Delphi Programming
Register
Advertisement

Tips to Determine Whether an App is Written in Delphi or Not

  1. Right click on an application’s icon in the task bar. VCL applications only show 3 menu items by default. Restore, Minimize and Close. This won't help you determine whether C++Builder or Delphi was used but it narrows it down to the same product family from Borland.
  2. Use Robert Kozak's IsDelphi utility to determine if an app was written in Delphi 1 to 5. http://cc.borland.com/ccweb.exe/listing?id=15250
  3. Use Bruce McGee's IsDelphi to search your hard drive for applications written in Delphi, Delphi for .Net. or BCB. Source code is included. http://cc.borland.com/codecentral/ccweb.exe/listing?id=22159
  4. Use Borland's VCL Scanner utility. http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,22645,00.html It appears this link has a bad download link, use this new link to get the source: http://cc.borland.com/codecentral/ccWeb.exe/listing?id=23078.
  5. Use Language2000. http://farrokhi.net/language/ This utility is a bit older, but it has the capability of detecting compilers other than Delphi
  6. Use Daniele Teti's TDWinInfo (search on www.torry.net) to determine the components used in an application. If the application uses many components that begin with "T" then in all likelihood it is a Delphi application because this naming standard is used by Borland's VCL and most developers who use Delphi. There is also a possibility that the application could have been developed with C++Builder.
  7. Use STUD_PE tool to determine the compiler. Works for Delphi 1-7 and maybe higher. Program is usually updated frequently with exe stud databases to determine the latest compilers that created the EXE. http://itimer.home.ro/studpe.html

The VCL Scanner, Bruce McGee's IsDelphi and the TDWinInfo utility will also pick up applications built using C++Builder. So to determine that it is written in Delphi you should attempt to verify this by obtaining some inside information from one of the developers of the software rather than just assuming it is built using Delphi.

If you are still not sure whether an application has been written in Delphi or in C++Builder, then put it into the Delphi list and add a note in the description: "NOTE: This may actually be a C++Builder app."


Applications built with Borland Delphi, see Good Quality Applications Built With Delphi

Applications built with Borland C++Builder, see Good Quality Applications Built With C++Builder

Advertisement