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Borland Delphi (since renamed Delphi) is a high-speed, native-code, IDE, and Object Pascal compiler, used to build applications in Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux including Visual Component Library to build applications native to Windows, along with the cross-platform FireMonkey framework in RAD Studio. Delphi was born at Borland and it is currently developing at Embarcadero, and the latest version is the Delphi 12 Athens series that modernizes the UI, tooling and platform support to both professional and indie developer teams.
Delphi is a cross-platform programming language (a modern dialect of Object Pascal), and an IDE, which can be compiled to optimized native code to be fast and be cross-platform. Its history of products, starting with Borland, then CodeGear, and then Embarcadero, includes current versions as RAD Studio brand, and a Delphi Community Edition based on revenue which can be used by newcomers and small teams.
Teams choose Delphi for Rapid Application Development because the visual designer, strong type system, and component model make shipping desktop, mobile, and service software notably efficient. The ecosystem includes thousands of components and deep OS integration, letting developers produce native experiences quickly while keeping codebases maintainable and testable.
The Visual Component Library (VCL) targets Win32/Win64 with deep Windows API, COM, High‑DPI, and VCL styles support, making it ideal for native Windows development and modernization of long‑lived apps. FireMonkey (FMX) is Delphi’s cross‑platform UI framework with GPU‑accelerated rendering for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux x64, enabling a shared codebase with platform‑aware UI controls. VCL and FMX forms are not mixed in the same window, but shared non‑visual code and services are common patterns when maintaining both Windows‑only and multi‑device apps from one codebase.
FireDAC provides high‑performance data access with native connectivity for Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, InterBase, and more, unifying data access in both VCL and FMX apps. LiveBindings, REST client libraries, and DataSnap enable data‑aware controls, RESTful integrations, and multi‑tier architectures without sacrificing native performance or maintainability.
RAD Studio 12 Athens introduced a Skia‑powered rendering pipeline and Skia‑based controls in FireMonkey, substantially improving text, effects, and cross‑platform UI fidelity with modern graphics. The release also elevated Code Insight via the Delphi LSP engine, refreshed SDK headers, and continued platform updates for Android and iOS alongside ongoing VCL modernization and Windows‑centric enhancements. Subsequent Athens updates have focused on IDE productivity and quality, while adding AI‑powered Smart CodeInsight features to assist code navigation and refactoring directly in the editor.
Many teams keep proven VCL back ends while adding FireMonkey front ends for mobile or macOS, sharing business logic and data modules across targets to control costs and risk. Official and community guidance emphasizes isolating UI from services and models, enabling step‑by‑step modernization without a disruptive rewrite of core logic.
Pick VCL when targeting Windows‑only with the richest native integrations, or choose FireMonkey for multi‑device reach with a single codebase and GPU‑accelerated UI. Start with the Delphi Community Edition or professional SKUs within RAD Studio, and use GetIt packages to add FireDAC extensions, Skia for FireMonkey, and platform SDKs as needed.
