Dimensional Data

Today’s software is definitely at the pinnacle (so far) of a slope of increasing usefulness, complexity, and power which began decades ago in the 1970s and 1980s. Our modern programs can do things now which were unimaginable when the IBM PC first launched and even when the earliest versions of Windows and Macintosh wowed us with WYSIWYG displays. Now it’s common to have programs that casually incorporate advanced machine learning, massively interconnected data sources, and the ability to use peripherals such as fingerprint or face recognition and near-field payment systems. A lot of that has become so ubiquitous that we forget we are holding that Sci-fi-become-real modern way of life in the palm of our hands in the form of a mobile phone. This wonderworld of computer enhancement can add immense depth to what we humans can do, even in our regular daily lives. But functionality comes at a price: software complexity. Complex software demands better design patterns and architecture to avoid making it a hard job and an impossible one. It needs more time, which means more money. Also, there’s a learning curve that can thwart new developers who have no knowledge of good practices and design patterns. As a developer, employing low code techniques can give you a sound foundation and a huge jump-start for your project. Low code generates a substantial amount of your application’s functionality and user interface for you with a very small amount of work. With the use of the Windows Application Development tool, you can build on the sound structure and add additional custom functionality if necessary, filling out the features with a low amount of extra code of your own. What are the benefits of Low Code? Low code focuses your coding efforts on only the specialized and unique parts of your application rather than the ‘scaffolding’ code to actually make the app’s “boring bits” work in the first place. Use your existing talents to rapidly develop applications for your business. Use auto-generation, toolkits, wizards, and visual user interfaces to improve your productivity and provide a standardized, tried and tested look, feel and functionality. Great for agile software development – gets a minimum viable product ready really quickly. Low code means lower development time and that means decreased labor costs. Low code means fewer places for the bugs to hide! Better customer experiences by using existing familiar and consistent functionality and user experience which leverages professional code written by experts adding the wisdom and experience of additional professional developers to your own. How can I do low code in Delphi? Before we start, it’s worth pointing out that Delphi, by design, has always been a low-code solution. The “RAD” part of RAD Studio Delphi stands for “Rapid Application Development”. The component-based design of Delphi forms, the VCL, and Firemonkey FMX has always meant Delphi developers have always been writing far less code than alternative solutions. But there’s more waiting to help you be a low code powerhouse. The Firemonkey Low Code App Wizard is your new best friend. How can I use the RAD Studio Low Code Wizard to produce a fully-working low code program? To get started with the low code wizard in Delphi, first, you have to install the package from Getit. Open the package manager from Tools-> GetIt Package […]

TCoffee and Code is back for another interesting session. While this webinar series usually centers around windows app development, this new session will discuss something that is extremely popular today. Joining Ian Barker for this virtual meeting are his fellow Embarcadero MVPs Jim McKeeth and Yilmaz Toru to tackle everything you need to know about Blockchain and NFTs. This conversation will introduce us to the world of cryptography including the use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the role of Blockchain, the use of Smart contracts, the emerging popularity of NFT games, and more. Interesting History about Bitcoin Bitcoin, as we all know, is the first ever decentralized cryptocurrency. It was first released as an open source in 2009 and the success of it resulted to the creation of other cryptocurrencies. Interestingly, Bitcoin was designed by a certain Satoshi Nakamoto who claimed to be a middle-age man but turned out to be non-existent. Everything You Need to know about Blockchain There were multiple attempts in the past to create digital money but most of them failed until the Bitcoin was launched. Interestingly, Bitcoin uses a specific type of database called Blockchain. Generally, it is a term utilized to represent distributed ledger technology (DLT) where transactions are recorded with an immutable cryptographic signature called hash. The panel will address all the Blockchain-related question in this video. Working with Smart Contracts In connection with Blockchain, this session will also discuss the purpose of smart contracts which are programs stored on a blockchain that allow us to convert traditional contracts into digital parallels. The team will also introduce us to Ethereum which is an open-source blockchain with Smart contract functionality. They will also show us how to connect and work with Ethereum using Delphi. Making Sense Out of NFT The panel will also discuss the emerging popularity of games that use Non-Fungible Tokens or NFT. Interestingly, these NFTs can be associated with easily-reproducible items such as photos, videos, audio, and other types of digital files as unique items and use blockchain to give the NFT a public proof of ownership. To know more about them, feel free to watch this TCoffee and Code Session below.

TCoffee and Code is a weekly virtual meeting series launched by Embarcadero Technologies on their YouTube channel. The goal for this series is to gather different developers and programmers in an informal virtual session to discuss some of the most important and the latest news about Delphi and the software development industry. In this new TCoffee and Code session, Embarcadero MVPs Ian Barker, Jim McKeeth, and Holger Flick were gathered to share their own thoughts about the newly launched Microsoft Windows 11 operating system and some of our favorite Windows App Development Tools. Are there major changes in Windows 11? Windows 11 offers a vast number of important changes compared to its predecessor, especially with some of the new available windows tools for developers. There are notable major changes, especially in its current graphical user interface. For instance, the new Windows 11 comes with a centered taskbar and a simplified widget bar that requires users to adjust to its new layout. In this video, the panel will highlight one of the major security feature changes in Windows 11. One of the system requirements for the new operating system is the TPM or Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0). The presence of this module will not just improve platform security on a higher scale, but will also effectively prevent software piracy. However, it also means that users must have a newer computer to embrace Windows 11 at full capacity. What Windows 11 development tools are available? Aside from the newly added TPM requirement, the team will also discuss other notable changes in the system especially with some of the development tools. This includes the revamped Windows Subsystem. The new operating system now allows you to easily install WSL. This particular feature allows users to natively run Linux Graphical User Interface in the Windows system. It is also interesting to mention that Windows 11 now allows users to run Android applications. The panel will also highlight other important development tools for Windows 11 including some Accessibility changes, virtualization, and Windows 11’s Right to Repair support. We will also get to see how the newly released Rad Studio 11 runs in Windows 11 in this video. Feel free to watch this new TCoffee and Code session to learn more.

In this latest TCoffee and Code session, Jim Mckeeth was joined by his fellow Embarcadero MVPs Ian Barker, Holger Flick, and Bruno Fierens to discuss another interesting topic about native windows development. This time, the panel discussed everything about web interfaces and how and what development tools you can use to natively run applications using web browsers with Delphi as the programming language – no JavaScript knowledge required. Learn how to create fully interactive web Applications using Delphi and TMS WEB core The panel tackle how it is possible to run applications natively using the web browser and how the method differs from native applications. The discussion also highlights the use of TMS WEB Core and where it differs from other web frameworks. Generally, TMS Web core is a web development tool that allows you to create web client applications from Delphi using RAD development methodology and a component-based framework. It will also highlight the pros and cons of using TMS WEB Core in creating web applications. They will also discuss the importance of using backend databases using frameworks like TMS XData, RAD Server, and more. What do you need to know about Electron and Miletus Frameworks? In connection with TMS WEB Core, the panel will also highlight the use of some of the popular frameworks among web developers. These include Electron and Miletus. Electron is a framework for creating native applications with web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Miletus, on the other hand, is also a framework that enables TMS WEB Applications to run as desktop applications and provides access to native features. The panel will provide a side-by-side comparison between the two. To learn more about Web interfaces and how to create applications with Delphi and TMS WEB Core, feel free to watch this two-hour-long TCoffee and Code session below.

DelphiCon, the biggest annual online conference about Embarcadero and Delphi, officially kicked off last November. The highly anticipated event gathered a top-tier lineup of speakers to discuss the future of development with Delphi and a wide range of interesting topics that are absolutely worth watching. In this video from the recently concluded DelphiCon 2021, Jackson Gomes will walk us through the process of beautifying Intraweb Applications using the Bootstrap framework. How can I user IntraWeb with HTML Templates? Jackson will give us a brief overview of Intraweb and how this framework tool can simplify web server and windows application development. According to Gomes, using both Delphi and IntraWeb for web development covers both powerful back-end for developers and flexible front-end for users. The video will also introduce us to HTML Templates and how they can be used to customize the user interface of your IntraWeb app. There is a great and seemingly overwhelming number of templates to choose from. Most of these templates are free. With the use of HTML, CSS, and Custom JavaScript on templates, you can design the User Interface of your application any way you want. How can we use Bootstrap in our Delphi applications? The core topic for this webinar is the application of Bootstrap and how this framework can drastically transform a very simple IntraWeb application in terms of User Interface to a modern-looking and visually appealing one. While this may not be a full course tutorial, Jackson will walk us through a step-by-step process of applying Bootstrap templates to your IntraWeb Application. The demo will show us how to utilize the majority of the feature offered by Bootstrap including the use of basic web elements and classes to make the interface more inviting. To learn more about Bootstrap, feel free to watch this DelphiCon video below.

Localization is very important in software development. It generally allows your software to conform to the cultural norms and linguistic trends of the people who will be using your software in any given geographic region. In this video from the recently concluded DelphiCon 2021, Gleb Sitikov will introduce us to TsiLang Component Suite and will tackle how this powerful and useful, yet flexible and simple component is an absolute must for windows application development in 2021. What you need to know about the TsiLang Component Suite While developers might have been armed with tools to tackle the cross-platform issue, the localization of their software is still up to them to solve.  They can solve it by coding it from the ground up which can be very time-consuming and might delay the production time. To top it all, it adds more complexity, and it might result in some bugs too. This is where the TsiLang Component Suite comes into play. The TsiLang Component Suite has been in front of the market for many years now, continuously providing users with powerful and easy-to-use tools and components to resolve their localization needs. It offers both multi-platform and multilingual UI support. What are the tools included in the Tsilang Component Suite? The TsiLang Component Suite is a set of tools and components for RAD Studio that helps you to localize the user interface of your application in surprisingly just three steps. The suite also comes with many useful tools including the TsiLang Wizard that can help you speed up and simplify the setting of multilingual support. You can use this tool to insert all needed components onto your forms and configure them accordingly. Sitikov will also highlight other components like TsiLang Expert, SIL Editor, and Dictionary Manager. He will also provide short demonstration and show us how each tool works. To know more about the TsiLang Component Suite, feel free to watch the DelphiCon webinar below.

TCoffee and Code is back for another session. Before this weekly virtual meeting series goes on a short hiatus in preparation for the DelphiCon 2021, the panel of developers will gather for one last time to discuss another interesting topic about software development. For this session, Embarcadero MVPs Ian Barker, Jim McKeeth, and Holger Flick were joined by Ted Roberts who is the man behind SnowPaths, a real-time snow plow tracking app, to discuss everything about Geographical Information Systems (GIS). What are geocoding and geographic information Systems? The discussion will introduce us to the process of geocoding and how the Geographic Information System is being widely used in most windows app development software today. The panel will also address numerous questions regarding mapping and will share with us the importance of getting accurate information from various map sources. This webinar will also help us understand the fundamental principles of geographic information systems and other relevant information including the GPS coordinates, creation of GPX files, the use of Google Maps APIs, and other GIS service providers like ArcGIS and more. What things do we need to know when choosing a map provider? The panel will also dig through various online map service providers and will discuss all their notable advantages and disadvantages. Each mapping provider comes with its own routing and direction system. They also provide a different levels of details and different route types. They will share their own thoughts on how to choose the right map provider depending on the type of application you want to build. The panel will also share the advantage of online mapping today and how this mapping system drastically changed over the years. To know more about Geographic Information Systems, feel free to watch this TCoffee and Code session below.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, it is always important to build good software. Some developers tend to end up with messy code due to deadline pressure which often results in an erroneous program. Poor codes will often result in bugs and developers might end up spending more time fixing the issue than writing the code. To build a good software, you need to have a good set of windows app development tools but more importantly, you should know how to write a better code. In this video from the recently concluded DelphiCon 2021, Embarcadero MVP and owner of GDK Software, Marco Geuze, will introduce us to the so-called SOLID Principles that could help developers and programmers write better codes. What are the SOLID Principles in writing a better code? The concept of SOLID Principles is created by Robert C Martin who is also the brain behind other best-selling books about software engineering. Interestingly, SOLID is an acronym that stands for the five principles that developers can use to write better, more understandable, more flexible, and more maintainable code. The “S” stands for the Single Responsibility Principle which states that classes should have a single responsibility and thus only a single reason to change while “O” stands for Open-Closed Principle stating that classes and other entities should be open for extension but closed for modification. The “L” stands for the Liskov Substitution Principle, a concept originally based on Barbara Liskov which states that an object and a sub-object must be interchangeable without breaking the program. The “I”, on the other hand, is about the Interface Segregation which states that clients should not be forced to depend upon interfaces that they do not use while “D” is about the Dependency Inversion Principle indicating that high-level modules should not depend on low-level modules but both should depend on abstractions. How to Apply these principles in Delphi? To clearly understand the concept of the SOLID Principles, Marco will deep dive into each principle and will explain how each principle works through a series of step-by-step demonstrations. He will be using the RAD studio to show us how exactly to apply these principles in Delphi. To learn more about SOLID Principles and to see how to apply these when developing Delphi applications, feel free to watch the 1-hour-long webinar below.

Some of you might be wondering if it is possible to create games using Delphi. The answer is YES. In this video from the recently concluded DelphiCon 2021, Patrick Premartin will share with us all the tips and tricks on how to utilize the components of Delphi’s FireMonkey framework and use it as a game engine. Generally, a Game engine is a library or set of components that are available to create games. However, unlike other windows program development software like Unreal Engine, Unity, and GameMaker Studio, a game engine offers a less complex and beginner-friendly procedure. In fact, some gaming elements can work with a game engine even without writing a single line of code. How can I use FireMonkey and Delphi to create games? In this video, Patrick will walk us through the process of using Delphi FireMonkey as a game engine. While there are several game engines that are coded in Delphi such as the popular Castle Game, Gorilla 3D and Apus, this webinar will emphasize on utilizing FireMonkey’s components and how to effectively use them for your games. Patrick will share with us the reasons why developers should consider using FireMonkey to code games. Aside from the fact that FireMonkey draws everything on screen by default, all the visual components of this framework are styled and they can also be changed without coding. Here, you can use properties, events, timers, threads, multi-resolution images, bitmaps, classes, and everything you need to code games. Not to mention that it offers both 2D and 3D components as standard features. How to manage the visual and non-visual Firemonkey components Interestingly, this one-hour-long webinar will not just share with us the important details about the game engine but will also show us the actual application of these components to various games. Here we will learn how to manage music and sound effects using the TMediaPlayer component of FireMonkey, managing background sounds and scenes with TImage and other notable properties like TRectangle, TCircle, TPath, etc. It will also highlight the use of some non-visual components to change some property values as well as the use of other components to manage sprites, animations, and collisions. We will also dive into some 3D game components along the way. To discover how to use FireMonkey as a game engine for your games, feel free to watch this webinar below.   

Delphi is demonstrably one of the easiest programming languages to learn. Despite the apparent simplicity of the program source code, Delphi is a modern, extremely capable, high-level programming language that works well for both beginners and professional developers. In this video from DelphiCon 2021, we learn how to use Delphi as a No-Code Development IDE software. Patrick Prémartin demonstrates how you can create a simple database app with Delphi using its drag and drop features without any coding involved. How can we use use RAD Studion Delphi as a No Code Development IDE? This one-hour-long webinar introduces us to Delphi and all the fundamentals that we should know about the programming language. The session highlights some of Delphi’s libraries as well as the visual and non-visual components for designing user interfaces. Prémartin showcases a series of step-by-step demonstrations on how to draw user interfaces using various components that work even without writing any code. Is it possible to create a database app without writing any code? The webinar also demonstrates how to use Databases with FireDAC and how to link them to visual components for displaying or editing your data. We will also learn how to add screens in a program via a “no code mode”. In a no-code mode, you can use tab controls to enable screens and standard actions from the action lists to go from one screen to another. We also learn how to access APIs and display HTML pages using Delphi’s TWebBrowser as well as the use of other non-visual components like TRESTClient, TRESTRequest, and more. To learn more on how to use RAD Studio Delphi as a No-Code Development IDE, feel free to watch the video below.