Embarcadero have announced that those on subscription upgrade with Architect or higher license for Delphi or RAD studio can now install the FMX for Linux package.
This promises Delphi users the ability to use the Firemonkey framework to write Linux GUI applications and as such is a major new development.
Again it shows the advantage that Embarcadero have when developing products based on their propriety form of pascal (Delphi = Object Pascal). They don’t have to jump through many hoops to get the compiler targeting different operating systems.
Even though RAD studio uses versions of open source (clang) C++ compilers (thus theoretically requiring no “original” development) Embarcadero seem reluctant to develop and sell C++ equivalents to their cutting edge Delphi offerings.
As well as the lack of FMX for Linux using C++ there is also the recent lack of commitment to provide 64 bit C++ support for Android and iOS.
If you are looking at Windows only applications then Embarcadero C++ (VCL or Firemonkey) is still a sound choice. But, in this day and age, how can you be sure that your application will remain in the “Windows only” category?
For more information on FMX for Linux search on line for the webinar of 9th July 2019 “Introduction to FmxLinux – Delphi’s FireMonkey for Linux Solution” presented by Jim McKeeth.