Windoz 7

[mrmikehicks]

Has anyone tried Lazarus with the new Windows 7 OS yet??

[jetchengchu]

Yes, and it works well.

[LazaruX]

Look at the screenshots ;-)

[picstart]

Some like to become unpaid debuggers of Microsoft systems. These first adopters are courageous. Many prefer to wait years until at least service patch 3 is released before accepting an OS as reliable. Since I have not yet learned how to write perfect code I need to know that the OS, the compiler and the debugger I am using are very very likely not to be the cause of any issues that may arise. 2012 is probably the year I will look at using windows 7.
In 2012 we must not forget to thank the unpaid volunteers that will have debugged and made windows 7 reliable. If lazarus moves to support an unproven widows 7 I hope it doesn't compromise support of earlier versions of windows that many consider almost debugged.

[mrmikehicks]

@picstart,   I agree with you. As a contractor working all over the country, I have noticed that many large companies are also reluctant to adopt new OS systems. While at Boeing in St Louis (Oct 2001 - Jun 2004), they stayed with Win2K for the 3 years that I was there when in fact, XP came out in Oct of 2001. They might still be using Win2K for AFAIK.

[theo]

Win2k was the best MS OS imho.
I'm still using Win2k Server unter VirtualBox.
It's fast and doesn't need a lot of resources.
It feels like a toy nowadays. ;-)

[alter]

Some like to become unpaid debuggers of Microsoft systems. These first adopters are courageous. Many prefer to wait years until at least service patch 3 is released before accepting an OS as reliable. Since I have not yet learned how to write perfect code I need to know that the OS, the compiler and the debugger I am using are very very likely not to be the cause of any issues that may arise. 2012 is probably the year I will look at using windows 7.
In 2012 we must not forget to thank the unpaid volunteers that will have debugged and made windows 7 reliable. If lazarus moves to support an unproven widows 7 I hope it doesn't compromise support of earlier versions of windows that many consider almost debugged.

While in case of end users I agree, in case of software developers I don't. I'ts actually nice to know that software you are using works with new system so decision if to upgrade or not doesn't depend on it.
And yes it works well so I guess you can say it already moved to support it.

[Vincent Snijders]

PicStart, we still have not dropped windows 95 support, but we are hoping that people are still using Lazarus on it, so they can give us feedback when things break on that those older OS-es.

[clauslack]

First, I tell my story:
A year ago I did an analisis for choosing tools to change all the software in my company.(One requeriment is remote access to the system)
Another software developers proposed these solutions:
- Via web, with IIS. (All Windows)
- Applicactions compiled with PowerBuilder (Sql Server, Oracle o SyBase)
- Applicactions compiled with Visual Foxpro.

I thought in
- Delphi+Firebird (needs Windows)
- PHP+Firebird (For me is not familiar)
- Visual Foxpro + Firebird (needs Windows)
and
- Lazarus/Freepascal + Linux + Firebird was the best solution, and now we have our systems running with applications build with Lazarus/fpc in 27 pcs. (4 months ago)

Advantages of Lazarus over other tools.
- Print fine under Laser and matrix printer (LazReport and Printer RawMode)
- Works fine with old hardware (pentium 150 40 RAM windows 98)
- Works fine across internet, we have 11 remote users (8 in other cities)
- GUI Cross plataform (Windows, Linux..)
- Is Open Source.
- Export to Excel and Dbf.
- Language is Object Pascal.
- Great Community.
and
- Applications build with Lazarus/Fpc run in many O.S.
Windows 98 (1 user)
Windows 98 SE (3 users)
Windows 2000 (3 users)
Windows 2000 server (2 users)
Windows XP (17 users)
Linux Desktop Slackware GTK2(1 user)
- My idea is migrate all Clients to Linux Desktop (I can do this with Lazarus)

I must install this application in more pcs.
Still there are one Windows NT, and 2 Windows 95 OEM (old hardware)

we still have not dropped windows 95 support

A year ago, I tested a Lazarus application under Windows 95 and did not work (some missing DLL)

Vincent, what do you think, upgrade this O.S. or Lazarus app. works fine with some tip under Windows 95 OEM? (Later I post the exactly error)

Anyway I am very happy with Lazarus/FPC running succesfully in 27 PCs.
Thanks to all community..

[Vincent Snijders]

I am not sure, but I think windows 95 + some IE install should be enough, but maybe I am too optimistic.

[LazaruX]

Windows 2000 has been the most stable Windows version until now, so I agree with theo regarding it.
My expericence tells me that until last year (2008) my school was still using Windows 2000 on most of the client PC (don't know about the servers). And until 2007 ALL machines where Windows 2000. (and there was no licensing problem, I think it's just because its stability).
I still didn't had time to try Lazarus on Windows 95, but will do it as soon as I can and provide feedback for it.
I still hope support for windows 95 will continue. I can tell you everybody by experience that at least Windows 98 is still being used (more than we think).

[alter]

Remember to check how it works with and without IE 5.0. This version bought alot of changes to Windows and this might be that version mentioned by Vincent (IE 5.0 brought to Windows 95 shell from used in 98 as well as many deeper changes in the system).

[clauslack]

Application build with Lazarus 0.9.29 seems to work under Windows 95 (plus upgrade ole32.dll, etc + with IE5)
But
- TCalendarDialog, TSelectDirectoryDialog and other missing component. (Win32WsDialogs.pp) use this function Shell32:SHBrowseForFolderW, that not exist under Windows 95 and I can't upgrade.
- TBitBtn don't show the caption.

So for now, I am thinking upgrade to Win98, because Linux desktop is too heavy in this old hardware.

Regards.

[Vincent Snijders]

SHBrowseForFolderW can be fixed by loading that function at run time, instead of dynamically loading it. But if TBitBtn's caption aren't fixed, it is not worth the effort.

[clauslack]

Yes, for simple application Win95 work, but with some more complex applications, is more easy upgrade to Win98.
For Win95 not worth the effort.

Thanks