Delphi thick client to web application

Question

I am currently using Delphi 5 and planning to migrate application to latest version(XE3) or to other technology. Main purpose of migration is dont want thick client. In currrent scenario application(exe) gets downloaded to the users local folder and then it runs rom local. Main purpose is dont want to download the application to users machine. .

Wanted to stick with Delphi if that downloading limitation resolved. Is there web solution? or way to access the application from common point without downloading to users machine.

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

Note: There are lots of users who uses these application.

Answer 1

Depending on the type of application you could add web layer around the core functionality of your application.

If you create something like a SOAP or REST interface, you can write a web client in any language that suits. Could be Delphi, or some more web-oriented language like PHP or ASP.Net. By having a web interface your users can access from any platform.

On the other hand, if your current application is not layered properly, and you've got a lot of code mixed between the GUI and your model, this could be difficult. It would mean rewriting a lot of code, or just accept the fact that your users need Windows, and an .exe file.

At least by using Delphi, your users don't need to download a huge framework that requires administrator privileges to install.

Anyway, you should provide some more information about what you already have, and what type of application it is, how complicated it is, etc.

Answer 2

If you are planning a move to Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE), accessing existing Delphi logic can be achieved using two communication models, using existing commercial and open source solutions:

• for synchronous (request/response) style communication between Delphi and Java, there are lightweight web frameworks for Delphi (I wrote this one recently) and open source JSON/XML libraries which can be used for data exchange. This allows the Java application server to access Delphi logic over HTTP

• for asynchronous communication, I wrote (commercial) message broker client libraries for Delphi and Free Pascal, they can be used with the Java Message Service (JMS) servers in the JBoss and the GlassFish application server - JBoss and GlassFish already include a messaging solution (HornetQ and Open MQ), as a mandatory part of the full Java EE profile

I also have written some step by step tutorials for JBoss and GlassFish Delphi integration:

Delphi Integration with JBoss Application Server 5

Delphi Integration with the GlassFish v3 Application Server Part 1 - Sending Messages

Delphi Integration with the GlassFish v3 Application Server Part 2 - Receiving Messages