Dimensional Data

With the downplay of UWP, native development is again the primary Windows development model, after 20 years (given we had .NET in between). Native is what Delphi does at its best, so this is great news for us. Over the last couple of weeks there have been  several announcements from Microsoft that partially reverse past directions in terms of Windows development. In short, Microsoft is downplaying (if not fully deprecating) the Universal Windows Platform model. Here are some relevant links: UWP has been the application development focus for Microsoft since Windows 8 was released, and it was replacing a focus on .NET architecture as the Windows development platform. Now this is a very interesting evolution from the perspective of developers (and development tools vendors like Embarcadero) who have remained focused on the classic native Windows development model, as we are first class citizens again after a very long time. From Native to .NET and UWP For many years, the native development model based on involving the classic Windows API and leveraging the three core Kernel/User/GDI libraries and all of their extensions has been considered an old-style, deprecated approach that would soon be abandoned. This is the classic model used by Delphi and C++Builder (with the VCL library), but also by Visual C++ (with the MFC library). Windows developers were first encouraged to move to .NET (with the idea that the future platform APIs would require .NET and classic applications at some point would stop running on Windows). Over time, it became clear this wasn’t going to be the case. As the .NET-centric focus slowed down, Microsoft started pushing the next idea: the Universal Windows Platform. This was primarily driven by two ideas: one, the ability to run the same application on a desktop PC, but also a Windows phone, a gaming console and a visor technology; two, a more secure platform with limited access to the underlying operating system. At the API level, supporting UWP implied using the WinRT platform APIs, which were different and incompatible with the classic APIs. UWP was slow to catch up. For Delphi and RAD Studio there wasn’t an option, but also migration from Visual C++ and .NET and C# would imply using different runtime libraries and different UI controls — accounting for a large rewrite of an existing application. When Windows 8 first shipped (still allowing classic API applications) there were very few UWP apps available, including from Microsoft. However, some of the new platform features were only available via the WinRT APIs, which is why developers and tools (RAD Studio included) came up with options to call WinRT APIs from within a classic application. RAD Studio Windows notifications support, for example, is implemented with this approach. While Microsoft kept pushing for UWP, indicating classic apps were going to be deprecated, developers didn’t really listen. The next step was promoting the so-called “Desktop Bridge”, that is, the ability for native applications to leverage more of the WinRT APIs and to be “packaged” in a light container for extra security. This last feature was achieved by packaging an application as an APPX and later MSIX. Again, RAD Studio has long offered this support directly in the IDE. Microsoft initially described the bridge as a way to help migrate applications to UWP, which was still the […]

What would it be like to create tools that integrate Delphi with Python? How much fun would it be to allow Delphi to execute Python code and call Python libraries, and allow Python to call modules in Delphi and interact with Delphi code, objects, interfaces and records? Two-directional integration is a great boon to Delphi developers, and the open-source Python4Delphi (P4D) library by Kiriakos Vlahos, author of the popular PyScripter Python IDE, does precisely that. Through Python4Delphi, Delphi developers can leverage the entire collection of Python libraries directly from their favorite IDE. Python4Delphi also allows Delphi developers to execute easily execute Python scripts and create new Python modules and types directly from Delphi applications. If you work with both Delphi and Python, and want to, here are our 10 top How-To’s for combining the two languages: 1. How Can I Get Started With Python for Delphi Developers? Part 1 of the Python for Delphi Developers webinar. Agenda includes Motivation and Synergies, Introduction to Python, Introduction to Python for Delphi, Simple Demo, TPythonModule, TPyDelphiWrapper 2. How Can I Combine The Strengths of Delphi and Python? Part 2 of the Python for Delphi Developers webinar, with Q&A. 3. How Can I Get Started With Python4Delphi? SynEdit is an optional library that provides syntax highlighting and proper indentation behaviors if you want to allow users to edit Python code in your application. It is an open-source VCL only component set available via GetIt or on GitHub. Installing it via GetIt is the easiest. 4. How Can I Set And Get a Variant Array Between Delphi And Python For Building Windows Apps? Python4Delphi offers the TPythonModule component which has a method and procedure to exchange a variant array. This post guides you to do that. You can also use Python4Delphi with C++Builder. 5. How Can I Use Threads Inside Python For a Windows Delphi App? We know Delphi supports Multithreading. Multithreading in Python can be achieved using Python Module Threading. However, In a use case like Delphi Application embedding Python(Python4Delphi) or CPython, the interpreter is not fully thread-safe. 6. How Can I Run a Simple Python Script in a Delphi Application Using Python4Dephi? How about combining the strength of Delphi and Python for your applications to provide first-class solutions for your customer needs? Thinking about how to do it? Don’t worry! Python4Delphi does it for us. 7. How Can I Use Python4Delphi With C++Builder? David I. has a fantastic blog post on using Python4Delphi with C++Builder. This was inspired by our previous webinars on the topic. and is the result of his collaboration with Kiriakos (AKA PyScripter), the maintainer of Python4Delphi, who also made some changes in the library to work better with C++Builder. 8. How Can I Make a Python Module as a DLL Using Python4Delphi? Sometimes we may need to share the functionalities as DLL and we know, creating a DLL in Delphi is a simple task. We learned how to create a Python Module and add methods to it in Delphi. How about making a Python module as a DLL using Python4Delphi and importing this Python module in another application? This post will guide you to do that. You can also use Python4Delphi with C++Builder. 9. How Can I Wrap Delphi Objects to Python Objects With Python4Delphi? How to wrap the […]

unit uMainForm;   interface   uses   System.SysUtils, System.Types, System.UITypes, System.Classes, System.Variants,   FMX.Types, FMX.Controls, FMX.Forms, FMX.Graphics, FMX.Dialogs,   FMX.Controls.Presentation, FMX.StdCtrls, Windows, FMX.Objects, System.IOUtils,   FMX.Layouts;   type   TMainForm = class(TForm)     MaterialOxfordBlueSB: TStyleBook;     BackgroundImage: TImage;     Button1: TButton;     GridPanelLayout1: TGridPanelLayout;     Button2: TButton;     Button3: TButton;     procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);     procedure Button2Click(Sender: TObject);     procedure Button3Click(Sender: TObject);   private     { Private declarations }   public     { Public declarations }     procedure SetWallpaper(APath: String);   end;   var   MainForm: TMainForm;   implementation   {$R *.fmx}   procedure TMainForm.Button2Click(Sender: TObject); begin   SetWallpaper(TPath.Combine(ExtractFilePath(ParamStr(0)),‘delphinaut.jpg’)); end;   procedure TMainForm.Button3Click(Sender: TObject); begin   SetWallpaper(TPath.Combine(ExtractFilePath(ParamStr(0)),‘cppnaut.jpg’)); end;   procedure TMainForm.SetWallpaper(APath: String); begin   SystemParametersInfo(SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER, 0, PChar(APath), SPIF_SENDCHANGE); end;   procedure TMainForm.Button1Click(Sender: TObject); begin   SetWallpaper(TPath.Combine(ExtractFilePath(ParamStr(0)),‘radnaut.jpg’)); end;   end.

DelphiCon is On! The world’s biggest annual online conference on, in and around Delphi is just a week away! DelphiCon 2021 is open, free, and loaded with incredible content and amazing prizes and giveaways. If you want to know just how hot Delphi is right now, this is an unmissable event! Here at Embarcadero we want to make this year’s DelphiCon the biggest ever, and to achieve that we need your help to reach everyone who loves Delphi. To make it easy to reach Delphi fans we’ve created a referral program that can also help you win big prizes! Here’s how it works: Refer And Win Big Prizes! The Prizes: 1. Top Prize: One randomly selected referrer will win a Mac Mini (with the powerful new M1 chip, which Embarcadero’s IDEs now support). 2. Two Runners Up: Two randomly selected referrers will each win a one-year Delphi license (without update subscription). 3. Everyone who successfully refers at least one signup will be granted access to the closed Special Session near the end of DelphiCon 2021. 4. Everyone who attends three or more sessions will win the Ultimate Delphi eBook Bundle, which contains: Alistair Christie’s “Code Faster in Delphi”, Nick Hodges’ “Coding in Delphi”, “More Coding in Delphi” and “Dependency Injection in Delphi”, and Marco Cantu’s “Object Pascal Handbook” (updated specially for DelphiCon 2021). 5. Everyone who signs up for DelphiCon 2021 will get a free version of Marco Cantu’s updated “Object Pascal Handbook”. The Rules: 1. Unique referral codes are used to track referrals. Only successful referrals with unique codes will be valid. 2. Each referral that leads to a signup will count as a “ticket” for the prize draw. The more people you successfully refer who sign up, the higher your chances of winning. 3. The winners will be randomly selected from the pool of referrers. How to Participate 1. Use your unique referral code to refer friends, colleagues and anyone you know who may be interested.  2. If you haven’t signed up for DelphiCon, do so here. You will be automatically redirected to a page where you can see your unique referral code and start referring. 3. If you’ve signed up already visit this page to get your unique referral code and check your activity. Note: If the DelphiCon 2021 referral program is a success, we will be introducing an ongoing referral program that will help our subscribers win incredible prizes, giveaways, discounts and more every month! Help us make this a reality! Good luck! More About DelphiCon More than 10,000 developers will be gathering together from November 16th to 18th for panel discussions and webinars on Delphi. Speakers DelphiCon has a top-tier lineup of speakers, including Marco Cantù, David Millington, Ray Konopka, Holger Flick, Nick Hodges, Alistair Christie, David Intersimone, Jim McKeeth. Find the complete list of speakers here. Themes Our speakers and guests will be discussing the future of development with Delphi, multi-platform app development, desktop UX, Rapid App Development, developer productivity, multi-threaded programming on multiple platforms, gaming, low-code and no-code, extending Delphi’s reach with C++Builder, Telegram bots, ethereum blockchain, connecting with REST, Windows 11, and IntraWeb apps. For a complete schedule of panel discussions click here.    See you there!

DelphiCon 2021 is coming up soon and in order to get in the spirit we created this desktop wallpaper that captures the essence of DelphiCon. DelphiCon 2021 is the best way to learn all about your favorite programming language. Sessions are planned around the latest features, as well as general best practices, and emerging technologies that apply to all versions. There are also sessions on integrations with other languages (C++, Python, etc.) and platforms. Where can I get the DelphiCon 2021 desktop wallpaper? What better way to apply your new DelphiCon 2021 desktop wallpaper than we a Delphi Win32 API call? This works in both VCL and FMX as long as you have the Winapi.Windows unit in your uses clause. For this API call we can use SystemParametersInfo() with SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER as the first parameter. Download the DelphiCon 2021 desktop wallpaper now! What online sessions are available at DelphiCon 2021? Here are some of the sessions you will find at DelphiCon! Keynote – Beyond 10x – The Future of Development with Delphi Convert your VCL Database Application to Mobile and Multiplatform Entity Component Systems: A Different Approach to Coding How Tab Controls Can Ruin Desktop UX Effectively Using FMX List Controls Thriller: A Delphi Web App in 5 Work Days Move Your UI to the 23rd Century – Building a Data Dashboard with Delphi and Skia. Engage! Why Does the Cloud Matter for a Delphi Developer? Maximize Your Delphi Productivity Multi-Threaded Programming on Apple’s Mac M1 vs Mac Core i7 vs Windows Core i7 Developing Applications for the Raspberry Pi with Delphi 11 Castle Game Engine – Coming to Delphi! Delphi Does Low-Code: Cross-Platform REST Client in – 30 Minutes! Smartwatch Android Meets Delphi – Controlling Devices Multi-Platform Explorations using Delphi, FMX, Feeds, REST and More Control Arduino Manipulator with Delphi and Visuino over WiFi or Bluetooth Things That You Don’t Know About JSON in Delphi Leaving Delphi 7 – A Success Migration Case Using C++Builder to Extend the Reach of Delphi Invoice Generation via Telegram Bot Using FastReport VCL and Delphi FireDAC: Combining Power and Speed in Cross Platform Database Access (Live Panel) Fintech on the Ethereum Blockchain with Delphi Delphi Best Practices: The Top Seven Things you Should be Doing Building a Web Crawler with Delphi and Python APILayer: Features and Connecting with REST Check out the full list of sessions at DelphiCon 2021! Who is presenting at DelphiCon 2021? Who are these people in bright red Greek helmets? They’re the Delphi superheroes you’ll be running into at DelphiCon 2021! And which Delphi superpowers will they be talking about at DelphiCon? Find out on the Schedule & Talks page on the DelphiCon website. Sign Up Now! Who is sponsoring DelphiCon 2021? DelphiCon 2021 is has a huge number of sponsors this year and here are some of them: How can I sign up for DelphiCon 2021? Head over to the DelphiCon 2021 website and get your free ticket today!

procedure TForm1.Button2Click(Sender: TObject); var   i, X, Y: DWORD;     fLibrary: HMODULE;   fModel: Pointer;   fInterpreterOptions: Pointer;   fInterpreter: Pointer;   fStatus: TfLiteStatus;   fInputTensorCount, fOutputTensorCount, fNumDims: Int32;   fInputTensor, fOutputTensor: Pointer;   fInputDims: Integer;   fTensorName: PAnsiChar;   fTensorType: TfLiteType;   fTensorByteSize: SIZE_T;     // 28×28 pixel image as input   fInput: array [0 .. 28 * 28 – 1] of Float32;     // output 0 to 9   fOutput: array [0 .. 10 – 1] of Float32;     fValue: Extended; begin   fLibrary := LoadLibrary(LibraryName);     if fLibrary = 0 then   begin     ShowMessage(‘Error: Load tensorflow lite library ‘ + LibraryName + ‘ – ‘ +       SysErrorMessage(GetLastError));     Exit;   end;     try     fModel := TfLiteModelCreateFromFile(PAnsiChar(AnsiString(Edit1.Text)));       if fModel = nil then     begin       ShowMessage(‘Error: Create model from file – ‘ +         SysErrorMessage(GetLastError));       Exit;     end;       fInterpreterOptions := TfLiteInterpreterOptionsCreate;       if fInterpreterOptions > nil then     begin       TfLiteInterpreterOptionsSetNumThreads(fInterpreterOptions, 2);         fInterpreter := TfLiteInterpreterCreate(fModel, fInterpreterOptions);         // parameters / model can be removed immediately after the interpreter is created       TfLiteInterpreterOptionsDelete(fInterpreterOptions);       TfLiteModelDelete(fModel);         if fInterpreter > nil then       begin         fStatus := TfLiteInterpreterAllocateTensors(fInterpreter);           fInputTensorCount := TfLiteInterpreterGetInputTensorCount(fInterpreter);         fOutputTensorCount := TfLiteInterpreterGetOutputTensorCount           (fInterpreter);           // fLiteTensor* TfLiteInterpreterGetInputTensor(const TfLiteInterpreter* interpreter, int32_t input_index);         // returned structure TfLiteTensor         // an example is simple, there is no need to translate everything from the         // in general, the source of the: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/tree/master/tensorflow/lite/c         { typedef struct TfLiteTensor {           TfLiteType type;           TfLitePtrUnion data;           TfLiteIntArray* dims;           TfLiteQuantizationParams params;           TfLiteAllocationType allocation_type;           size_t bytes;           const void* allocation;           const char* name;           struct TfLiteDelegate* delegate;           TfLiteBufferHandle buffer_handle;           bool data_is_stale;           bool is_variable;           TfLiteQuantization quantization;           TfLiteSparsity* sparsity;           const TfLiteIntArray* dims_signature; }         fInputTensor := TfLiteInterpreterGetInputTensor(fInterpreter, 0);         fOutputTensor := TfLiteInterpreterGetOutputTensor(fInterpreter, 0);           if fInputTensor > nil then         begin           // info about tensor           // fNumDims := TfLiteTensorNumDims(fInputTensor);           // fTensorName := TfLiteTensorName(fInputTensor);           // fTensorType := TfLiteTensorType(fInputTensor);           fTensorByteSize := TfLiteTensorByteSize(fInputTensor);             // writing pixels to fInput, top to bottom, left to right           for Y := 0 to Image1.Picture.Bitmap.Height – 1 do           begin             for X := 0 to Image1.Picture.Bitmap.Width – 1 do             begin               if (Image1.Canvas.Pixels[X, Y] > 0) then                 fInput[X + (Y * Image1.Picture.Bitmap.Width)] := 1               else                 fInput[X + (Y * Image1.Picture.Bitmap.Width)] := 0;             end;           end;             // fTensorByteSize = Length(fInput) * SizeOf(Float32)           fStatus := TfLiteTensorCopyFromBuffer(fInputTensor, @fInput,             fTensorByteSize);             fStatus := TfLiteInterpreterInvoke(fInterpreter);             if fStatus = kTfLiteOk then           begin             for i := 0 to High(fOutput) do               fOutput[i] := 0;               fOutputTensor := TfLiteInterpreterGetOutputTensor(fInterpreter, 0);               // info about tensor             // fNumDims := TfLiteTensorNumDims(fOutputTensor);             // fTensorName := TfLiteTensorName(fOutputTensor);             // fTensorType := TfLiteTensorType(fOutputTensor);             fTensorByteSize := TfLiteTensorByteSize(fOutputTensor);               if fOutputTensor > nil then             begin               // fTensorByteSize = Length(fOutput) * SizeOf(Float32)               fStatus := TfLiteTensorCopyToBuffer(fOutputTensor, @fOutput,                 fTensorByteSize);                 if fStatus = kTfLiteOk then               begin                 ListView1.Items.Clear;                   for i := 0 to Length(fOutput) – 1 do                 begin                   // ingenious solution, coolest conversion                   fValue := StrToFloat(Copy(FloatToStr(fOutput[i]), 1, 17));                     if fValue = 1 then                   begin                     with ListView1.Items.Add do                     begin                       Caption := FloatToStrF(fValue, ffNumber, 17, 17);                       SubItems.Add(IntToStr(i));                     end;                   end;                 end;                   ListView1.AlphaSort;                   Beep;               end;             end;           end;         end;       end;     end;   finally     FreeLibrary(fLibrary);   end; end;

Blockchain is a term utilized to represent distributed ledger technology. Blockchain is used to build a storage system for data in a distributed and immutable mode. So there are key features we need to mention. Immutability – this means that once data is written to a blockchain data storage or ledger, it cannot be changed – so it’s there forever. For instance, in a relational database, no matter how much security you have, the data can be accessed and modified on the system. A blockchain system guarantees that if one bit of data is altered it says it is in an invalid state, and since the data is distributed on various systems, the verified data with a justified state can be retrieved. Distribution – is the key to trust. As long as the data you see is in the blockchain and it’s in a valid state you can trust the data to be accurate. This trust is the key and this trust is achieved in a blockchain system by replicating the datastore on several hosts on the internet. For instance, as long as the peers accept that bit of data is valid, so you can completely trust that data that is stored on that system. In Blockchain the trust is requisite. Immutability – Trust Distribution – valid/invalid For many industries trust is a problem. The automobile industry is one of those where trust, or lack of it, causes problems. People order used cars from other countries which do not easily share tracking information and this can mean that faking data about the car’s prevenance and history is easier. For instance, odometer fraud is one of the problems that you can seriously impact the value of a vehicle. Representing a vehicle as having been used 5,000 miles instead of 50,000 miles can mean a huge difference in perceived value and potential usable life span of the car or truck. In many countries car service records are largely kept on paper which can of course very easy to be fake.  So, let’s imagine that pushing all service providers to a blockchain and all the readings kept on the blockchain. The integrity and immutability of the blockchain data means that a modification of the records would be detectable. Moreover, agencies such as insurance companies can also contribute by appending accident details of a car giving a much more complete picture of the vehicle’s history in a way which is very difficult or even impossible for dishonest vendors to fake. Transferring money from one country to another takes your time and can be expensive because of the need to comply with multiple different regulations and policies, but eventually, another person receives the money. Your bank updates its records and sends them to the main clearing bank in your country where they are passed through a number of systems where it analyzes them to prevent money laundering and to comply with various trade embargoes. Assuming your transaction passes the checks, the funds are then sent them to another country’s clearing bank. They again update the record and send it to the receiver’s bank account. Even in these highly automated times, it can take several days for the money to arrive in the destination account. This is where Bitcoin can offer an alternative to the traditional brocks and […]