[Montage]

OK, this thread is purely to set the record straight on something. Many claim that native Delphi is portable because it compiles on Lazerus using the FreePascal compiler underneath. They also claim that Delphi .NET shouldn't be used because it's not portable outside Windows.

Both are wrong.

Delphi and FreePascal are both ObjectPascal languages (yes, there are multiple incompatible variations of ObjectPascal like Apple's Pascal), and they both implement the same interfaces for their libraries (the VCL).

But they are not the same language. Even when you switch FreePascal code to Delphi mode using the preprocessor directive, it isn't 100% compatible with Delphi code. Nor is it the 'final goal' of the FreePascal group. Thus, they are different languages. FreePascal is portable, but Delphi isn't. So if you want portable ObjectPascal code, you can't use Delphi -- But you can use FreePascal, seeing as it also works on Windows.

Delphi .NET is portable due to Mono, a very complete .NET implementation for multiple OSes. In fact, it's on Ubuntu Linux by default. As long as you stick to standard .NET libraries, that is.

So, in summery:

• Delphi = Not Portable
  


• Delphi .NET = Portable
  


• FreePascal = Portable
  


• Delphi =/= FreePascal
  

[Montage]

You two are talking about it as if it's obvious to the other people here. Most in this section seem to think Delphi code is portable because it 'is the same as Lazerus', and so it's a portable language. I was setting the record straight for those people.

This is meant to counter those who claim 'yeah, Delphi is totally portable because you can compile all Delphi code in the Lazerus IDE'. As you two point out, this simply isn't true.