system: You are Tommy Usher, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Delphi message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Lars Hellsten about "Delphi v2.0 - A few quest".

They wrote:
LH>I'm about to buy a copy of Delphi v2.0, but I'm not sure whether to get
LH>Desktop or Developer versions.  Can someone tell me what exactly are the
LH>differences between the two?  I've been on Borland's web site, but
LH>seem to find any such information - I imagine there's some info there
LH>somewhere, but there was so much other junk to wade through that after
LH>an hour of not really finding anything useful, I just decided to ask here,
LH>with my next step being to phone up Borland and just ask them.
LH>From what I know so far, it appears I don't need the Developer version.
LH>I've
LH>heard it described as "for professional programmers".  I do plan to
LH>programs I develop with it though.  I don't really care about all these
LH>features for interfacing with databases and whatnot though - I'm just an
LH>fashioned DOS programmer who wants to port a few of his programs to 32-bit
LH>text mode Win95/NT applications, and perhaps sometime in the near future
LH>I'll be developing applications that would benefit from a GUI.
LH>The second thing I want to know, is what's involved in porting an existing
LH>DOS application (written in TP7) over to a Delphi 32-bit text mode app?
LH>I compile my existing code with few modifications, or do I have to
LH>it?  Does Delphi v2.0 come with the equivalent of the DOS, CRT, and SYSTEM
LH>units in TP/BP (functions like ReadLn, WriteLn, Assign, Reset, etc.) that
LH>my current code would compile with, or would I have to write my own using
LH>the
LH>Windows API functions?
LH>Also, if anyone can answer this, how hard is it to develop communication
LH>routines for Delphi?  I do have experience with comm routines for Virtual
LH>Pascal for OS/2, so I figure I should be able to manage - the one obstacle
LH>I could forsee would be a lack of adequate documentation.
LH>Anyway, if anyone could answer any of these questions, I'd greatly
LH>appreciate
LH>it... thanks.

Write your reply.

assistant: he
ouldn't
alf
There are several differences.  Which, if any, are important enough to
affect your decision, is up to you.  The Developer edition contains more
components, the full source to the VCL, and a bit better documentation.
To be honest, I wish I had held out for it.  I happened to find the
Desktop version at an incredibly low price, but it looks like I am going
to end up buying the Developer version.
elease
old
Well, in spite of what is claimed, my copy of the Desktop version does
have the Install Shield software, which was a pleasant surprise.  As to
porting to "text-mode," that is possible, but it is also an ugly way to
write a program.  With Delphi, going to a GUI based program is so easy,
it is a crime not to. <G>
Can
"OOP-ify"
Some of this exists, and others are available.  I have a WinCRT unit
somewhere around here, though I have yet to actually use it.  You
shouldn't have any major problems, and may be surprised at how easy it
will be to port to a full GUI application.
There are a few comm packages available.
If you don't already have it, I strongly suggest that you get access to
Compuserve.   They have a Borland conference which is an excellent
source of support and code.