Enhancements since Delphi 7

From Delphi

Nick Hodges, the Delphi Product Manager, mentioned several times the benefits of newer Delphi versions compared with Delphi 6/Delphi 7 (the most used pre-dotnet versions). The following list shows most of the enhancements, ordered by category first, then alphabeticaly:

Contents 1 Major Features 2 Compiler and Language Features Since Delphi 7 2.1 Related to Classes 3 Delphi Features Since Delphi 7 4 VCL and RTL Features Since Delphi 7 5 See also

[edit] Major Features

• Delphi for .Net
• ECO
• VCL.NET

[edit] Compiler and Language Features Since Delphi 7

• final methods
• for in Loop
• Inlining
• Operator Overloading
• sealed methods
• strict private
• strict protected
• Records with Methods
• generics

[edit] Related to Classes

• abstract
• classes
• const
• helpers
• property
• sealed
• static class methods
• type
• var

[edit] Delphi Features Since Delphi 7

• Audits and Metrics
• Block Completion
• Castalia Borland Edition (IDE Expert)
• Code Folding
• Code Healer Borland Edition (IDE Expert)
• Editor Line Numbers
• Flexible docking IDE
• History Tab
• Improved Debugging
• Integrated Unit Testing
• Line Change indicators
• Live Templates
• Modeling (Class and UML)
• Refactoring
• SyncEdit
• Searchable Tool Palette
• VCL Guidelines

[edit] VCL and RTL Features Since Delphi 7

• AlignWithMargins
• Fastcode replacements for a number of RTL functions
• Intellimouse support
• Margin/Padding values in VCL
• TButtonGroup
• TCategoryButtons
• TDockTabSet
• TFlowPanel
• TGridPanel
• TTrayIcon
• SnapBuffer/ScreenSnap properties

[edit] See also

• Nick's original blog post on the subject
• Nick's updated blog post
• Nick Hodges
• Steve Trefethen's blog post on the subject
• Debugger enhancements since Delphi 7
• Delphi 7
• Delphi 2007 for Win32
• CodeGear RAD Studio 2007

Delphi Versions
Win16:	Delphi 1 Win32: Delphi 2 • Delphi 3 • Delphi 4 • Delphi 5 • Delphi 6 • Delphi 7 • Delphi 2007 for Win32
.Net only:	Delphi 8 Win32/.Net: Borland Developer Studio 2005 • Borland Developer Studio 2006 • CodeGear RAD Studio 2007
Other:	Delphi for PHP • 3rdRail • Turbo Delphi 2006
More info:	Release Dates and Codenames • Compiler Release Dates • Compiler Conditional Defines