Forum > Other
Why isn't Lazarus / Free Pascal more popular?
Xtra999:
Hi,
Maybe I'm not the first one who is wondering about why Lazarus isn't more popular amongst developers? I recently finished my first small project with it (< 1000 LOC) and I'm really satisfied with this Language and IDE. It's a pure CLI program, but coming from other languages I can't really see any major disadvantages. Lazarus / FPC
- compiles as fast as Go
- is as easy to learn as Python
- compiled executables are roughly as fast as C# native builds
- is at least as comfortable as Python + Qt / Qt builder when it comes to GUI programming
- doesn't require any runtime libs
Despite all of those facts Free Pascal seems to be a dying language. Most of the devs seem to use it for many years, working on legacy software, which makes me think that the majority of devs is a bit older.
marcov:
--- Quote from: Xtra999 on April 25, 2025, 03:22:13 pm ---Maybe I'm not the first one who is wondering about why Lazarus isn't more popular amongst developers?
--- End quote ---
Opinions vary, but mine is that there is no big US corporation pushing it.
--- Quote ---Despite all of those facts Free Pascal seems to be a dying language. Most of the devs seem to use it for many years, working on legacy software, which makes me think that the majority of devs is a bit older.
--- End quote ---
Language popularity is very overrated. Terms like "legacy software" are only uttered to promote something new and fancy, it is more about the alternative wanting to advertise itself as "new and shiny".
Anyway, as I see it you have two choices. Go with the flow, and let company/management choose your tools, which means you will never be be blamed for that choice, OR take initiative and choose your own tools
Either way is valid and depends on what you will do, but in bigger companies the going with the flow is the safer option. In smaller companies, management control over the development process is less pronounced and you can choose what is beneficial.
robert rozee:
--- Quote from: Xtra999 on April 25, 2025, 03:22:13 pm ---[...] why Lazarus isn't more popular amongst developers? [...]
--- End quote ---
the answer is much the same that for "why Delphi isn't more popular amongst developers?". some insights may be gleaned from here:
https://dev.to/viktoriabors/is-delphi-a-good-career-choice-for-junior-developers-epc
1. lack of accessible support resources for programmers,
2. preference for web and mobile applications,
3. today's job market favouring other languages that are perceived as 'more modern'.
an interesting idea would be adding a 'web browser' target for Lazarus, if done right this may open up new opportunities for the application of Lazarus.
cheers,
rob :-)
Thaddy:
Dunno. It is superb.
CM630:
We know why Lazarus is not more popular, but we do not know how to fix that.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page