The Pros and Cons of Borland Delphi 6: A Comprehensive Review
Free Download Borland Delphi 6: A Guide for Beginners
Are you looking for a way to create Windows-based applications using Object Pascal? Do you want to learn more about one of the most popular development environments for this programming language? If so, you might be interested in downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free.
free download borland delphi 6
Borland Delphi 6 is a software product that was released in 2001 by Borland, a company that specialized in software development tools. It is a rapid application development (RAD) tool that allows you to design, code, debug, and deploy applications using Object Pascal, a version of Pascal that supports object-oriented programming.
In this article, I will guide you through the process of downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free, installing and using it, and upgrading or migrating from it. I will also explain the features and benefits, as well as the limitations and drawbacks, of Borland Delphi 6. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what Borland Delphi 6 can do for you and how to get started with it.
What is Borland Delphi 6?
Borland Delphi 6 is the sixth version of Borland Delphi, a software product that was first launched in 1995 as a successor to Borland Pascal. Borland Delphi is a visual integrated development environment (IDE) that allows you to create Windows-based applications using Object Pascal, a version of Pascal that supports object-oriented programming. Object Pascal is a high-level, compiled, strongly typed, and structured programming language that is easy to learn and use, yet powerful and flexible enough to handle complex tasks.
Borland Delphi 6 was released in 2001 as part of the Kylix project, which aimed to provide cross-platform development tools for Windows and Linux. Borland Delphi 6 introduced several new features and enhancements, such as:
CLX: A cross-platform component library that allows you to create applications that can run on both Windows and Linux.
DataSnap: A framework for creating multi-tier distributed applications that can access data from various sources.
WebSnap: A framework for creating web applications that can integrate with HTML templates, web components, and web services.
BizSnap: A framework for creating e-business applications that can communicate with XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI.
dbExpress: A lightweight database access layer that supports multiple database systems, such as Oracle, MySQL, InterBase, and SQL Server.
QuickReport: A reporting tool that allows you to design and generate reports from your data.
InterBase Express (IBX): A set of components that allow you to access InterBase databases directly without using the BDE (Borland Database Engine).
Internet Direct (Indy): A set of components that allow you to perform various internet-related tasks, such as sending and receiving emails, FTP transfers, HTTP requests, and TCP/IP communications.
Borland Delphi 6 also improved the performance, stability, and usability of the IDE, code editor, debugger, visual designers, data access components, and other features of Borland Delphi. It also supported the latest standards and technologies at the time, such as COM+, CORBA, XML, SOAP, WSDL, UDDI, HTML 4.0, CSS 2.0, JavaScript 1.5, and DHTML.
The features and benefits of Borland Delphi 6
Borland Delphi 6 offers many features and benefits for developers who want to create Windows-based applications using Object Pascal. Some of these are:
Rapid application development (RAD): Borland Delphi 6 allows you to create applications quickly and easily by using visual designers, drag-and-drop components, code completion, code templates, code insight, refactoring tools, and wizards. You can also test and debug your applications within the IDE using the integrated debugger, profiler, unit testing tools, and exception handling tools.
Cross-platform development: Borland Delphi 6 allows you to create applications that can run on both Windows and Linux by using the CLX component library. You can also create web applications that can run on any browser by using the WebSnap framework. You can also create multi-tier distributed applications that can access data from various sources by using the DataSnap framework.
E-business development: Borland Delphi 6 allows you to create e-business applications that can communicate with XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI by using the BizSnap framework. You can also create web services that can be consumed by other applications by using the Web Services Toolkit.
Database development: Borland Delphi 6 allows you to access various database systems by using the dbExpress database access layer or the BDE (Borland Database Engine). You can also access InterBase databases directly by using the IBX components. You can also design and generate reports from your data by using the QuickReport tool.
Internet development: Borland Del phi 6 allows you to perform various internet-related tasks by using the Indy components. You can also send and receive emails, FTP transfers, HTTP requests, and TCP/IP communications by using these components.
Object Pascal: Borland Delphi 6 allows you to use Object Pascal, a version of Pascal that supports object-oriented programming. Object Pascal is a high-level, compiled, strongly typed, and structured programming language that is easy to learn and use, yet powerful and flexible enough to handle complex tasks. Object Pascal also supports multiple inheritance, interfaces, exceptions, generics, anonymous methods, and closures.
The limitations and drawbacks of Borland Delphi 6
Despite its features and benefits, Borland Delphi 6 also has some limitations and drawbacks that you should be aware of before downloading it for free. Some of these are:
Outdated and unsupported: Borland Delphi 6 is an old software product that was released in 2001. It is no longer supported or updated by its original developer, Borland, which was acquired by Embarcadero Technologies in 2008. Embarcadero Technologies has released newer versions of Delphi that have more features and capabilities than Borland Delphi 6. Therefore, Borland Delphi 6 may not be compatible with the latest standards and technologies, such as Windows 10, .NET Framework, C#, Java, and Android.
Illegal and risky: Borland Delphi 6 is a commercial software product that requires a license to use legally. Downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free from unofficial sources may violate the intellectual property rights of Embarcadero Technologies or other parties. It may also expose your computer to viruses, malware, spyware, or other threats that may harm your system or data. Therefore, downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free is not recommended or endorsed by Embarcadero Technologies or any other reputable source.
Limited and restrictive: Borland Delphi 6 has some limitations and restrictions that may affect your development process or results. For example, Borland Delphi 6 only supports Windows and Linux as target platforms, while newer versions of Delphi support other platforms such as macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. Borland Delphi 6 also has a limited number of components and libraries compared to newer versions of Delphi. Borland Delphi 6 also has a fixed memory model that may cause memory leaks or fragmentation issues.
How to download Borland Delphi 6 for free?
If you still want to download Borland Delphi 6 for free despite its limitations and drawbacks, you will need to follow some steps to find and download it from the internet. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do so:
The official sources of Borland Delphi 6
The official sources of Borland Delphi 6 are the websites of Embarcadero Technologies or WinWorld. Embarcadero Technologies is the current owner and developer of Delphi, while WinWorld is an online museum of old software products. You can download Borland Delphi 6 from these sources by following these steps:
Go to the Embarcadero Technologies website or the WinWorld website.
Search for "Borland Delphi 6" in the search box or browse through the categories.
Select the version of Borland Delphi 6 that you want to download. The latest version is Borland Delphi 6 Enterprise Edition, which includes all the features and components of Borland Delphi 6.
Click on the download link or button to start the download process. You may need to register or log in to access the download link or button.
Save the downloaded file to your computer. The file size is about 300 MB.
The alternative sources of Borland Delphi 6
The alternative sources of Borland Delphi 6 are other websites or torrent sites that offer free downloads of old software products. You can download Borland Delphi 6 from these sources by following these steps:
Go to a website or torrent site that offers free downloads of old software products. Some examples are OldVersion.com, OldApps.com, The Pirate Bay, or 1337x.to.Select the version of Borland Delphi 6 that you want to download. Make sure that the file is not corrupted, infected, or fake by checking the comments, ratings, and reviews of other users.
Click on the download link or button to start the download process. You may need to use a torrent client, such as uTorrent, BitTorrent, or qBittorrent, to download the file from torrent sites.
Save the downloaded file to your computer. The file size may vary depending on the source and the version of Borland Delphi 6.
The risks and precautions of downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free
Downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free from unofficial sources may involve some risks and precautions that you should be aware of before doing so. Some of these are:
Legal issues: Downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free from unofficial sources may violate the intellectual property rights of Embarcadero Technologies or other parties. You may face legal consequences, such as fines, lawsuits, or criminal charges, if you are caught or reported by the authorities or the rights holders.
Security issues: Downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free from unofficial sources may expose your computer to viruses, malware, spyware, or other threats that may harm your system or data. You may also encounter phishing, scamming, or hacking attempts by malicious actors who may try to steal your personal or financial information.
Quality issues: Downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free from unofficial sources may result in low-quality or defective files that may not work properly or at all. You may also encounter missing, corrupted, or outdated files that may cause errors, crashes, or compatibility issues with your system or other software products.
To avoid or minimize these risks and precautions, you should do the following:
Use a reliable and reputable source: Choose a source that has a good reputation and track record of providing high-quality and safe downloads of old software products. Check the comments, ratings, and reviews of other users to verify the credibility and trustworthiness of the source.
Use a secure and updated system: Use a system that has a strong antivirus, firewall, and VPN software installed and updated to protect your computer from potential threats and attacks. Scan the downloaded file before opening or running it to detect and remove any possible infections.
Use a backup and recovery plan: Use a backup and recovery plan to save your important data and files in case something goes wrong during or after the download process. You can use an external hard drive, cloud storage service, or online backup service to store your data and files securely. You can also use a system restore point, recovery disk, or recovery partition to restore your system to a previous state if needed.
How to install and use Borland Delphi 6?
After downloading Borland Delphi 6 for free from your chosen source, you will need to install and use it on your computer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do so:
The system requirements and compatibility of Borland Delphi 6
Before installing Borland Delphi 6 on your computer, you should check if your system meets the minimum and recommended specifications for running it. Here are the system requirements and compatibility of Borland Delphi 6:
Operating System
Minimum Requirements
Recommended Requirements
Windows
Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP32 MB RAM200 MB disk spacePentium processorSVGA monitorCD-ROM drive
Windows XP/Vista/7/8/1064 MB RAM500 MB disk spacePentium II processorXGA monitorCD-ROM drive
Linux
Red Hat Linux 6.2/7.0/7.1Mandrake Linux 7.2/8.0SuSE Linux 7.0/7.1TurboLinux Workstation 6.0Kylix Runtime LibraryX Window SystemKDE/GNOME Desktop EnvironmentGlibc 2.1.xC++ Runtime LibraryBorland Database Engine (optional)Red Hat Linux 7.2/7.3/8.0Mandrake Linux 8.1/8.2SuSE Linux 7.2/7.3/8.0TurboLinux Workstation 6.1Kylix Runtime LibraryX Window SystemKDE/GNOME Desktop EnvironmentGlibc 2.2.xC++ Runtime LibraryBorland Database Engine (optional)
You should also check if Borland Delphi 6 is compatible with your target platform, database system, web server, web browser, and other software products that you want to use with it. You can find more information about the compatibility of Borland Delphi 6 on the Embarcadero Technologies website or the Borland Delphi 6 documentation.
The installation process and options of Borland Delphi 6
After checking the system requirements and compatibility of Borland Delphi 6, you can proceed to install it on your computer. You can install Borland Delphi 6 by following these steps:
Insert the Borland Delphi 6 CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or mount the downloaded ISO file to a virtual drive.
Run the setup.exe file from the CD-ROM or the virtual drive to launch the setup wizard.
Follow the instructions on the setup wizard to choose the language, accept the license agreement, enter the serial number and authorization key, and select the destination folder.
Choose the type of installation that you want to perform. You can choose from Typical, Compact, Custom, or Complete. The Typical installation installs the most common components and features of Borland Delphi 6, while the Compact installation installs only the essential components and features of Borland Delphi 6. The Custom installation allows you to select the components and features that you want to install, while the Complete installation installs all the components and features of Borland Delphi 6.
Select the additional options that you want to install or configure, such as shortcuts, file associations, online registration, and updates.
Wait for the installation process to finish. The installation process may take several minutes depending on your system and the type of installation that you chose.
Restart your computer if prompted by the setup wizard.
The user interface and tools of Borland Delphi 6
After installing Borland Delphi 6 on your computer, you can start using it to create Windows-based applications using Object Pascal. You can use Borland Delphi 6 by following these steps:
Launch Borland Delphi 6 from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.
You will see the Borland Delphi 6 IDE, which is the main user interface of Borland Delphi 6. The IDE consists of several windows, menus, toolbars, and panels that allow you to design, code, debug, and deploy your applications.
To create a new application, go to File > New > Application. You will see a blank form in the Form Designer, which is a window that allows you to design the user interface of your application by using visual components.
To add components to your form, go to the Component Palette, which is a panel that contains various categories and icons of components that you can use in your application. You can drag and drop components from the Component Palette to your form or double-click on them to add them to your form.
To edit the properties and events of your components, go to the Object Inspector, which is a panel that displays the name, type, properties, and events of the selected component. You can change the values of the properties and events by typing in them or using drop-down lists, check boxes, buttons, or dialogs.
To write code for your application, go to the Code Editor, which is a window that allows you to write Object Pascal code for your application by using syntax highlighting, code completion, code templates, code insight, refactoring tools, and other features.
To test and debug your application, go to the Run Menu, which is a menu that contains various commands and options for running, debugging, profiling, unit testing, and exception handling your application. You can also use the Debugger, which is a window that allows you to inspect and modify the values of variables, expressions, registers , and memory, as well as control the execution flow of your application.
To deploy your application, go to the Project Menu, which is a menu that contains various commands and options for building, compiling, linking, and distributing your application. You can also use the Deployment Manager, which is a window that allows you to manage the files and settings of your application for different target platforms and environments.
Borland Delphi 6 also provides other tools and features that can help you create and manage your applications, such as the Project Manager, which is a window that allows you to organize and access the files and resources of your project, the Gallery, which is a window that allows you to browse and use predefined templates and samples for your project, the Model View, which is a window that allows you to view and edit the class hierarchy and relationships of your project, the Database Desktop, which is a tool that allows you to create and manipulate local databases, the Data Module Designer, which is a window that allows you to design and manage data access components for your project, and the Resource Editor, which is a tool that allows you to create and edit resources for your project.
How to upgrade or migrate from Borland Delphi 6