Delphiähnlich

Delphiähnlich is an adjective used in German-language computing to describe software, programming languages, or development environments that resemble the Delphi ecosystem, particularly in syntax, programming model, or user interface design. The term derives from Delphi, a Pascal-based language and IDE developed originally by Borland and later by Embarcadero, which emphasized rapid application development through a visual form designer and a component-based framework.

Delphiähnliche environments typically feature Pascal-like syntax that is strongly typed and object-oriented, support for event-driven programming, and a visual designer for forms and components. They often include or imitate a component library similar to the Delphi VCL (for desktop applications) or its cross-platform successor, FMX. In practice, the label is applied to languages or toolchains that aim to be compatible with Delphi or to provide a comparable developer experience, such as Free Pascal running in Delphi compatibility mode and the Lazarus project with the LCL.

Usage and scope: The term is common in German-language documentation and discussions to classify code bases, APIs, or IDEs as "Delphi-ähnlich" when they implement similar patterns, conventions, or tooling. It is also used when porting existing Delphi applications to other platforms or when teaching concepts familiar to Delphi programmers.

Limitations: While Delphiähnliche tools can offer rapid GUI development and familiar object-oriented patterns, there are differences in libraries, runtime behavior, and platform support that may require adaptation.

See also: Object Pascal, Delphi (programming language), Free Pascal, Lazarus, VCL, LCL, Delphi mode.