FPC vs C#

[Mike.Cornflake]

I personally didn't ever use any RTF component in Lazarus but I remember some recent and older threads and there were 2 - 3 third party RTF components around. I have no idea how good they are (how good they work on GTK2 and Qt, how they licensed). No one of them was suitable for you?

RTF support is something I keep an eye out for. Though not critical for me, this would be useful.  All the components I've found use the native Win API for handling RTF under windows.  Under other OS's, they contain very limited support.  I ended up working around the lack in my application by contributing to the fpvectorial text support library (small plug: http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/fpvectorial_-_Text_Document_Support), so my app now supports docx and odt exports... 

Of the RichText controls I've tried, RichMemo (http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/RichMemo) seems the best.  Regardless of what it says on the wiki, the rtf reading and writing hasn't been implemented - though the stubs are in place.  Somewhere near the bottom of my todo is finishing that....

[Fiji]

Anonymous methods, unicode still missing from FPC..

[BigChimp]

unicode still missing from FPC..

You're right. That's currently being added to FPC trunk:
http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/FPC_Unicode_support

[Fiji]

I wish there was atleast linking of C++ objects so I can mitigate the performance a bit.

Yes C# has great interop with C++ plus .NET Native is coming and they just got SIMD support.

[HexNihilo]

Hello,

Under other OS's, they contain very limited support.

Before abandoning Lazarus,  I have been working on lzRichEdit and been able to use Win32, Win64, Linux64 lzRichEdit. In doing so, I have contacted FastReport® for Lazarus beta (it was not ready) and tested Fortes Report.
It might have worked.

But, the display in Grid is a matter which is pertinent and diificult. I tried to use Bitmap for implementing lzRichEdit's images in Grid's cells : paint was too slow. I have explored other directions...  But one day you need to "produce"... your projects 

At that time, I tried Lazarus with Qt 4... a complete and utter failure (for me). Today, that can be better managed ? Qt Designing Delegates can be used ?

Regards.

[BigChimp]

Hello,

Under other OS's, they contain very limited support.

Before abandoning Lazarus,  I have been working on lzRichEdit and been able to use Win32, Win64, Linux64 lzRichEdit. In doing so, I have contacted FastReport® for Lazarus beta (it was not ready) and tested Fortes Report.
It might have worked.

But, the display in Grid is a matter which is pertinent and diificult. I tried to use Bitmap for implementing lzRichEdit's images in Grid's cells : paint was too slow. I have explored other directions...  But one day you need to "produce"... your projects 

You're right... thanks a lot for helping!

[HexNihilo]

@BigChamp : Sorry, too late : I actually design and develop components  (custom widget plugins) for Qt

But if it would be useful for your community, here are a few highlights from a conversation (Sept. 2013) :

FasReport :Unfortunately, at the moment this is not possible.
To compile under Lazarus need full source code, because of what is currently not possible to make a demo version.
At the moment we are dealing with the Lazarus development team, and in the future may create the demo Fast Report for Lazarus
My Answer : "To compile under Lazarus need full source code" : no, it's possible to distribute component without source code with lazarus :http://www.developpez.net/forums/d1034671/autres-langages/pascal/lazarus/comment-proteger-code-composant/

->  Perhaps a member can do something about that (unless that problem is solved)...  an alternative for no significant changes in LazReport.

My contributions are modest and downloadable (for some of them) on a french forum (a bug free .lpk to install Indy 10), lzRichEdit installable on both Windows and Linux operating systems (32 and 64), "enrichment" of StringGrid (integred sort, multiselect, cell-memo display...)...

But as I said, I stopped working with Lazarus.  I just wanted to make it clear that RTF or HTML is available for use
(i.e. class-compliant) with Qt or Java on Windows, Linux and osX while in Lazaus  you "keep an eye out for"... 
That is the difference of the "Lazarus planet".

Regards.

 

[BigChimp]

But as I said, I stopped working with Lazarus.  I just wanted to make it clear that RTF or HTML is available for use
(i.e. class-compliant) with Qt or Java on Windows, Linux and osX while in Lazaus  you "keep an eye out for"... 
That is the difference of the "Lazarus planet".

Mmm yes, unless you contribute yourself of course... we wouldn't be where we are now without massive support from volunteers (as Laz is not backed by a company) that was what I was trying to get across. But I think we might actually more or less agree

[marcov]

I wish there was atleast linking of C++ objects so I can mitigate the performance a bit.

Yes C# has great interop with C++ plus .NET Native is coming and they just got SIMD support.

Btw, if you have a certain C#, say VS2012, can you interop with C++ of all VS versions, or only the same one?

[HexNihilo]

@BigChimp

As I said, I stopped working with Lazarus unless forced to do so.

And effectively... you wouldn't know it : the problem is a real one. It was nothing major, but it seems like "lonely". I have never seen on the Lazarus IDE website a structured collaborative platform to develop, for example, a RTF StringGrid... or to clean, correct and even complete a failed  or, worse still, a discontinued component.

The answer is obvious : that does not exist ! This Website is a good platform of exchange and dialogue (useful for troubleshooting) but in actual practice, is a component born collaboratively, here ? 

It is easy to say that no one will go ! What is the exact meaning of  "thanks a lot for helping!". Where are tools, documentation*, structure of durable collaborative development ? What do you propose ? What are the real needs ?  What resources are available ? In parallel to the developments of my Widgets in C++, I can make myself available, approachable, in listening, during school holidays (2 months)... A  last try. Why not?

Regards.

* I've never seen any documentation (the research work) of a component... just a few comments in the code. In fact, if there is anyone who addressed the challenge, it tells little or nothing about his approach... except the (hypothetical) result.

[BigChimp]

Sorry, I'm having a lot of trouble understanding exactly what you're trying to say.

What is the exact meaning of  "thanks a lot for helping!".

I was under the impression that you were trying to improve Lazarus RTF support. That's why I said thanks for helping.

Where are tools, documentation, structure of durable collaborative development. What do you propose ?  I am available, approachable, in listening, during school holidays (2 months)... 

I'm sorry but there have been a lot more posts like yours. Always there's a lack of documentation etc etc etc that limit contribution. Who knows, it may be a language/cultural issue, and I have misjudged this for a complaint while you didn't intend it this way

If you want to contribute, please just do. The lazarus mailing list is an excellent place to discuss things.
How to create a patch:
http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Creating_A_Patch
using subversion or... git is also okay; if necessary Juha will help with git patches

Edit: patches for Lazarus-provided controls can go to the bugtracker as indicated in the patch article. Likewise patches for Lazarus CCR components.
More info on ownership for CCR components: http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Using_the_Lazarus-ccr_SVN_repository#Directory_owners

Third party components obviously are not covered by this process...

Thanks

[DelphiFreak]

Hi HexNihilo,

I have also diffculties to understand your messages.
Anyway, you can search the web for other threads like "FPC vs XZY" and you will find such discussions over the past 15 years.

Now it's 2014 a we are still here and have fun.

https://www.ohloh.net/p/compare?project_0=Eclipse&project_1=Lazarus&project_2=SharpDevelop

Let me say thank's to the incredible FPC/Lazarus-Team

Sam

[kapibara]

I started this topic because I will hold a Lazarus course for beginners later this year (in my local area) Thanks for all insights and ideas, even negative comments carry information!


Threads like this can often end up in crash and burn, but the forum showed its class.
I'm satisfied with the answers and the thread is now safely locked.

Be my guest start your own topic if you want to discuss further.