Borland C++ Builder: How to Create Windows Apps with a Fast Compiler
Borland C++ Builder: A Powerful Tool for Windows Development
If you are looking for a fast, reliable, and easy-to-use tool for creating Windows applications, you might want to consider Borland C++ Builder. Borland C++ Builder is a comprehensive development environment that combines a blazingly fast optimizing compiler, a rich set of libraries and frameworks, and a user-friendly visual designer. In this article, we will explore the features, benefits, and installation steps of Borland C++ Builder on Windows 10 & 11.
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Features of Borland C++ Builder
Borland C++ Builder has many features that make it a powerful and versatile tool for Windows development. Here are some of the main ones:
Fast and Optimizing Compiler
The core of Borland C++ Builder is the Borland C++ Compiler 5.5 (BCC), which is a 32-bit compiler that can produce optimized code for various platforms. BCC supports inline assembly, exception handling, debugging information, and code generation options. BCC can also compile legacy code written in Turbo C or Turbo Pascal.
ANSI/ISO C++ Language Support
Borland C++ Builder supports the latest standards of the C++ language, including templates, exceptions, namespaces, RTTI, STL, and more. You can write modern and portable code using the features of C++11, C++14, and C++17. You can also use extensions such as __property, __closure, __declspec, and __try/__except.
Standard Template Library (STL) Framework
Borland C++ Builder includes the Standard Template Library (STL), which is a collection of generic algorithms, containers, iterators, and functors that can be used to implement common data structures and operations. STL provides high-performance and reusable code that can simplify your development process.
Borland C/C++ Runtime Library (RTL)
Borland C++ Builder also comes with the Borland C/C++ Runtime Library (RTL), which is a set of functions and classes that provide low-level access to the operating system, file system, memory management, string manipulation, math operations, date and time functions, and more. RTL is compatible with the standard C library and supports both ANSI and Unicode strings.
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
Borland C++ Builder provides an integrated development environment (IDE) that allows you to write, compile, debug, and run your applications in one place. The IDE has a code editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, code folding, bookmarks, breakpoints, and more. The IDE also has a debugger that can inspect variables, watch expressions, modify values, set conditions, trace execution and more. The IDE also has a project manager that can organize your files, settings, dependencies, and resources.
Visual Designers and Components
Borland C++ Builder offers visual designers that let you create graphical user interfaces (GUIs) by dragging and dropping components onto forms. You can use standard components such as buttons, labels, text boxes, menus, toolbars, dialogs, etc., or custom components that you can create or import from third-party libraries. You can also use data-aware components that can connect to various data sources such as databases, files, web services, etc., and display or edit data in grids, lists, charts, etc.
How to Download and Install Borland C++ Builder on Windows 10 & 11
If you want to try out Borland C++ Builder on your Windows 10 or 11 machine, here are the steps you need to follow:
Download Borland C++ Compiler 5.5
The first step is to download the Borland C++ Compiler 5.5 from this link. This is a free download that contains only the compiler and the runtime library without the IDE or the visual designers.
Extract and Copy Borland Folder to C Drive
The next step is to extract the downloaded file using a tool such as WinRAR or 7-Zip. You will get two folders: Borland and C Free. You need to copy the Borland folder to your C drive, so that you have a path like C:\Borland.
Install C Free IDE
The third step is to install C Free IDE, which is a lightweight and easy-to-use IDE that can work with Borland C++ Compiler. You can download it from this link. After installing it, you need to open it and configure it to use Borland C++ Compiler as follows:
Go to Tools > Options > Compiler > Global Compiler Settings > Toolchain Executables.
Set Compiler's Installation Directory to C:\Borland\BCC55.
Set Program Files > C Compiler to bcc32.exe.
Set Program Files > C++ Compiler to bcc32.exe.
Set Program Files > Linker for Dynamic libs to ilink32.exe.
Set Program Files > Linker for Static libs to tlib.exe.
Click OK to save the changes.
Open C Free IDE and Write and Run C/C++ Programs
The final step is to open C Free IDE and start writing and running your C/C++ programs. You can create a new project by going to File > New > Project and selecting Console Application or GUI Application. You can then write your code in the editor window and save it with a .c or .cpp extension. To compile and run your program, you can press F9 or click the green arrow button on the toolbar. You can also debug your program by setting breakpoints, stepping through your code, watching variables, etc.
Benefits of Using Borland C++ Builder for Windows Development
Borland C++ Builder is not only a powerful tool for Windows development, but also a beneficial one. Here are some of the advantages of using Borland C++ Builder for your projects:
Compatibility with Windows Platforms
Borland C++ Builder can create applications that are compatible with various Windows platforms, including Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11. You can also target different devices such as PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, HoloLens, Surface Hub, and Xbox. You can use the same code base for different platforms and devices without much hassle.
Productivity and Performance Boost
Borland C++ Builder can help you increase your productivity and performance as a developer. You can write code faster and easier with the help of the code editor, code completion, code folding, syntax highlighting, etc. You can also compile and run your code faster with the help of the optimizing compiler, parallel builds, incremental linking, etc. You can also debug and test your code faster with the help of the debugger, breakpoints, watch expressions, memory dumps, etc.
Flexibility and Customization Options
Borland C++ Builder gives you a lot of flexibility and customization options for your development process. You can choose between different compilers (BCC or Clang), different toolsets (MSVC or mingw), different libraries (STL or RTL), different frameworks (VCL or FMX), different components (standard or custom), etc. You can also extend and modify Borland C++ Builder with plugins that add new features or functionalities.
Support and Documentation Resources
Borland C++ Builder has a lot of support and documentation resources that you can use to learn more about it or solve any problems you encounter. You can access the online help system that provides detailed information about every aspect of Borland C++ Builder. You can also visit the official website that provides tutorials, videos, articles, blogs, forums, wikis, FAQs, etc. You can also join the online community that provides forums, wikis, blogs, articles, videos, tutorials, FAQs, etc. You can also contact the official support team that provides technical assistance and customer service.
Conclusion
Borland C++ Builder is a powerful tool for Windows development that offers many features and benefits for developers. It has a fast and optimizing compiler, a rich set of libraries and frameworks, an integrated development environment, and visual designers and components. It can create applications that are compatible with various Windows platforms and devices. It also has a lot of flexibility and customization options, as well as support and documentation resources. If you want to download and install Borland C++ Builder on your Windows 10 or 11 machine, you can follow the steps we have outlined in this article. We hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Borland C++ Builder:
Is Borland C++ Builder free?
Borland C++ Builder is not free, but it has a free edition called Community Edition that has a limited commercial use license. You can use it for free until your individual revenue from C++Builder applications or company revenue reaches $5,000 US or your development team expands to more than 5 developers.
What is the difference between Borland C++ Builder and Delphi?
Borland C++ Builder and Delphi are sibling products that share the same IDE and many core libraries. The main difference is that Borland C++ Builder uses the C++ programming language, while Delphi uses the Object Pascal programming language. Borland C++ Builder can call Delphi code and vice versa, but they cannot share the same project files.
What is VCL and FMX?
VCL (Visual Component Library) and FMX (FireMonkey) are two frameworks that provide visual components for creating GUIs with Borland C++ Builder. VCL is based on the Windows API and can only target Windows platforms. FMX is based on OpenGL and can target Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms.
How can I extend Borland C++ Builder with plugins?
Borland C++ Builder has a plugin framework that allows you to add new features or functionalities to the IDE or the compiler. You can create your own plugins using the Open Tools API (OTAPI) or use existing plugins from third-party sources. You can install plugins by copying them to the Bin folder of your Borland C++ Builder installation or by using the GetIt Package Manager.
Where can I find more information about Borland C++ Builder?
You can find more information about Borland C++ Builder on the official website https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder, where you can access the online help system, tutorials, videos, articles, blogs, forums, wikis, FAQs, etc. You can also contact the official support team for technical assistance and customer service.