Xiaofan Chen wrote:
> Sorry no. I know next to nothing of Delphi.
> Some time ago I posted a question on how to learn
> host programming and since then I have made some
> progress. Now I can read some codes. But I am still not able
> to write a real program. I only know a bit of plain C (C++
> is already difficult for me, Python looks better). I am
> still learning but I pretty much give up on learning
> those complicated GUI programming framework
> (MFC/QT/FTK+ etc).

Since a brief encounter a while back, I wholeheartedly hate MFC, and I think 
that most people that used that buggy, poorly thought out  framework share 
my feelings.

Delphi is much cleaner and well thought out. It's very similar to C# .Net 
(from what little I've seen of it), probably because it was designed by a 
guy who was the father of Delphi at Borland. I encourage you to try Delphi, 
I think you'll like it (freely downloadable Personal Editions can still be 
found on the Net).

I would not touch GUI frameworks that force you to implement visual elements 
in code. RAD tools are so much to use: click a component, drop it on the 
form, resize/position it to your liking, set up event handlers and configure 
the properties using a property editor. Some even let you create useful 
applications without writing a single line of code. The other day I was 
playing with retrieving information from a MS Access database using 
Delphi -- piece of cake, you get a fully populated data grid which you can 
use to edit /add the data, with zero code. There are "data-aware" components 
which you can tie to a particular table/data source, again with zero actual 
code.

I believe that the most effective way to program on the PC, in terms of 
amount of useful functionality per unit of time, is to use the largest 
pieces you can, to build your software. Use the highest level language 
available. If you have a choice, buy the component you need, instead of 
writing it. Spend the time to explore commercially available third-party 
libraries.

Brooks (the guy who wrote the Mythical Man Month) says in the final chapter 
that other engineering disciplines have practiced this for years: you don't 
see anyone making their own nuts and bolts anymore. In the automotive 
industry, entire assemblies are used in different models, even across 
different manufacturers. It doesn't surprise people anymore, to find a Ford 
powertrain inside a Mazda pickup.

Meanwhile, programmers are not only still making their own bolts, they take 
pride in it. :)

Vitaliy 

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