Introduction to Python GUI development with Delphi for Python - Part 1: Delphi VCL for Python
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The document provides an introduction to Delphi for Python, emphasizing its GUI capabilities through Delphi's VCL and FMX frameworks. It addresses the target audience, outlines the advantages of using Delphi with Python, and includes installation instructions and example code. It also discusses the bidirectional bridge between Delphi and Python, enabling developers to leverage both languages effectively.
Introduction to Python GUI development with Delphi for Python - Part 1: Delphi VCL for Python
- 1. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Jim McKeeth Chief Developer Advocate Embarcadero Technologies [email protected] @JimMcKeeth Slides, links & replay: blogs.embarcadero.com/?p=128183 Introduction to Python GUI Development with Delphi for Python Part 1: Delphi VCL for Python
- 2. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Agenda • Introduction to Delphi VCL & FMX • Architecture and platforms • Installing and using Delphi VCL for Python • Demonstrations & Code • Going Beyond - Mixing Delphi & Python • More information, Next steps, Q&A Slides, links & replay: blogs.embarcadero.com/?p=128183
- 3. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company About Jim McKeeth ● Chief Developer Advocate & Engineer for Embarcadero ● Long time software developer ○ Delphi, C/C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, etc. ● Invented and patented pattern and swipe to unlock ○ e.g. US Patents # 8352745 & 6766456 ● Built thought controlled drone with Google Glass and wireless EEG headset ● Contributor to Internet of Things and Data Analytics Handbook ● Blogger, podcaster, conference speaker, webinar host, etc. ● Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, etc. @JimMcKeeth
- 4. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Target Audience 1. Python devs who want a nice GUI 2. Python devs curious about Delphi 3. Delphi devs who want to use Python 4. Delphi devs curious about what’s new 5. Other devs curious about Delphi & Python I do my best not to assume too much familiarity with either Delphi or Python, while still including code and technical details.
- 5. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company It’s not a Competition ● Developers have multiple tools on their workbench ● It is about finding the right tool for each task ● Having specialized tools for different tasks doesn’t detract from favorite tools ● You can always find a specific task that another tool is better for, but no one tool is that best for all tasks.
- 6. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company What is Delphi for Python? ● Set of free Python modules bringing Delphi’s GUI libraries to Python developers ○ Mature, feature rich, native & cross-platform ○ Does not require Delphi to use ● Based on the open source Python4Delphi (same technology that powers PyScripter) ● Available today on GitHub & PyPi ● Currently in beta, but ready for use ● DelphiVCL for Python supports Windows (32-bit & 64-bit) ● DelphiFMX for Python adds support for Linux 64-bit, Android, & Mac OS ● Part of a bidirectional bridge between Delphi and Python
- 7. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Introduction to Delphi VCL & FMX For anyone new to Delphi with comparisons to Python
- 8. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Timeline for Delphi & Python 2008 Python 3.0 A Major revision with many improvements. 2011 Delphi XE adds Mac OS Introducing FireMonkey, adding Windows 64-bit and Mac OS as natively supported platforms. 2018 Guido van Rossum’s Permanent Vacation Stepping down as Python’s benevolent dictator for life (BDFL). 1995 Delphi Introduced The successor to Turbo Pascal, includes the VCL. Using an evolved version of Object Pascal. 1991 Python Introduced Developed by Guido van Rossum as the successor to ABC. 2000 Python 2.0 Adding list comprehensions, reference counting, & cycle-detecting garbage collection 2013 Delphi XE4 & XE5 Compiles to native ARM supporting, iPhone, iPad, and Android. 2017 Delphi 10.2 Tokyo Support for natively compiled x86 64-bit Linux. Photo of Guido by D. Stroud,et al https://w.wiki/4fSN Photo for Wirth by Tyomitch https://w.wiki/4fSS Photo of Hejlsberg by DBegley https://w.wiki/4fST Today Delphi for Python Brings Delphi’s VCL & FMX frameworks to Python Niklaus Wirth Guido van Rossum Anders Hejlsberg 1970 Pascal Created by Niklaus Wirth and Influenced by ALGOL 68. 1987 ABC Programming Language An imperative general- purpose programming language influenced by ALGOL 68. Guido van Rossum worked on ABC system for several years. 1983 Turbo Pascal Developed by Anders Hejlsberg and promoted by Borland. The definitive Pascal.
- 9. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Delphi’s DNA 1. Developer productivity - Really the main goal is getting things done quickly 2. Maintainability - Code is easy to read and understand with good encapsulation 3. Fast compiled native apps - Compiles fast, and native applications run fast 4. Database access - Always includes a rich set of database access components 5. Platform API access - You don’t need to call platform APIs, but can if you want 6. Property-Method-Event - General model for working with components 7. Visual designers - WYSIWYG with drag and drop interface 8. Reliable applications - Exception handling and component owner model 9. Backwards compatibility - Even with all the updates most code is compatible 10.Rich component ecosystem - There is usually a component for everything
- 10. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Zen of Python 19 "guiding principles" that influence the design of the Python programming language 1. Beautiful is better than ugly. 2. Explicit is better than implicit. 3. Simple is better than complex. 4. Complex is better than complicated. 5. Flat is better than nested. 6. Sparse is better than dense. 7. Readability counts. 8. Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules. 9. Although practicality beats purity. 10. Errors should never pass silently. 11. Unless explicitly silenced. 12. In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess. 13. There should be one – and preferably only one – obvious way to do it 14. Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch. 15. Now is better than never. 16. Although never is often better than right now. 17. If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea. 18. If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea. 19. Namespaces are one honking great idea – let's do more of those! by Tim Peters, 1999, on the Python mailing list
- 11. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Comparison Introduced in 1995 Original architect is Danish Commercial license (with free CE) Statically-typed (Explicit, or inferred) Manual memory management with ownership model Compiled (with interpreted options*) Popular in line of business applications ↔ Introduced in 1991 ↔ Original author is Dutch ↔ Open source ↔ Dynamically-typed ↔ Garbage Collected (reference counting & cycle-detecting) ↔ Interpreted (optional JIT or compiler) ↔ Popular in research and prototyping Language encourages best practices & readability Includes comprehensive reusable libraries Rich ecosystem of developers and libraries Supports structured, procedural, functional, and OOP Fanatical community of developers *Interpreted Delphi options are via 3rd parties
- 12. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Components & Designers (Very Visual) Three Levels of Development Delphi makes it easy to mix all three! The productivity of components with the flexibility & power of Platform APIs. Common Libraries Raw Memory/ Assembly/ Pointers/ Platform APIs Productivity Where you “Touch the metal” for max flexibility L o w C o d e Universal to all development tools
- 13. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company VCL vs FMX A tale of two GUI frameworks
- 14. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company ● Designed for Windows and evolving with each new Windows release supporting latest features, controls, themes, and design ● Full source ships with each release since Delphi 1 ● Mostly a light wrapper around the native platform widgets and controls ● Includes a lot of “owner drawn” controls too ● Provides easy access to Windows Handles, Messages, etc. ● Greatly simplifies Windows development maintaining access to all platform features and APIs ● Native Windows look and feel with full theme system ● Mature platform with rich ecosystem of 3rd party components VCL Visual Component Library for Microsoft Windows
- 15. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company FMX The Cross-Platform FireMonkey Framework ● Takes advantage of GPU libraries to provide a hardware accelerated, rich user interface that is fast and looks great across multiple platforms: ○ Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux ○ Uses DirectX on Windows, OpenGL on Linux, OpenGL-ES on Android, and Metal on iOS and macOS ● Similar to VCL, but not designed to be compatible ○ Designed as cross platform from the ground up ● Integrated GPU effects, animations, and robust styling system ● Platform services abstract the access to platform hardware and functionality to intelligently adapt the UI & UX to platform specifics ● Very flexible component system - do more with fewer components (nestable)
- 16. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Short Delphi Tour Delphi IDE, VCL, & FMX
- 17. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Short Delphi Tour ● Delphi isn’t required to use the Delphi for Python modules ● The IDE runs on Windows, but targets other platforms ● There are multiple editions and options to get started ● Free options ○ 30-day trial of RAD Studio Enterprise ○ Community Edition (some limitations apply) ● Three paid editions ○ Professional ○ Enterprise ○ Architect ● Note: RAD Studio includes Delphi and C++Builder Find out mote embarcadero.com/products/delphi
- 18. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Introduction to Delphi
- 19. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Getting Started with Delphi VCL for Python Rich GUI Framework for Python For Windows (32-bit & 64-bit)
- 20. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Delphi for Python ● Windows 32-bit and 64-bit only ● Windows 8.1 through Windows 11 ○ (Earlier versions may work, but not supported.) ● Based on native Windows components ● Includes Windows Handles, Messages, Accessibility, etc. ● Styling system ● Uses GPU for custom rendering ● Multi-platform for Windows, Linux, Android, and Mac OS ● Higher level of abstraction ● Platform services simplifies behaviors ● Styling system Delphi VCL for Python Delphi FMX for Python Covering in webinar Part 2!
- 21. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Delphi VCL for Python Installation ● Supports: ○ Win32 & Win64 x86 architectures ○ Python cp3.6, cp3.7, cp3.8, cp3.9 and cp3.10 ● Conda support: ○ Win x86 and x64 from Python cp3.6 to cp3.10 ● Install via pip ○ pip install delphivcl ● Details and downloads ○ github.com/Embarcadero/DelphiVCL4Python ○ pypi.org/project/delphivcl/
- 22. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Hello Delphi VCL for Python
- 23. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Hello World from delphivcl import * class MainForm(Form): def __init__(self, owner): self.Caption = "A VCL Form..." self.SetBounds(10, 10, 500, 400) self.Position = "poScreenCenter" self.OnClose = self.__on_form_close self.lblHello = Label(self) self.lblHello.SetProps(Parent=self, Caption="Hello DelphiVCL for Python") self.lblHello.SetBounds(10, 10, 300, 24) def __on_form_close(self, sender, action): action.Value = caFree def main(): Application.Initialize() Application.Title = "Hello Python" Main = MainForm(Application) Main.Show() FreeConsole() Application.Run() Main.Destroy() main() The simplest example Configure the form Create and configure the label Event handler for the form’s close event Initialization the application and creating the form. The program loop Class is a VCL Form Owner
- 24. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Ownership (Life-cycle) ● Application ○ Form1 ■ Panel ■ Label ■ Edit ■ Button ■ Panel ■ Components ○ Form2 ■ Components Parent (Drawing) ● Form1 ○ Panel ■ Button ■ Panel ● Label ● Edit ● Form2 ○ Nested Components ■ Nested Components ● Nested Components A component can not have an owner, but all visual components (except the Form) have a parent. Parents hold their children, but don’t necessarily own them.
- 25. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Example with Styles ● Activity Indicator sample with option to load and change styles ● github.com/Embarcadero/DelphiVCL4Python/tree/main/samples/ActivityIndicator
- 26. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Activity Indicator with Styles
- 27. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Going Further… Exploring the Delphi for Python Bridge
- 28. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Design Your UI in the Delphi IDE ● Take full advantage of the Delphi IDE designers and property editors ● WYSIWYG preview with styles ● Export the form for use in Python ● Requires no Object Pascal knowledge ● Still write all your code in Python ● Just right-click and export with the DelphiVCL4Python IDE add-in ● github.com/Embarcadero/DelphiVCL4Python/tree/main/experts
- 29. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Form Export
- 30. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Combine Delphi and Python ● The Python4Delphi library is a bidirectional bridge ● Develop parts of your solution in Delphi, and part in Python ○ Play to the strengths of each ● Merge them together into a single cohesive solution ● Find samples, tutorials, and videos ○ github.com/pyscripter/python4delphi
- 31. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Use Delphi to Create Native Python Modules ● Many Python modules are written in C/C++ and natively compiled ● Delphi also creates natively compiled Python modules via Python4Delphi ● Prototype rapidly in Python, and then create optimized modules in Delphi to clear bottlenecks ● Much like Python, Delphi code is focused on readability and clear structure and may be easier for you than using C/C++ ● Augment your use of PyPy or Cython
- 32. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Documentation and Library References ● Main Delphi documentation ○ Main docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/ ○ VCL docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/VCL_Overview ○ FMX docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/FireMonkey ● Library Reference ○ Main docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/en/ ○ VCL docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/en/Vcl ○ FMX docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/en/FMX ● Delphi prefixes type names with a “T” ○ TEdit in Delphi is an Edit in Python ○ It is just a naming convention
- 33. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company About PyScripter ● Popular free & open-source Python IDE sponsored by Embarcadero ● All the features expected in a modern Python IDE while being lightweight and very fast ● Natively compiled for Windows to use minimal memory with maximum performance ● Full local and remote Python debugging ● Integration with Python tools like PyLint, TabNanny, Profile, etc. ● Run or debug files from memory. ● embarcadero.com/free-tools/pyscripter/free-download
- 34. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company About UltraEdit ● High performance text editor for programmers. ● Industry's best large file handling: 10+ GB and beyond. ● Syntax highlighting for nearly any language or data format. ● Smart templates. ● Hex editing. Column / block mode editing. ● Part of Idera family of developer tools. ● ultraedit.com/products/ultraedit/
- 35. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Next Steps ● Install Delphi VCL for Python github.com/Embarcadero/DelphiVCL4Python ○ Star the repository, see the samples, file issues, and make feature requests ● Read the blog post (links, replays) blogs.embarcadero.com/?p=128183 ● Join part 2 on FMX & Android https://embt.co/d4p-part2 ○ Jan 26th at 9 AM CST (Same registration as Part 1) ● Start a 30-day Delphi trial embarcadero.com/products/delphi/start-for-free ● Subscribe on YouTube youtube.com/c/EmbarcaderoTechnologies ● Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/embarcaderotech ● Like us on Facebook facebook.com/embarcaderotech ● Follow us on LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/embarcadero-technologies ● Read our blog pythongui.org
- 36. Delphi for Python Copyright © 2022 by Embarcadero, an Idera company Introduction to Python GUI Development with Delphi for Python Part 1: Delphi VCL for Python Jim McKeeth Chief Developer Advocate Embarcadero Technologies [email protected] @JimMcKeeth Slides, links & replay: blogs.embarcadero.com/?p=128183 Q&A