Category Archives: RAD Delphi

Developer tools environement

RAD Delphi

RAD Delphi/CPP XE5 was released

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Before I could even start some apps on beta7/beta8 — the official release of XE5 came out.

The most “in the face” feature is the very impressive integration of the RAD XE5 to the different environments (Win8/iOS/Android). It enables the developer to seamlessly connect the mobile device  or emulator that the app would be compiled on. And run the application.

I didn’t yet, dig enough into the twiks of each system. Of course each platform and device got its own sensors with-which you can program an app to.

All programming for the mobile EcoSystems, is being done using the FireMonkey FMX. Which is an OO environment. And if you check the source code of the FMX, you’d find a FMX.Platform.{PlatformType}.pas that is functioning as an encapsulation of the ecosystem basic function.  the {PlatformType} is one of the following by default: IOS, Win, Mac, Android.

Platform.IOS:

The integration to the iOS got a procedure where you automagicly sync the current XCode headers to be used by the DCCARM on the RAD OOP environemnt. This procedure is being done once, and could be repeated when a new version of the iOS is out.

All code-signing, and device deployment for the iOS is being done using the existing Mac XCode environemnt (when dealing with key-chain codes, and provisioning profiles — this is a procedure every Apple developer know, and is well documented in Developer.Apple site.)

Platform.Android:

As for the android platform, because of the fact that it is an open source OS. Embarcadero decided to ship the RAD environment with a deployment of the android SDK/NDK. So emulation and use of tools is being done using them.

When connecting a new android device the RAD automatically detect it and can compile code to the device itself.

 

Apple, iOS, Mobile Manufactor, Mobile OS Market, RAD Delphi

APNS – Apple Push Notification Server

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I’ve updated my code on the iOS client of the “Apple Push Notification Server”. With its companion the Server side. This version of code was written in Delphi, for windows desktop environment — and I’ve enhanced it a bit. Had to understand the thingies with the signing and all the procedure.
If you are in the progress of building one yourself here are my notes on the subject:

  • Make sure you are consistent with the type of app you are developing. Basically there are two kinds: Development & Production (Distribution). What ever you choose note the following assignments:
  1. Code sign your APNS with the proper type (DEV/PRO)
  2. Assign the server to be connected to the proper gateway:
    A. gateway.sandbox.push.apple.com:2195 – for DEV
    B. gateway.push.apple.com:2195 – for PRO
  3. Make sure your type is consistent to the client side (DEV/PRO) – The type of kind will produce a different value for the client APN Token when registration the client on the server side.

I’ve created a NotificationPanel for my windows desktop machine. Yet, it isn’t as fancy as the Apple/Google ones. But it inform me on different messages that I’ve connected it to. I’ve registered it as a COM AutomationObject, so it could be used in Microsoft VBA scripts, or similar applications.

One of the features of that code is the ability to send a message via my APNS registered server.

I am still trying to figure out, why not all of the messages being sent via the APNS reach the client side. I do not know where it actually fails [Client or Server side].

In addition there is the issue with the APNS feedback system (feedback.push.apple.com:2196) which I didn’t manage to verify its function. My version of code, for it, doesn’t seems to receive and feedbacks — whether messages has been sent properly or not, and if not — what is the exact reason.

Android, iOS, Mobile OS Market, RAD Delphi, windows8

Delphi XE5 beta6 testing for Windows/Android/iOS/MacOSX

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I started checking the new XE5 beta 6. It is, as being a beta, a little unstable, yet from first testing I would highlight the following:

  1. Very good – Integration with the iOS & android SDK/NDK
  2. Very good and ease of deploying applications (to the android at least – that’s what I first checked).
  3. Ran bunch of demo applications which were under …/FiremonkeyMobile path. About 10 demos, 2 worked perfectly… yet all the other halted the compilation/deployment – due to reasons that I didn’t check deep enough… After tweeking some of the none working on the android platform, I managed to run most of them.
  4. I ran all through, all the availables Firemonkey sample demos, that are supplied when installing the XE — and modified them for use on mobile devices. Seems that about 30% could run without a problem – on mobile — yet the rest required a more enhanced modification of the code.
  5. In addition, I’ve modified a code that was originally was written using XE4, for compilation to iOS devices. It made use of the datasnap and the binding of data to a TListView. Slight modification of it made it useable on the android platform as well… here is a sample tast
  6. On my ToDo.list are:
    • Create a demo app that uses SQLite on android…. With a big DB about 1mil records 1gb sized.
    • Checking the ability of local Mobile DB, such as the SQLite on iOS, and the deployment process of SQLite DB on android.
    • See how a deployment of DataSnap on the android works, (done that, seems that all that was required is to set in the android uses/options ‘the internet connection’ to on the app security switches)
    • Reintroduction of the ability to display a 3d object such as .3ds file. With proper setting of the meshes on it.
RAD Delphi

Contacts thoughts

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Prefix:
I’ve been managing my contacts list, for ever – it seems, or at least since I managed to create one, and save it in a certain form.
And been thinking whether to put some effort into creating an application for the process of Syncing/Merging duplication etc’.

Online market status:
The online market got, already, plenty of tools in which each app offer certain kind of functions (more or less).
Yet, having the ability to manage that from a delphi source code — could be found useful in many cases.

Present situation as It seems to me:
At present the default desktop apps, offer an import/export procedure.
Yet, for example, it doesn’t always manage the binary pictures properly,. Or does in a faulty way the process of merging.

Various software contact structures:
1. Ms outlook
2. Ms outlook express
3. Ms Windows contacts .CONTACT
4. Apple iOS/OSX contact structure
5. Incredimail contacts
6. Csv plain structure
7. .VCF structure

Various Web contact structures:
1. Ms live outlook
2. FaceBook contacts
3. Google gmail (including android apps for that)
4. Google gplus contacts (including android apps for that)
5. Yahoo email

RAD Delphi

Delphi XE4 – Additional components library settings

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Ok,. so I got the new Delphi XE4. — Now what?

I am usually using libraries of components on my apps. So Here is a list I’ve been working with on the latest versions and releases of the RAD:

In addition to the following:

In addition, I ran some sample code of Embarcadero FireDAC DB package.. Nice

Moreover, ran some sample code of XE4 for iOS… Good things, though, I was slightly disappointing that there wasn’t a built in feature of Sharing Binary attachments in an email…