Delphi

The 5 Best Kept Secrets Of Android App Builder Software

Do you know, in the year 2021 when COVID was arguably heading towards dominance, the number of mobile app downloads skyrocketed to 230 Billion [1] worldwide? Of those downloads, a burgeoning majority were for the Android platform. Choosing and using Android app builder software to safely ride that tidal wave to create user-centric apps and capitalize on that demand. With pandemic upending people’s usual way of working and socializing the mobile market sky-rocketed towards a faster growth because of users’ demands for apps to interact, work, and divert. With COVID still very much around but with society coming to terms with how to mitigate the worst effects the growth in mobile devices still seems to be maintained; in fact, the research forecasts Google Play Store app installs to reach a whopping 613 billion alone by 2025. So, mobile is definitely a growth market which, as developers, we can’t really afford to ignore – and Android is very much the dominant player. But what should be the characteristic of the best Android app builder software? Let’s have a look! What are the characteristics of the best Android App Builder Software? Is it free to download so you can get started instantly? Explore the features using different ways like drag and drop an element, defining a button, etc.  Does it make coding and app development quicker, improves efficiency, and works as a comprehensive app that performs a variety of functions thus eliminating the need for multiple apps? By building your own custom business app through Android app builder software, you get overall control and don’t have to depend on stuff for anything, therefore, minimizing the licensing and maintenance expenses. Does the Android App Builder software come with ample support channels meaning it’s possible that it will work well with your existing software? Ensuring any new apps you develop will work together with any existing apps is important. Apps are designed to handle a finite number of resources and operations. These apps might not be able to handle the strain as your requirements expand. With the best Android app builder software, you can easily scale up the app when the need arises which makes scaling and consolidating easier.  Here you have the characteristics to look out for let’s get to the most interesting part – the secrets! What are the top secrets you need to know about the best Android app builder software – Delphi? 1. Use the Alcinoe component library for Delphi to make your Android apps have even more epic user interfaces Because of all of the varied formats (across devices), doing a video with Delphi FireMonkey can be intimidating, and constructing a high-quality video player is difficult for the faint of heart. The Alcinoe component library is an open-source package that has already done a lot of the legwork for you in order to get the video to operate in FireMonkey on Android and iOS. It also has” Android/iOS Facebook SDK login, native iOS/Android TEdit, Firebase cloud messaging, better FireMonkey controls, ImageMagick wrapper, WebRTC Delphi wrapper, Json Parser, MongoDb client, and much more” in addition to the video player capabilities. It also has a high GitHub Stars count, indicating that it is extensively used. 2. The TFDMemTable design time edit dataset allows you to visualize what your Android app will […]

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Everything You Need To Know About The Skia Shader Language

This video will introduce us to the Shading language and what exactly it does to elevate your windows application development. Generally, a shading language is a graphics programming language adapted to programming shader effects. This program called Shaders simply tells the computer how to render each pixel to produce photorealistic or stylized surfaces to an object or image. These shaders are written in a special shading language. Currently, there is a great number of shading languages to choose from and while they all share common features and pretty much do the same thing, they might still vary in terms of restrictions and flexibility. What is the Skia Shader Language (SkSL)? Whether you are developing a game or a desktop application, the use of shading language is important to make everything visually appealing as it can drastically enhance the photorealism of an object, adding depth and texture, and even creating the illusion of three-dimensionality. The most popular shading language today is the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL). While it is a high-level shading language, the shader is made specifically for Open GL and cannot be used with Vulkan or Apple’s Metal. You can, however, use Skia’s very own Skia Shader Language (SkSL). SkSL is a variant of GLSL which is used as Skia’s internal shading language. SkSL is, at its heart, a single standardized version of GLSL which avoids all of the various version and dialect differences found in GLSL “in the wild”, but it does bring a few of its own changes to the table. For instance, GLSL code from sites like Shadertoy can be converted to SkSL. In this video, Jim Mckeeth will demonstrate how to successfully convert a shader from Shadertoy via Skia Shaders Playground. One of the cool things about Skia Shader Language is that it works across all platforms. It doesn’t require Open GL or any special drivers to be installed on the platform. To learn more about the Skia Shader Language, feel free to watch the video below.

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10 Signs You Should Invest in Cross Platform Apps

Cross platform apps are becoming increasingly popular as they allow users to access their favorite apps and programs on multiple devices. If you are considering investing in cross platform app development, here are ten signs that it’s a good idea! How to determine if your business needs cross platform apps If you are not sure whether your business needs cross platform apps, there are a few things you can consider.  First, think about what kind of business you have. For example, cross platform apps might not be necessary if you have a brick-and-mortar store. However, a cross-platform app could be very beneficial if you have an online or service-based business. Second, think about what kind of customer base you have. If your customers primarily use iOS devices, then an iOS app might be all you need. However, if your customers are using various devices, cross-platform apps could be beneficial for reaching them all.  Third, think about your budget. Developing an app can be expensive, so you’ll need the device if the benefits of cross platform apps are worth the cost.  Ultimately, only you can decide whether cross platform apps are the right for your business. However, these are some things to remember as you make your decision.  Do you want to reach the broadest possible Audience with cross platform apps? Cross platform apps are becoming increasingly popular in reaching the possible broadcast audience. Cross platform apps can be installed on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This means that your app will have the potential to reach a wide range of people.  Are you targeting multiple demographics? If you’re trying to reach multiple demographics with your app, then cross platform development is a good option. This way, your app will be accessible to a broader range of people.  Targeting a precise user or users across multiple platforms is called cross-device targeting or cross-device marketing. The main goal is to analyze and understand your audience so that you can reach them through their favourite platforms or mediums. Do you want to improve employee productivity by using cross platform tools? If you want to improve employee productivity, investing in cross platform apps is a pragmatic approach. Utilizing cross platform app development tools provides a set of flexibilities to software engineers. With the correct cross platform app development ecosystem, employees can collaborate on projects regardless of where they are. This ensures that deadlines are met, and tasks are completed efficiently. With the RAD Studio ecosystem, you can get the highest productivity level. For instance, hundreds of built-in components and the UI development environment are among the best in the market. The latest version of RAD Studio 11.1 Alexandria has all the latest functionalities and support for the latest technologies. Besides, the pool of third-party components is so prominent in Delphi and FireMonkey ecosystem that if you want to make something big, there is already a library or component available. Do you need an app that can be used on multiple devices? If you need an app that can be used on multiple devices, then investing in cross platform apps is the best idea. Cross platform apps are designed to work on numerous operating systems with exact functionalities (except the UI/UX). Moreover, investing cross platform apps is also a good idea if you want […]

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What Is A Low Code Application Platform? An Overview

The idea of a low code application platform has become a trend in recent years. By 2024, Gartner projects that low code will comprise more than 65% of app development activity. The need to offer digital solutions for COVID-19 has increased this trend. It’s vital to understand the notion of low code. A low code platform is a development environment. It allows non-technical users to create applications. These apps can be deployed on the cloud. Low code platforms use visual programming languages. They are typically compatible with multiple devices. Also, they are featured to work with operating systems. With a little research, you can easily find a perfect low-code application platform for you that suits your needs.  What is a low code application platform? The low code application platform is a method of designing and developing software. They are specifically used to design software with no coding. Low code application platforms enable enterprises to create unique solutions. For these unique solutions, they provide cutting-edge features. These features are tailored to certain business models. These platforms provide easy visual builders, ready-to-use code snippets, and form & report templates. They also have built-in connectors. These are used to accelerate development. Also, they expand the potential to innovate to a wider audience. Users can also get right to work on their apps. These platforms automate common coding tasks. These common coding tasks include framework creation, data modeling, and user interface development. What are the benefits of using a low code application platform? Here are some advantages of low-code development. A low code application platform is often easier to use The platforms provide drag-and-drop interfaces and visual editors. They allow non-technical business users to create apps quickly. Business users can design screens using the platform’s visual editing tools. They can easily connect them with data sources, business rules, and other functionalities via connectors. This makes it possible to develop complete custom applications. Also, there’s no need to write any code as well in these low code application platforms.  A low code application platform can promote increased development agility Low-code platforms can help companies accelerate application development. With them, they can create custom applications quickly. Also, teams can work together better. Thus, they can work on the same app in real-time. A low code application platform allows you to create interfaces with Drag-and-Drop Drag-and-drop usage is available on every established low-code platform. It is one of the most significant and beneficial elements. It facilitates the development process.  It assists both citizen hobbyist and professional developers. The time to market can be much quicker with a low code application platform Low code platforms allow businesses to create applications. These apps can be deployed directly and quickly. This means that businesses can get their products and services to market faster. This is important in today’s fast-moving environment. Lower usage cost Low code platforms are cheaper than traditional software development. They do not require developers to write code manually. Low code platforms are also easy to use. Less experienced IT experts can operate them without compromising processor security. Increased productivity with low code application platforms – little or no code means less work and more efficiency Because low code platforms are so intuitive, you can build your entire application without writing any code. This means that you don’t […]

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5 Easy Things To Learn Today About C++ Software

Hello Developers, C++ is one of the oldest and stronger programming language. It has many functions and methods to manipulate strings and doing string operations as fast as possible in your C++ software. These options and different string types allow you to develop low memory usage and faster applications in all sorts of situations. Today we will continue to look at some more string and wide string operations available in modern C++. We will learn to obtain string capacity and length. We will also learn how to compare strings. Iterators are another modern feature of C++ and we will learn how to use how to use then with Wide Strings. One of the important things is reading and writing text files. Also, we take a look at how to use wide strings in file I/O operations. Finally, we learn to use Form Properties of C++ Builder, Delphi and RAD Studio. Head to LearnCPlusPlus.org to learn all about how to create C++ software LearnCPlusPlus.org is packed full of great articles for professionals and beginners alike. The posts vary from articles suitable for people who are just starting to learn C++ – basics like string handling, pointers, loops, and all those fundamental building blocks of this rich and powerful programming language – to much more in-depth and advanced subjects like artificial neural networks and AI, along with the math behind it. Our focus is on the C++ language, particularly modern C++, and will work with almost any environment and IDE software you can choose although, of course, we believe RAD Studio C++ Builder is the best option! If you are new to RAD Studio, we think these posts may help you as much as a rapid introduction to programming in C++, all the way to the most robust, modern, and latest techniques for those more experienced with the language. For those who are perhaps wanting to expand their knowledge with the most up-to-date features, routines, and methodologies this is a great little boost (pun intended) to your C++ knowledge. The new RAD Studio 11, C++ Builder 11, Delphi 11 are released with great new features and we are developing and testing new examples for you with the latest RADS 11 that means.LearnCPlusPlus.org examples are working well with the latest C++ Builder. You can see more of our C++ posts on this blog by clicking the following dynamic search link: https://blogs.embarcadero.com/?s=C%2B%2B Here are today’s selections: How can we use C++ Builder in the most modern and efficient ways? These posts are designed to give you more information and to be easy to understand the modern and professional ways that we use in C++. Here are the topics, This Is How String Capacity And Lengths Work In A C++ App How To Make A Comparison Between Strings In A C++ App How To Use Wide String Iterators In Modern C++ Software The Modern Way To Read Formatted Wide Strings In A C++ App How To Use Form Properties In C++ Cross Platform Apps What kind of C++ software questions are we answering? These are the questions that we answer in this collection: How can I use the string capacity and length methods in a C++ app? What kind of methods I can use to get size of a std::string? How can I use the empty() method with strings? How to get length() of a std::string? How can I use size() property of […]

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What Are Cross Platform Programming Languages?

Building cross-platform software is a challenging process. You need to consider many critical aspects for the successful development of the product. Choosing the best cross platform programming languages for development is at the top of that list. This article aims to aid your language selection by discussing cross platform programming languages, their evolution, features, and pros, and cons. A cross platform programming language is a programming language that enables developers to develop apps for various platforms using a single codebase. These apps can run seamlessly on multiple platforms without significant changes. Java, React Native, Flutter, Ionic, Sencha, and Xamarin are some popular cross platform programming languages and frameworks. How did the evolution of cross-platform programming languages happen? Cross-platform programming languages are not something novel. Cross-platform development has been around for more than two decades now. However, each language has evolved distinctly, adapting to various architectures and offering more features. First, C was considered a truly cross platform programming language in the early 70s. It was well-suited for system programming. Furthermore, C was capable of reusing the same source code across entirely different architectures for developing kernels and device drivers. However, it required some minor modifications to the code. After C, some other cross platform programming languages such as C++ and Delphi emerged to enlarge the field of cross-platform development further. C++ as a cross platform programming language C++ is also one of the initial cross-platform languages, even though it couldn’t shift into the world of the web and mobile. C++ is best suited for developing software like operating systems, database engines, game engines, compilers, and servers. At the same time, C++ is a great choice as a cross-platform language. You need to have sound knowledge and familiarity with the ecosystem to develop apps faster using it. Read this article to learn about the best IDE for the C++ newbie. The C++ builder by Embarcadero is packed with a set of robust libraries to boost productivity and deliver amazing user experience. Delphi is one of the most versatile cross platform programming languages Delphi is a strongly typed, event-driven, cross platform programming language with an extensive supportive tools and frameworks ecosystem. It also features a wide range of web and database libraries for the rapid development of apps that work on various platforms such as web, mobile, and internet-enabled devices. Delphi enables you to build a native app. A native app is an application designed to work on a specific device and its OS, utilizing that device’s device-specific software and hardware. These native apps can tap into specific resources, enabling them to easily access several services on a device like an accelerometer, microphone, and push notifications. The latest Delphi 11.1 release of Embarcadero helps you build native apps 5x Faster with a single codebase. Try Delphi 11.1 For Free Why do we need cross platform programming languages? Developing cross-platform software requires coding in a way that removes all the dependencies from a particular platform. To accomplish that, you have to use a programming language that supports you. That is where cross-platform programming languages come into play. The majority of popular programming languages support developing cross-platform software. However, some programming languages work better by supporting many platforms or offering solid abstraction layers to manage the differences between platforms transparently. Embarcadero offers a wide range of products such as RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++ Builder for developing […]

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The Parallel Debugger plugin is now available for RAD Studio 11!

The Parallel Debugger plugin, originally from Parnassus, is now available in GetIt for RAD Studio 11.x (ie 11.0 and 11.1.) This follows up making Bookmarks and Navigator available a few weeks ago. The Parallel Debugger is an addon that lets you see what’s going on in all threads in your app at once. A traditional debugger in the IDE shows only one thread, one call stack, and so forth. The plugin shows you all call stacks for all threads next to each other (ie visually parallel matching that they are running in parallel), adds markup in the editor showing where each thread is executing, color-codes threads, lets you run, step or trace into on a per-thread basis, and more. Read the original announcement blog post to see the full set of features! Screenshot showing some of the Parallel Debugger features: parallel call stacks, coloured threads, extra editor markup, per-thread run/pause/step/trace, etc To install, go to the Tools menu in the IDE, GetIt Package Manager, and select the IDE Plugins section in the category selector on the left. You’ll see it listed: select it and click Install. The Parallel Debugger selected in GetIt. Note there are many other IDE addons in the same category too! The Debugger plugin does stress the various debuggers, because each of them is doing so much more (roughly linearly increased by the number of threads in your app.) It works best on Windows, and we don’t recommend using it for remote debugging, such as for macOS. It adds a new top-level menu called Thread, and in that is a submenu ‘Feature Level’. Keep that on ‘CPU Only’ when you don’t want the Parallel Debugger heavily involved. Then turn it back on when you need to do some debugging in parallel! We hope you find this useful, and helps you debug and understand your app’s parallel actions.

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What Is Low Code And Why Do We Need Low Code App Development

In this technology era, the growth of digital services and evolving consumer needs have made companies seek faster ways for digital transformation. Low Code is an excellent solution adopted by companies worldwide to boost their digitalization. Yet, what is low code and what is a low code programming language? In this article, let’s find out what it is exactly. We’ll also discuss why we need Low Code, Pros and cons of Low Code, and some best Low Code platforms you can find in the market. What is low code? Low Code is a modern approach to software development that emphasizes little to no coding. It allows faster delivery of software with less manual coding. Furthermore, you don’t need extensive knowledge of programming languages to build apps with the Low Code approach. A low code application platform is a bunch of tools that facilitate low code development. It enables building applications visually with the help of modeling and a GUI. One key feature of low code platforms is their drag-and-drop layout builder. According to Gartner, more than 65% of software development projects will use low code approach by 2024. The pressure to produce digital solutions to cope with Covid 19 pandemic has further increased the adoption of this approach. Why do we need low code app development? The low code approach simplifies the development of sophisticated business apps. It allows you to easily build complete software rich with modern interfaces, integrations, and logic without writing thousands of complex code lines. The following are some major benefits you can gain through this low code application platform approach. Increased productivity – Since low code development speeds up application delivery, a project once took a few months now only takes a few days. Thus, low code has removed the time barrier from software development, paving the way for real innovation. Reduced Costs – The ability to deliver more apps in less time undoubtedly reduces the costs. However, it’s not the only driver of this cost savings. Low code also eliminates the need for more developers, cutting down hiring costs. Besides, Low Code platforms make everyone in an organization more productive without being limited to IT people. Improved business agility – In this rapidly evolving technology landscape, businesses must effectively adapt and respond to changing market conditions and potential opportunities. Building apps using traditional development approaches to cope with these needs can be tedious. Low code development tools aid the rapid development of systems that are capable of meeting numerous requirements. Enhanced customer experience – The impacts of low code development travel beyond the IT companies who are using it. The consequences of speedy development lead to better customer satisfaction. For instance, Low Code allows development companies to adapt to evolving market conditions and customer needs quickly. Best Low Code Platforms Businesses with the need to scale should search for effective ways to maximize their productivity. Investing in one of the best low code platforms might be a great solution to this endeavor. They are basically app builder software that includes intuitive and visual tools for users to build apps rapidly with less effort. PowerApps, Retool, Quixey, Creatio, GeneXus, Zoho Creator, Appian, and Mendix are some popular Low Code app development platforms. What Are The Pros Of Low Code Development? Mitigation of shadow IT – […]

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How To Supercharge Your User Interface With Skia4Delphi

Skia is a very popular open-source 2D graphics library that provides common APIs that work across a variety of hardware and software platforms. It is interesting to note that is sponsored and managed by Google but it is available for use by anyone. In fact, it serves as the graphics engine for many web browsers today including Google Chrome, Chrome OS, Android, Mozilla Firefox, and Flutter to name a few.  The product has been around since 2005 and it has become part of most windows application development. The same thing goes with VCL and FireMonkey cross platform apps. Thanks to the Barbosa brothers from Brazil, the brilliant minds behind the Skia4Delphi library (with the encouragement of Embarcadero’s Ian Barker and Jim McKeeth). They were also hailed as 2021 Delphi Award winners for their impressive work. What you should know about Skia4Delphi Skia4Delphi is a cross-platform 2D graphics API for Delphi platforms based on Google’s Skia Graphics Library. It is a free-to-access library that provides major components/controls like TSkLottieAnimation, TSkPaintBox, and TSkSvg. In this webinar, we will take a deep dive to explore this useful library and discover how this can supercharge the user interface of your apps. The webinar will also discuss why it is more beneficial to use Vector graphics (SVG) than JPEG and PNG image formats. SVG and Lottie Animations make it easy for the designer to create smooth and high-resolution user interface templates. The webinar will also provide us with some cool demos including some visually stunning Shaders and how this language (SkSL) can effectively level up your interface with its beautiful 3D animations. One of the cool things about the Skia Shader Language is it works across all platforms, and it doesn’t require OpenGL or any special drivers to be installed on the platform. Some of the demos in this webinar will also show what exactly Skia4Delphi is capable of.  These samples include an interactive Brick game, a Star Trek data dashboard replica, and many other mobile demos showcasing Skia4Delphi’s full potential. We will also be introduced to Telegram Sticker Browser, a project that helps users browse Lottie animations and Telegram stickers more efficiently. To know more about the amazing Skia4Delphi library and how this can turbocharge your VCL and FMX apps, feel free to watch the Skia4Delphi webinar below. It is also interesting to note that Embarcadero Technologies is currently organizing a SKIA For Delphi Contest encouraging everyone to make their own GUI application using the Skia4Delphi features.

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Everything You Need To Know About An IDE For Coding

Programmers write code on different operating systems like Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. Each OS has a dedicated IDE, but there’s a good selection of IDE tools out there when you’re searching for an IDE for coding. These include tools for writing, building and testing the code. Using an IDE gathers together a number of development tools under a single framework, application, or service that allows users to pinpoint coding errors to simplify application development. Let’s take a moment to examine what an IDE is and what it can do for developers. What is an IDE? The acronym IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment and facilitates the development of many applications. For example, a Windows IDE offers one central interface consisting of all the tools necessary for developers to create and deploy applications which are designed for the Windows operating system. These tools encompass the following four features: Code editorThe primary purpose behind designing code editors is to write and edit source code. These editors are also like text editors, but designers utilize code editors to simplify and enhance the process of writing and editing code. This is especially beneficial for developers as the coding phase becomes easier. CompilerWindows compiler helps transform the original code, written in human-readable form, into an executable machine-readable format. DebuggerDebuggers examine code and find errors in the way functions are executed. These help developers test and understand the flow of application programs. Code examination eliminates errors, so your program performs how you want it to. AutomationThese tools allow users to develop procedures within a program, making it easier to automate tasks and save time. Key features of the IDE for coding Some IDEs also come with the following three features: Class browserClass browser is used to reference the properties of an object-oriented class hierarchy. Object browserObject browser is used to examine object instances in a running application command. Class hierarchy diagramThe diagrams help programmers to visualize the structure of OOP code. How to make the right choice for IDE for coding? The choice you make is highly dependent on your needs as a developer. There’s nothing like an IDE which is perfect in every way for every person. The needs you may have when developing a specific application may change depending upon what you hope to achieve. However, below are a few pointers that you should consider before choosing an IDE that best meets your needs: The costEven though most of the IDEs are free, many of the addons may not be. Most of the paid IDEs come with premium features and support. When opting for an IDE like Delphi, it’s crucial to remember to choose according to the Windows app development requirements. Ease of useIDEs consisting of a considerable number of libraries and packages often can become complex and harder to use. This, however, is highly dependent on the implementation of these libraries. Server connectionAnother crucial aspect of choosing IDEs is to check if you can deploy your code to the server from your IDE. Why do developers use IDEs? IDEs help make programming less cumbersome by allowing users to program new applications quickly. This is because multiple utilities don’t need to be manually configured and integrated during the initial setup process. Also, by becoming familiar with a single integrated environment, developers do not […]

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