[fpc-pascal] Delphi To Free Pascal

[Peter Vreman]

> Hi,
>
> This my test to see if free pascal can be used to compile Delphi Projects.
>
> I have thousands of delphi projects/project files etc... but for this test
> I
> simply create a new application and save it to c:\freepascal testen\hello
> world\version 0.01
>
> I notice how free pascal does not support delphi projects ?
>
> I still open and after running it, free pascal ide says:
>
> project1.dpr(4,8) Fatal: Can't find unit FORMS
>
> This is the source:
>
> program Project1;
>
> uses
>   Forms,
>   Unit1 in 'Unit1.pas' {Form1};
>
> {$R *.res}
>
> begin
>   Application.Initialize;
>   Application.CreateForm(TForm1, Form1);
>   Application.Run;
> end.
>

Lazarus provides the GUI parts. See http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org


> So much for that.
>
> Now I try to compile a delphi console project.
>
> I again create a new project in delphi and save it as hello console ;)
>
> This time it went as follows:
>
> Euhm maybe this is because I used my free pascal cross compiler which
> compiles from
> windows to linux.... I made that once lol... but still I started the win32
> fp ?
>
> Oh well
>
> Here is how it went (still not good ;)):
>
> ■ Free Pascal IDE  Version 0.9.2
> Using "C:\pp2\bin\win32\cygwin1.dll" version 1003.22.0.0
> program started
> press enter to continue
>
> program finished
> CallSignal called
> Exception_Continue_Execution  set

Try the latest 1.9.6 release


>
> Here is the source:
>
> program Project1;
>
> {$APPTYPE CONSOLE}
>
> uses
>   SysUtils;
>
> begin
>   { TODO -oUser -cConsole Main : Insert code here }
>   writeln('program started');
>
>   writeln('press enter to continue');
>   readln;
>
>   writeln('program finished');
> end.
>
> Free Pascal does not seem like an alternative to delphi at first sight.
>
> Free Pascal claims compatiblity with delphi... but I am not seeing it from
> these very simple quick tests.
>

A crash of an IDE does not say something about the compatibility of the
compiler itself.


> I have very little time to spent on free pascal etc... so if I do give
> free
> pascal a chance I would like it to have a couple of euhm things:
>
> 1. Delphi Project File support.
>
> 2. Open Delphi Project File, Press Compile, Press Run and voila ;)
>
> Free Pascal should simply make it happen just like that ;)

Why do you need FPC for that? Delphi can do it


>
> I have all delphi source code... like classess.pas and the vcl source...
> so
> maybe an installer
> can be made for free pascal so that it can find the delphi source code.

Try Lazarus it provides the VCL replacement units you are looking for.