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106

answers:

2

Is VCL dead, or does it have a future as a GUI library? As CLX ended, is there any chance for cross-platform support in future releases?

I've had to do some work with legacy app that uses Borland's VCL(BCB6). Now that new features have to be implemented, it's necessary to revalue alternatives. Whether to stick with VCL or migrate to some other library/framework.

I've never read much what's happening in the field Embarcadero(Borland) tools. At least there seems to be only few VCL tagged questions here in SO and no much luck with google either.

+2  A: 

VCL is undergoing continued development. Cross platform is on the current roadmap. The embarcadero forums are still a valuable resource.

David Dean - Embarcadero
Thanks David for your answer. However I'm still not convinced. I'm having troubles believing Embarcadero's future. After reading http://stackoverflow.com/questions/819942/the-future-of-c-builder I think that I'm not alone with this. It just seems that following this road(i.e. sticking with VCL) will only lead to increased lock-in without strong guarantees about the future.
Fdr
VCL is intimately tied to Windows, always has been, likely always will be. That is not going to change anytime soon. CLX was based on QT, and thus could run on non-Windows platforms (only Linux was supported at the time). Many of VCL's features translated to QT's model, but many did not, though. That is just the nature of trying to translate an OS-specific framework into a OS-agnostic framework. Now, the upcoming framework will again be based on (a more mature) QT, but I don't think it is based on CLX again. And Mac will be the first supported non-Windows platform instead of Linux.
Remy Lebeau - TeamB
So, we'll just have to wait and see how it works out this time around. It has not been released yet.
Remy Lebeau - TeamB
Mike Rozlog just updated the roadmap this week. Be sure to take another look.
David Dean - Embarcadero
+2  A: 

Whether to continue using VCL in your project, or migrate to an alternative depends alot on your requirements. The VCL framework is powerful and mature, with lots of 3rd party components, which makes it a good idea to consider. The alternatives have been improving rapidly, and to point out one as the ultimate choice really requires you to carefully consider your requirements, and validate the strengths and weaknesses of the different frameworks.

Considering that cross platform is on the road map, I remind you that so has 64 bit support been for quite a while. We might see cross platform support, perhaps on schedule, perhaps delayed as we have seen with many previous features. I want to believe its coming because I truly like the VCL framework, but I always have a natural doubt concerning the official road map of the RAD studio series - sorry David. ;)

If you've researched the different alternatives, and found VCL to be the best choice based on its relevance to your project, then I'd consider using the VCL framework, especially if it is a framework you are familiar with. Learning a new framework can - while often a good idea - be a time consuming job. So even though there might be a risk of the framework not being held alive (as will there be with any alternatives) you might save a lot of work staying with the familiar framework, if it is the framework that suits your project the most.

If you do consider going with C++ Builder and the VCL, you might find that the C++ Builder Journal is a valuable source of information, they have a relatively quite forum, but with some interesting posts in it, and some free hints on their website: www.bcbjournal.com.

Of course there is also the embarcadero forums, and this site, it may be a good idea to search the Delphi forums and categories, since it seems there are more active users on these, and by far more posts. One good thing though, is that conversion from Delphi to C++ in VCL related questions is quite simple.

TommyA
Cross-platform is definately one of the main focuses in the next version of Delphi and C++Builder. They won't be able to delay it without delaying the whole product.
Remy Lebeau - TeamB
Looking at the newly released XE, I once again see the lack of a promised main feature ;) I guess they were able to delay it after all. :)
TommyA