1. About Object Pascal

If you aren't familiar with Object Pascal, you might not know that it's been around for decades - and it's still going strong. Object Pascal is a programming language evolved from Pascal that has been used to create a variety of software applications, including desktop and mobile apps, as well as games. Despite its capabilities, many developers and programmers tend to regard Object Pascal as an inferior language, and it is often the subject of jokes and ridicule.

2. Reasons why Object Pascal is seen as inferior

One of the main reasons that Object Pascal is seen as inferior is that it is not as widely used as other languages, such as C, C++, Rust and so on. This lack of popularity can make it difficult for developers to find resources and support when working with Object Pascal, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

Another reason that Object Pascal is often criticized is that it is associated with older, legacy systems. Many developers view Object Pascal as a "dated" language that is no longer relevant in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, but for example C++ has roughly the same age more or less. Moreover, many have only learned it as an educational programming language in their educational career, and often only in an older dialect that is more limited than today's modern Object Pascal. This perception can lead to developers overlooking the benefits of Object Pascal, such as its stability and reliability.

3. Object Pascal is a powerful and efficient programming language

Object Pascal is a powerful and efficient programming language that can be used to create fast and robust software applications. One of the major benefits of Object Pascal is its ability to generate fast, native code. This is in contrast to other languages that generate byte-code or rely on a large runtime, such as .NET or JVM. This means that software applications written in Object Pascal can run quickly and efficiently, without the need for a large runtime or virtual machine.

Additionally, Object Pascal is often criticized for its syntax, which can be seen as verbose and confusing by some developers. This can make it less appealing for developers who prefer more concise and readable code. But the modern Object Pascal is nowadays no longer the Pascal of the past, instead it has had modern features such as generics/templates, operator overloading, inline assembler, and so on for almost more than two decades now, making it almost completely competitive with C++ in everyday use.

4. Implementations

In fact, Object Pascal is the language behind Delphi, one of the most popular RAD (rapid application development) tools available. And while Delphi is proprietary software, Object Pascal is also the basis for FreePascal, an open-source compiler that supports a variety of platforms, and its IDE Lazarus.

Delphi and FreePascal are two popular implementations of Object Pascal that are known for their ability to generate fast, native code. Delphi is a commercial product developed by Embarcadero, while FreePascal is an open-source implementation that is widely used among the Object Pascal community. Both Delphi and FreePascal are known for their ability to generate code that is highly optimized and runs quickly on a variety of different platforms.

Delphi can be used to target a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It also supports multiple CPU architectures such as x86-32, x86-64, ARM and AArch64, making it a versatile choice for developers looking to write code that can run on multiple platforms.

Similarly, FreePascal, together with Lazarus,can also be used to target a wide range of CPU architectures and operating systems, including x86-16, x86-32, x86-64, ARM, AArch64, PowerPC, RISC-V, LLVM, WASM and many others, and operating systems such as Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, *BSD, Solaris, Haiku and MS-DOS, among others. In addition, it can generate byte-code for the JVM (if one wants to use it) and has a related subproject, pas2js, which is a transpiler from Object Pascal to JavaScript. This makes it a versatile choice for developers who want to write code that can run on multiple platforms, and it also allows the executables to be smaller and less dependent on the target environment.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, Object Pascal is often criticized for its lack of popularity, association with legacy systems, and verbose syntax. However, it is a powerful and efficient language that can be used to create robust software applications and games like Total Commander, Image-Line FL Studio, Kingsoft Office / WPS Office, Age Of Wonders II, HxD, Inno Setup, fpPS4 (a PS4 emulator) and so on. Delphi and FreePascal are two popular implementations of Object Pascal known for generating fast, native code without the need of a fat runtime and that can target multiple platforms. Developers should not overlook the benefits of Object Pascal and should give it a fair chance, especially before they create a new programming language, as it unfortunately happened here with Rust.

Object Pascal is a versatile and powerful programming language that can be used to target a wide range of platforms and operating systems. Its ability to target a wide range of platforms and operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, the web, and many more, makes it an ideal choice for developers looking to create portable code. Its easy-to-learn syntax and robust library support make it accessible to developers of all levels. Delphi and FreePascal are popular implementations of Object Pascal that offer a wide range of features and support for the already powerful and versatile capabilities of the language. If you are interested in learning more about Object Pascal, there are a number of resources available online. Overall, Object Pascal is a valuable addition to any developer's toolbox, and it is worth considering for your next project. So if you're looking for a language that can do it all, look no further than Object Pascal.