may have to license it again. I know what you are thinking, I've never paid twice for the same license!


Once you install the product, customer-service may or may not contact you. You have to contact them instead.


Please take a moment to look at the documentation. The charge for buying at this documentation is US$50 + Shipping and Handling + Taxes (and 2 weeks delivery). The charge for not looking at this documentation is "priceless" ridicules in the Borland/Imprise/CodeGear(whatever) forums.

Each customer will be given very little documentation and TeamB may or may not answer your question. When answered, the replies are so brief and so little they make you look clueless.

Should you design mission critical systems using Delphi, there are so many issues and errors. Do not fear - there are many components and consulting services at US$200 per hour or more (depending on consultant).

my project is going to fail. I can't think...

As always, exact change is appreciated.

I know that some of you are concerned about getting "there" safely.
Enjoy your Delphi experience ;)