Migrating Delphi App to Java or to Web App

Question

We want to migrate UI rich application from delphi to java or Web Application.

Reason is that we want application to be portable on all Operating Systems.

Current Components and Modules of Application in Delphi :

• In Delphi we are utilizing TWebBrowser component to display HTML content
• We are playing mp3 that is extracted from FileStream on clicks in HTML.
• All resources for HTML are retrieved from Embeded Database Firebird/Ms Access.
• To sync some content we are doing HTTP post to PHP scripts to centralize the data on webserver.

Deployment: - Application has to be deployed on CD and installed on Desktop computer on Mac OS, Linux, Windows.

I need your help how to approach this migration. Is better to go with Java UI or Web App that will be deployed with WAMP/XAMP and appropriate distributions on Linux and Mac's.

EDIT: I have some specific requirements for audio functionality. Audio files are separate files distributed on CD or USB. Audio files are one solid file compiled from mp3's inside. Application will have to have ability to extract the mp3 based on offset and size of mp3 stored in index file and to play in real time... How this affects idea of Web App using this approach.

Answer 1

If I had to deploy on a CD, I'd probably go with Adobe's AIR. It is really fulfilling the promise Java made 10 years ago in a reasonable way. It isn't perfect, but it does a pretty good job.

Answer 2

I've heard this internet thing is really taking off.

For all of the reasons that applications have gone online over the past 10 years, there really isn't much discussion to be had.

While Java is reliable, distributing and rolling out subsequent updates to those applications is heavy and time consuming.

I did Delphi development for over 9 years. I resisted the idea of distributing real applications over the web for quite some time. Today, I can't believe anyone would choose to continue in this way.

One nice thing, you can probably reuse some of your Delphi logic on the backend if you get creative. (I would only recommend this for the short term)

But, this answer doesn't really address your issue as you are saying that you must distribute it via CD.

Answer 3

The Java 6u10 release allows for distributing Java WebStart applications on media instead of from a Webserver, which might be exactly what you are looking for. You can also put the JRE installer for Windows on the CD too, if needed.

What exactly are your requirements crossplatformwise?

Answer 4

If most of the application is HTML-based, why not make it a full web application, using Ajax and Java?

I recommend NetBeans, and ICEFaces, which is a Java Server Faces implementation with Ajax support, including concurrent updates - if one user edits a record, all other users will see an update in their web page.

It is possible to package the whole application in a single jar file, including the servlet container (Jetty for example), so a simple java -jar myapp.jar will run the application.

NetBeans allows visual editing of the ICEFaces web pages, and even visual editing of the page relationships. The tutorials on NetBeans.org are excellent, and with tools like Maven, Hudson and others, code quality and development process can reach a very high level.

Answer 5

If you have some Delphi application using Datasnap : you can also re use your server made in Delphi with Datasnap in Delphi Prism and make Silverlight application.

And the same is true for DataAbstract

Answer 6

Why don't you give FreePascal a try? It uses the same language as Delphi, and can compile to a native application on Windows / Linux / Mac. Since you already have your app in Delphi, converting it shouldn't be too difficult.

Have a look at the freepascal website

Answer 7

I suggest Air