Converting a Delphi 5 engine management application to Android - need advice on the approach

Question

I have an application written in Delphi 5 that I want to convert to run on Android 2.x. The application is pretty simple; it was used to upload / download configuration files to a separate microprocessor via a Modbus serial line. (This is an engine control chip for use in boosting power in turbo diesel engines). I have not programmed since I had Pascal days, so I'm almost a complete newbie, but I want to spend some time on it, and I have the source code, of course.

From the reading I have done so far, it seems that rewriting the application in Java seems to be the most common solution, but some also suggest using Monodroid? What I really appreciate are some final recommendations on which versions and tools I should put together, for example, install the Java SDK kernel or look at Monodroid and just convert existing code? What I find most difficult is the right approach / setting up the environment - I am overwhelmed with information and choices here! As soon as I am sure that I have the right approach, I will then find out the details when I go, but there is nothing worse than spending hours and hours playing with one approach, and then later find out that it was wasted!

My goal here is to implement the functionality of existing code in Android as quickly as possible, and not to fully reproduce the appearance and not become an Android programming guru :)

Really appreciate any guidance on this ...

Mark

Answer 1

There is one option that you have not mentioned here. I don’t know too much about this, and I think it is still under development, so it may not be stable enough or fully functional for you, but have you looked at the Delphi For Android cross-compiler? If this works for you, it will definitely be easier than translating everything into Java or the CLR language.

Answer 2

See this Stackoverflow question for lists of other programming languages ​​that may work on Dalvik (Android VM):

What programming languages ​​can I use on Android Dalvik?

There is also an Android Native Development Kit (Android NDK) that allows developers to create Android software components with C and C ++.

Answer 3

Even I am a fan of Delphi, I believe that working with Android requires Java. Android is Java based, so you should go like this. Or, as mjustin said, use Scala. Everyone seems to be happy with this.

Just my opinion.

Best wishes,

Answer 4

If you plan to port the application to Android, I would suggest just using Java, although if you plan to get it on other platforms such as iPhone and WP7, using Monodroid would be a good choice.

One thing I'm curious about is how does the device you're going to use communicate with? Will it be via Wi-Fi encapsulating the Modbus protocol, or do you have some kind of device connected to it that gives you a serial connection? This may be your biggest problem, because not all devices support the USB host mode out of the box, and you may need to flash them using another firmware.

Answer 5

Check out this talk on the Embarcadero website.

See also Alexey Mogurenko’s Blog. . it shows you how to do it with the Free Pascal compiler

Answer 6

You can easily port your Delphi app to Android using Lazarus / FreePascal .

Answer 7

Free Pascal can now create code for the Java platform - so it would be possible to create Delphi code that can be compiled into Java bytecode with FPC and then converted to a Dalvik virtual machine.

The FPC backend for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) generates Java byte code that complies with the specifications of JDK 1.5 (and later). Although not all FPC language functions work when targeting the JVM, most (or in the future), and we did our best to make a few differences.

This FPC JVM server is not affiliated with Project Cooper RemObjects, and FPC now does not support Oxygene.