Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

How good is C++ Builder? Ever tried? I Saw It a couple of years ago and it looked good actually but noone seems to use it.


Historically a great tool along with Delphi, with poor subsequent management/ownership since the very early 2000's.


Imagine classic Visual C++ with it's form builder (versus the modern WinRT stuff) and hooks...it's much like that. I would say the experience is a little smoother. I do remember the version I used to use had issues with the form builder to where getting exactly what you wanted was finicky (the rendered/preview version was never quite what the compiled version ended up as).


If only VC++ ever had a form builder for C++ like C++ Builder has been doing for 30 years.



Resource editor for dialogs isn't the same as the C++ Builder experience.


Whatever you say.


...is correct. Visual C++ has a visual resource editor, but this isn't what C++ Builder does. C++ Builder edits live objects, you declare a class with its properties (this needs extensions to the C++ language) and during design time the object is instantiated and edited visually through the property editor ("object inspector"). This works for both visual (buttons, controls, etc) and non-visual objects.

The difference between what VC++ does and what C++ Builder (and Delphi) does is massive and at a very fundamental level.


Cool.



Visual editors for Windows resources in MFC aren't the same as C++ Builder VB like capabilities.


Like I described, is like using VB for the GUI stuff, coupled with the C++ capabilities.

Additionally it has a symbiotic relationship with Delphi, similarly to how C# and C++/CLI are integrated, only much better.

Nowadays the compiler backend is based in clang.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: