Each year, we celebrate Computer Science Education Week. There are events happening on and all over the world. Code.Org is encouraging everyone to spend an hour teaching others how to code. Apple is inviting kids to come into Apple stores to spend an hour coding. I am encouraging all of our developer customers to spend an hour with their kids, their local schools or the kids of family friends and spend an hour showing them how to write programs.  How to start?

First Step - go to the Computer Science Education Week web site at https://csedweek.org/

Second Step - check out Code.org's hour of code site - https://code.org/ and also volunteer your time to help at your local schools showing them how fast you can build applications with 10 Seattle.

Third Step - take your computer and show kids what you do when you are working on applications.

Fourth Step - teach kids to build their first RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder application by going through one of our many online tutorials - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Seattle/en/Tutorials

Fifth Step - donate money and technology to your favorite college alumni computer science fund, computer programming related charity, project or local school. Can't find one? Consider donating to my favorite cause - The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Grace Hopper Conference Support Fund. This year we sent the most young women of any college to the conference in Houston Texas (October 14-16, 2015). I've included the donation steps for giving at the end of this blog post.

Spend some time with young, aspiring programmers this week.  Show them what you know.  Show them how cool programming is.  Show them how they can create their first desktop and mobile applications. It only takes an hour or less!!!

And most of all - Have Fun this week teaching kids how to program!

David I.

Donate to the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Computer Science Grace Hopper Conference Fund

If I have ever helped you in some way during my past 30+ years working with our developer tools, if we’ve worked together, if I ever helped you get the most out of our products, or if you love computer programming, please donate whatever you can to the Cal Poly Computer Science Grace Hopper Fund. You can easily donate online. Go to the Cal Poly Giving web site and make an online donation:

1. Go to the Cal Poly Giving Site - https://securelb.imodules.com/s/699/donations.aspx?sid=699&gid=1&pgid=961&cid=2272
2. Put in your donation amount
3. In the designation section, click the radio button for "Select College(s) and Program(s)"
4. A pop-up window will appear. In the search box enter "Grace Hopper Conference Support Fund" and check the box that appears
5. Click the "continue" button.
6. Select the "Give Now" button
7. Fill in the information about you section, for your relationship with Cal Poly, choose Friend (unless you are an alumni, parent, student, etc.)
8. Click Save and Continue
9. Fill in your billing address information and credit card info
10. Click Next
11. The last page in the process, review your info and click the submit button!
12. To make sure that the steps above are correct, I just donated $500.  If you live in the US, the donation is tax deductible. Thank you in advance for giving to the Cal Poly Grace Hopper Conference Fund. And thank you to everyone I have met and collaborated with during my first 46 years of my programming and my 30.5 years working with RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder.  I look forward to many more years of creating great software with you.

I just received the following email from Hadi Partovi from Code.Org. "The 2015 Hour of Code is here, with 191,000 events around the world!" Challenge yourself, your classroom, your child, or a friend to learn something new this week.

Learn to code with Minecraft, Star Wars, or 50 other options for every age, from pre-readers to adults. Brooklyn and Chicago are going head-to-head in a competition to reach more students. In Nigeria and Syria, students are coding amidst the violence. Russia and Italy asked every school to host an Hour of Code. In Zimbabwe, Guam, Colombia, France, Malta, Afghanistan — in every country — students are learning skills that can change the rest of their lives. Join the conversation around this global event. Browse this #HourOfCode live feed, share your own coding story on social media with #HourOfCode, or watch this 1-minute video of classrooms around the world.

Beyond one hour — a sea-change in education

Thanks to your voices, the largest U.S. cities have adopted computer science. Some entire states are adding the course to schools. But 75% of schools still don’t teach this foundational field. You can help change that. Ask your local school to teach computer science (sample letter). Your stories and passion make this movement possible. Join us now to prove anyone can take part is building the technology that’s changing our world. Hadi Partovi and the Code.org team.

Get Started Building Desktop and Mobile Applications with our easy to follow Tutorials

You can get started building Desktop and Mobile applications by downloading the free 30-day RAD Studio 10 Seattle trial.  You can learn how to program by using our online tutorials. You'll find a list at http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Seattle/en/Tutorials

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The Embarcadero C++ team presented an online webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 showing C++ developers the fastest way migrate your projects to C++Builder 10 Seattle and build/update data-rich, hyper connected, visually engaging applications for Windows 10, Mobile, IoT and more using Standard C++11. 

You can find the replay online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCX6RMtb_Eo

Webinar slide deck is available at http://www.slideshare.net/davidintersimone/c-in-action-webinar-move-your-c-projects-to-cbuilder-10-seattle

Resource links are available on the webinar blog post at http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/c-in-action-move-your-c-projects-to-c-builder-10-seattle-wed-dec-9-at-6am-11am-5pm-pt

This hotfix addresses compile time errors when targeting iOS 9.2 using C++Builder or RAD Studio 10 Seattle. This hotfix is not necessary for Delphi 10 Seatlle customers - it is only for developers using the C++ compilers and targeting iOS 9.2 devices.

Date Added: Dec 15th, 2015

Platform/Version: iOS 9.2

RAD Studio version : 10 Seattle

Solution: Download the 10 Seattle iOS 9.2 C++ Hotfix - December 2015 on CodeCentral - http://cc.embarcadero.com/item/30456

Platform Status Docwiki Page

You can now find all of our platform support and service bulletins on the new "Platform Status" pages on the Embarcadero DocWiki

Platform Status main page - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/PlatformStatus/en/Main_Page

Platform Status Service Bulletins - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/PlatformStatus/en/Main_Page#Workarounds_by_Platform

iOS 9.2 C++ Hotfix Readme file contents

10 Seattle iOS 9.2 C++ Hotfix - December 2015


This hotfix addresses compile time errors when targeting iOS 9.2 using C++Builder or RAD Studio 10 Seattle. 


Install Instructions (you must have Administrator rights on the PC to perform some operations):

1)  Make sure that RAD Studio 10 Seattle is closed.  
2)  Open Windows Explorer, navigate to your RAD Studio install folder, then to the bin subfolder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\bin).
3)  Rename iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths to iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths.bak.
4)  Unzip the 10 Seattle iOS 9.2 C++ hotfix to a known folder.
5)  Copy the unzipped iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths file into the bin folder.
6)  Launch the IDE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dieser Hotfix behebt in C++Builder oder RAD Studio 10 Seattle Compilierfehler für die Zielplattform iOS 9.2. 


Installationsanweisungen (für bestimmte Vorgänge benötigen Sie Administratorrechte auf dem PC):

1)  Schließen Sie RAD Studio 10 Seattle.  
2)  Öffnen Sie den Windows-Explorer, navigieren Sie zum Installationsordner von RAD Studio und dann zum Unterordner "bin" (normalerweise C:\Programme (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\bin).
3)  Benennen Sie die Datei iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths in iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths.bak um.
4)  Entpacken Sie den "10 Seattle iOS 9.2 C++"-Hotfix in einem bekannten Ordner.
5)  Kopieren Sie die entpackte iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths-Datei in den Ordner "bin".
6)  Rufen Sie die IDE auf.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ce correctif a pour objectif de résoudre les erreurs de compilation relatives à iOS 9.2 lorsque C++Builder ou RAD Studio 10 Seattle est utilisé. 


Instructions d'installation (vous devez disposer de droits Administrateur sur le PC pour réaliser certaines opérations) :

1)  Assurez-vous que RAD Studio 10 Seattle est fermé.  
2)  Ouvrez l'Explorateur Windows, naviguez jusqu'au dossier d'installation de RAD Studio, puis jusqu'au sous-dossier bin (généralement C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\bin).
3)  Renommez iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths en iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths.bak.
4)  Décompressez le correctif 10 Seattle iOS 9.2 C++ dans un dossier connu.
5)  Copiez le fichier iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths décompressé dans le dossier bin.
6)  Lancez l'EDI.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

このホットフィックスは、C++Builder 10 Seattle または RAD Studio 10 Seattle を使用して、iOS 9.2 をターゲットにする場合のコンパイル時エラーに対処するものです。


インストール手順（いくつかの操作を実行するため、PC に対して管理者権限が必要です）：

1) RAD Studio 10 Seattle が閉じていることを確認します。
2) Windows エクスプローラを開き、RAD Studio インストール フォルダに移動したあと、bin サブフォルダ（通常、C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\bin）に移動します。
3) iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths を iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths.bak に名前変更します。
4) 10 Seattle iOS 9.2 C++ ホットフィックスを既知のフォルダに解凍します。
5) 解凍した iPhoneOS9.0.defaultsdkpaths ファイルを bin フォルダにコピーします。
6) IDE を起動します。

======================================================================================

Copyright (c) 2015 Embarcadero Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Our RAD Studio Development, QA, Documentation and Product Management teams have collaborated to create the new Embarcadero DocWiki RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder platform status page. The platform status page shows the supported platforms and operating systems for different RAD Studio versions covering Windows, OS X, iOS and Android platforms. A * (star) sign next to an operating system indicates that there is a known issue with that operating system and a corresponding RAD Studio version. To see the workaround for that particular issue, click on the name of the operating system or scroll down to the appropriate section. You can also use the links on the table of contents on the right side of the page to go direct to a platform or service bulletin.

Platform Status DocWiki

Platform Status main page - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/PlatformStatus/en/Main_Page

Platform Status Service Bulletins - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/PlatformStatus/en/Main_Page#Workarounds_by_Platform

Use the Embarcadero Quality Portal to Report Issues

The Quality Portal is designed to track a variety of issues including bug reports and feature requests. Submitted issues are evaluated by QA and are not part of product support. There is an article on the community site , http://community.embarcadero.com/article/articles-support/171-rad-studio/16199-rad-studio-quality-portal-user-guide, that explains the process of reporting issues as well as provides some recommendations on how to make your reports helpful and valuable.

If you need assistance installing or registering your product, please contact Developer Support

Here is a recent newsgroup post asking about Row-Level locking using FireDAC to talk to SQL databases. Enjoy!

Emery asks:

I’m working on a project right now that’s presently using FireDAC to connect to PostgreSql, but we are planning on expanding the possible backends to include MS/SQL, MySQL and Oracle as well (with possibly other, not yet identified, alternatives as well). PostgreSql may or may not be in our long-term plans.

One of the single most important requirements that I have is the ability to perform row-level pessimistic locking as effortlessly as possible within the application. I would like to, if at all possible, have many queries read the database asserting minimal locks and have specific queries assert atomic row-level locks on a single record identified by the primary key that will prohibit other users of the same system from writing to the same record at the same time (and, strictly as a matter of convention, from adding or deleting child records of the locked parent records as well). I do not want to block other users from reading the locked data with the understanding that a user will be possibly seeing stale data at the time of the read).

What specifically must I do to do so with your components? Are any of the mechanisms dependent in any way on the specific backend that I am connecting to (that is, in terms of the SQL that I must create on the front-end in order to connect)? In other words, can I safely have the exact same SQL used to connect to any of the above backend databases or will I have to generate SQL that is dependent on the specific database to which I am connecting? If the SQL has to vary, can you identify for me what the SQL must look like for each of the above backends?

Please provide as much detail as possible. The right database connectivity solution is terribly important. I want to give FireDAC the full consideration it deserves in making the right decision for this project.

Thanks, Emery Galambos

Dmitry replies with the relevant FireDAC DocWiki links:

• http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/Seattle/en/FireDAC.Stan.Option.TFDUpdateOptions.LockMode
• http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/Seattle/en/FireDAC.Stan.Option.TFDUpdateOptions.LockPoint
• http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/Seattle/en/FireDAC.Stan.Option.TFDUpdateOptions.LockWait

All of these properties control only automatic data editing: FDQuery.Edit / Post. They do not have influence on FDQuery.ExecSQL('UPDATE ...'), etc.

With best regards, Dmitry

Merry Christmas developers. I hope you have a wonderful day today. May your stocking be filled with perfect algorithms, efficient data structures, well designed objects and bug free applications.

"Santa I" sends out big thanks to all of the Delphi and C++Builder developers who continue to join us on our journey into programming's future. 2015 was a great year for all of us. 2016 is going to be even more awesome for programming excellence.

And if you received some holiday $'s in your stocking, you can use them to purchase RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder 10 Seattle. We have very special offers until the end of 2015 :D http://www.embarcadero.com/radoffer

Merry Christmas. Mele Kalikimaka. Happy Holidays.

Santa (David) I.

I often do large Oracle database queries using FireDAC to analyze registration data about our products and customers. Most of the time I am only processing through millions of rows to create a report or chart. One of the FDQuery properties that I forget to set True is the TDFQuery's "Unidirectional" sub-property found under the FetchOptions (TFDFetchOptions) property.  By default Unidirectional is set to false as some developers will want to put the data into a grid or other container and update the values.

In my case, when I left Unidirectional false and read through millions of rows returned using my query, I was getting an "out of memory" error. Setting Unidirectional to true tell FireDAC not to cache the rows and my app never runs out of memory.

You can find more information about the Unidirectional property on the FireDAC docwiki and FAQ:

• http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/Seattle/en/FireDAC.Stan.Option.TFDFetchOptions.Unidirectional
• http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Seattle/en/Fetching_and_Populating_Questions_(FireDAC)

Have fun using FireDAC in your RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder 10 Seattle projects.

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Using app tethering, your VCL, FMX and console applications can easily: 1) Discover other applications that are using app tethering, running either on the same device as your application or on other connected devices. 2) Run actions remotely. An application can publish actions using app tethering. Then other applications can remotely invoke any of these actions on the former application. 3) Share data between applications. App tethering allows sharing of standard data types and streams. The app tethering feature does not depend on a specific transport or protocol, and new transports and protocols can be implemented using the app tethering API. The RTL provides built-in support for IP and Classic Bluetooth connections. IP support includes connecting applications running on the same device. Here are a few blog posts that show you how to reuse and extend your applications with App Tethering.

Malcolm Groves' Blog Series on App Tethering

• App Tethering : Overview - http://www.malcolmgroves.com/blog/?p=1842
• App Tethering : Discovery and Pairing - http://www.malcolmgroves.com/blog/?p=1854
• App Tethering : Sharing Persistent Resources Part 1 - http://www.malcolmgroves.com/blog/?p=1891
• App Tethering : Sharing Persistent Resources Part 2 - http://www.malcolmgroves.com/blog/?p=1935
• App Tethering : Sharing Transient Resources - http://www.malcolmgroves.com/blog/?p=1964
• App Tethering : Remote Actions - http://www.malcolmgroves.com/blog/?p=1989

App Tethering Tips and Techniques

• Connecting to Remote Applications Using App Tethering - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Seattle/en/Connecting_to_Remote_Applications_Using_App_Tethering
• Sharing and Running Actions on Remote Applications Using App Tethering - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Seattle/en/Sharing_and_Running_Actions_on_Remote_Applications_Using_App_Tethering
• Sharing Data with Remote Applications Using App Tethering - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Seattle/en/Sharing_Data_with_Remote_Applications_Using_App_Tethering
• System.Tether.Manager.TTetheringManager - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/Seattle/en/System.Tether.Manager.TTetheringManager
• System.Tether.AppProfile.TTetheringAppProfile - http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/Libraries/Seattle/en/System.Tether.AppProfile.TTetheringAppProfile
• App Tethering using Encryption Hooks - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/app-tethering-using-encryption-hooks

Videos

• App Tethering: Bridge VCL and Mobile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da0-e38XYrk
• App Tethering for VCL and FireMonkey using C++ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gFkKwJNvno

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2015 was a huge year for Embarcadero, our developer tools and our worldwide developers and partners. We shipped two major releases of RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder. We delivered 52 Developer Skill Sprint webinars (6am, 11am and 5pm). CodeRage X for Delphi and C++Builder took place in October with more than 70 technical sessions. We moved forward to become part of Idera Software and keeping the Embarcadero brand name for the Developer tools and InterBase business. Most importantly, we are planning for a great 2016 with all of your investment, encouragement and feedback.  Here are links to just a few of the many accomplishments and stories from 2015.

Product News

• Embarcadero ships RAD Studio XE8 with support for iOS universal apps, multi-device form factor preview, Beacon proximity support and GetIt - http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/major-new-release-rad-studio-xe8
• RAD Studio 10 Seattle arrives at the perfect time to support the release of Windows 10 and iOS9, C++11 for Win32 and Large Memory Model IDE - http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/embarcadero-rad-studio-10-seattle-now-enables-developers-to-build-delphi-and-c-apps-for-ios-9 and https://www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio
• Embarcadero Brings Millions of C++ and Delphi Developers to Windows 10 with its Latest RAD Product Release - http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/million-developers
• Embarcadero Acquires Raize Components; Introduces new Windows UI and Logging Products for Delphi and C++Builder Developers - http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/embarcadero-acquires-raize-components-introduces-new-windows-ui-and-logging-products-for-delphi-and-cbuilder-developers, https://www.embarcadero.com/products/konopka-signature-vcl-controls, and http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/codesite-konopka-signature-vcl-controls-launch-webinar-blog-notes
• Embarcadero Introduces AppAnalytics, the First Usage Analytics Service for Desktop, Mobile, and Wearable Applications - http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/embarcadero-introduces-appanalytics-the-first-usage-analytics-service-for-desktop-mobile-and-wearable-applications 
• RAD Solution Pack - Now Available - https://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/rad-solution-pack-now-available and https://www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-solution-pack
• New BeaconFence for RAD Studio - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/new-beaconfence-for-rad-studio
• InterBase XE7 wins IOTA Internet of Things Award Winner 2015 - https://delphiaball.co.uk/2015/12/02/interbase-iota-internet-of-things-awards-winner-2015/
• Embarcadero Acquires Castalia and Usertility from TwoDesk Software - http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/embarcadero-acquires-castalia-and-usertility-from-twodesk-software

Technical Articles and Blog posts

• Getting Started with the new Windows 10 VCL UI Controls in RAD Studio 10 Seattle - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/getting-started-with-the-new-vcl-windows-10-ui-controls
• Windows 10 Developers White Paper by Embarcadero - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/windows-10-developers-white-paper-by-embarcadero
• RAD Studio 10 Seattle Deep Dive Technical Sessions On Demand on YouTube - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/rad-studio-10-seattle-deep-dive-technical-session-on-demand
• Native Platform Rendering on Windows and iOS with RAD Studio 10 Seattle - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/native-platform-rendering-on-windows-and-ios-with-rad-studio-10-seattle
• New per-DPI awareness in VCL applications - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/new-per-dpi-awareness-in-vcl-applications
• Intro to NoSQL with Delphi, MongoDB and FireDAC - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/developer-skill-sprint-intro-to-nosql-with-mongodb-and-firedac
• MongoDB FireDAC C++ Sample - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/mongodb-firedac-c-sample
• BeaconFence and Beacons – Tips from our Development Team - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/beaconfence-and-beacons-tips-from-our-development-team
• Beacons, Beacon Fencing, and the Internet of Things - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/beacons-beacon-fencing-and-the-internet-of-things
• C++Builder 10 Seattle has C++11 suppport for Win32, Win64, iOS and Android - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/c-builder-10-seattle-has-c-11-for-win32-win64-ios-and-android
• C++ in Action Webinar: Move your C++ projects to C++Builder 10 Seattle - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/c-in-action-move-your-c-projects-to-c-builder-10-seattle-wed-dec-9-at-6am-11am-5pm-pt
• Using InterBase with Python - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/interbase-and-python
• Tips for using Blobs with InterBase - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/tips-for-using-blobs-with-interbase
• Version control: Get started with Git, remote repositories and RAD Studio - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/version-control-get-started-with-git-remote-repositories-and-rad-studio-xe8
• Creating Custom Multi-Device Preview Devices - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/creating-custom-multi-device-preview-devices
• App Tethering using Encryption Hooks - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/app-tethering-using-encryption-hooks
• IoT in Action: Building a Modern Healthcare Application - Webinar replay, slides, resources and links - https://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/iot-in-action-building-a-modern-healthcare-application-webinar-resources-and-links
• Using AppAnalytics to get usage information from your application - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/using-appanalytics-to-get-usage-information-from-our-application
• Using the IDE Settings Migration Tool - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/using-xe8-settings-migration-tool-1
• Working with TMapView on iOS and Android with RAD Studio - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/working-with-the-new-mapview-on-ios-and-android-with-rad-studio-xe8
• How to use Delphi's anonymous methods and generics in your C++Builder applications - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/how-to-handle-delphi-anonymous-methods-and-generics-in-your-c-builder-apps
• Building Proximity Aware Application with RAD Studio - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/building-proximity-aware-application-with-rad-studio-xe8
• InterBase XE7 Change Views - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/interbase-change-views-demo-and-video, 
• http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/interbase-change-views-part-1-what-is-a-change-view, http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/interbase-change-views-part-2-creating-a-change-view and http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/interbase-change-views-part-3-using-a-change-view
• Three Selected Delphi Week Videos - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/three-selected-delphi-week-videos
• FireUI Multi-Device Application Development - HR Manager Example - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/fireui-multi-device-application-development-hr-manager-example
• Enterprise Mobility Services Tutorial - Working with the Sign Up Endpoint - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/working-with-the-ems-signup-endpoint
• Spinning Icons to Visually Queue Load States Using True Type Font Pack Font Awesome - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/spinning-icons-to-visually-queue-load-states-using-true-type-font-pack-font-awesome
• True Type Font Iconography for Android and iOS Apps - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/true-type-font-iconography-for-android-and-ios-apps
• Top 5 Tips for RESTful APIs and Closing the Loop on OAuth2.0 - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/top-5-tips-for-restful-apis-and-closing-the-loop-on-oauth2-0

CodeRage X Session Replays

• Delphi/Object Pascal Track playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwUPJvR9mZHi5rzePADdymmQVnNPbI6Et
• C++Builder/C++ Track playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwUPJvR9mZHj-dNvtUwQmD7fe52jU_jmW

Developer Skill Sprints and Technology Partner Spotlights

• 52 Developer Skill Sprints delivered in 2015 for Delphi, C++Builder, Interbase and FireDAC. The complete YouTube channel playlist with all 94 sprint videos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwUPJvR9mZHhZTajVWsgaFPLtDA-t1Xwc
• Embarcadero Technology Partner Spotlight replays available on Embarcadero's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwUPJvR9mZHgaYTPmY_FhOvJfbl7ZzVku

New ways to request features, report problems and what works with platform releases

• You can now post community issues and feature requests to the Embarcadero Quality Portal - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/you-can-now-post-community-issues-and-feature-requests-to-the-embarcadero-quality-portal
• Your Feature Requests and Votes added for the Embarcadero Quality Portal - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/feature-requests-in-embarcadero-quality-portal
• Using the Community Toolbar in RAD Studio - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/using-the-community-toolbar-in-rad-studio-xe8
• New DocWiki RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder Platform Status Page appears - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/new-docwiki-rad-studio-delphi-and-c-builder-platform-status-page
• The Story of the High Fix Rate of RAD Studio Bugs - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/the-story-of-the-high-fix-rate-of-rad-studio-bugs

Customer Case Studies

• Case Study - Inside ManagementPlus - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/inside-managementplus
• Case Study - Inside WideOrbit - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/inside-wideorbit
• Case Study - Inside PocketSlip - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/inside-pocketslip
• Case Study - Inside Bio-Nuclear - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/inside-bio-nuclear

We join Idera Software

• IDERA Announces Intent to Acquire Embarcadero, Expands Position in Database Management and Developer Tools Markets - http://www.embarcadero.com/press-releases/idera-announces-intent-to-acquire-embarcadero-expands-position-in-database-management-and-developer-tools-markets
• Customer and Partner Welcome from IDERA - http://community.embarcadero.com/article/news/16201-customer-and-partner-welcome-from-idera

Coming up in 2016

• Planning for a Great 2016! - http://community.embarcadero.com/article/news/16208-planning-for-a-great-2016
• Usher in the new year with 2016 Developer Skill Sprints! - http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs/entry/usher-in-the-new-year-with-2016-developer-skill-sprints and https://www.embarcadero.com/landing-pages/skill-sprints

Stay Tuned to the Embarcadero Community site for more great news, events, articles and videos in 2016. Happy New Year from all of us at Embarcadero.

Happy New Year 2016! And yes, 2016 is a leap year, so we all have an additional day for programming this year. Here are two VCL applications, one written using Delphi and one written using C++Builder. The projects have a simple VCL form (you can do the same using FireMonkey) with a TButton, a TDateTimePicker and a TShape. I want to color the shape red if the selected date in the calendar is not in a leap year and color the shape green if it the date is in a leap year.  Most every developer knows the rules for determining whether a year is a leap year or not (at least for those of you who use the Gregorian calendar).

As a reminder, here are the Gregorian calendar rules for a leap year. In the Gregorian calendar there are 3 criteria for identifying a leap year.

• The year is divisible by 4
• If the year can be divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless...
• The year is also divisible by 400, then it is a leap year.

Note: The years 2000, 2400, 2800 and so on are examples of using the 3rd criteria above. 

Here are screen shots of my VCL forms in the RAD Studio 10 Seattle IDE

I have used 3 event handlers in each application: the Form's OnCreate, the Button's OnClick and the TDateTimePicker's OnChange (re-uses the Button's OnClick handler). Here is the source code for Delphi and C++Builder. To determine if the year selected is a leap year, I use the IsLeapYear function that is defined in the DateUtils run time library unit.

uses System.DateUtils;

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  if IsLeapYear(YearOf(DateTimePicker1.Date)) then
    Shape1.Brush.Color := clGreen
  else
    Shape1.Brush.Color := clRed
end;

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  DateTimePicker1.Date := Now();
end;

#include <System.DateUtils.hpp>

void __fastcall TForm2::Button1Click(TObject *Sender)
{
  if (IsLeapYear(YearOf(DateTimePicker1->Date))) {
	Shape1->Brush->Color = clGreen;
  }
  else {
	Shape1->Brush->Color = clRed;
  }
}

void __fastcall TForm2::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)
{
  DateTimePicker1->Date = Now();
}

Have fun programming in 2016!

Some cool new FireMonkey components, ksComponents (Kernow Software FMX components), created by Graham Murt, are available on GitHub. You'll find the source code for TksListView, TksFormTransition, TksTableView,TksSlideMenu, TksSegmentButtons and TksChatView. Readme file can be found at https://github.com/gmurt/KernowSoftwareFMX/blob/master/README.md. You can follow the kSComponents on Twitter @kscomponents.

On the @kscomponents twitter feed you can see video demos of the components in action. For example:

• https://twitter.com/kscomponents/status/682212017009213440
• https://twitter.com/kscomponents/status/683253359407661056

The GitHub includes demo with source code and project file. Unit tests are also included on the GitHub. A demo app that uses some of the FMX components is available on the Apple app store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/kscomponents-reference/id1031179701?mt=8

Cool Components Graham!

+1 for the unit tests :D

Aspects and Interception - More Coding in Delphi

Nick Hodges - http://morecodingindelphi.com/

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Replay available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjVKtac6bAY

Nick Hodges presents the "Aspects and Interception" in this  Technology Partner Spotlight. This content is based on a chapter in his new book, "More Coding in Delphi".

This is a book all about writing Delphi code. Sure, there's a bit about component writing, too, but the main focus is on code. It's all about how to use the language in the most effective way to write clean, testable, maintainable Delphi code. It covers a variety of powerful Delphi programming features and techniques including Patterns, Threading, Parallel Programming, Aspect Oriented Programming, writing SOLID code and more.

More Coding in Delphi information:

Hardcopy book can be purchased from the following sites:

Create Space - https://www.createspace.com/5598794

Amazon - http://amzn.to/1K39faE

You can join the Google Plus Group for More Coding in Delphi and receive updated information and discuss the book with other readers. https://plus.google.com/communities/110978417023349293804

You can find all of the Technology Partner Spotlight replays listed on the YouTube playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwUPJvR9mZHgaYTPmY_FhOvJfbl7ZzVku

Nich Hodges has announced the "Coding in Delphi/More Coding in Delphi" book bundle. This is a bundle of Coding in Delphi and More Coding in Delphi. Buy both together and you save $15! Additional information is available at https://leanpub.com/b/codingindelphibundle. Both books are fantastic resources for Delphi developers of all ages, shapes, sizes and experience levels. Nick teaches us all how to write better Delphi code in an easy to digest chapters with loads of source code on his BitBucket - https://bitbucket.org/NickHodges/codingindelphi/overview.  

You can also watch Nick talk about and present parts of his books on the Embarcadero YouTube channel in several videos:

• Conversation with Nick Hodges - author of "Coding in Delphi" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpQnEzfezwc
• Developer Skill Sprint - Using Dependency Injection for Maintainable Code - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D0S2jNSYWU
• Embarcadero Technology Partner Spotlight - More Coding in Delphi: Command Pattern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdhcgam2dCw
• Embarcadero Technology Partner Spotlight - More Coding in Delphi: Aspects and Interception - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjVKtac6bAY
• Enumerators, IEnumerable and the Spring Framework by Nick Hodges - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE3dedk5GRo

Buy the books now! Don't Sleep(tooManyMiliseconds) and don't TTask::WaitForAll(workTasks). Buy now and you'll also get to read the forewards by Allen Bauer and David I. Nick gets all the money, not us :D

I've just received an email announcing a new release of Fast Reports for FireMonkey. In honor of the Chinese New Year 2016, the year of the Red Monkey, FastReports, Inc. said: What have we prepared for the Chinese New Year - the year of red fire monkey? The new version of FastReport for FireMonkey!

What's new?

• Added support of Embarcadero RAD Studio 10 Seattle includes compatibility fixes for new FMX framework
• Added support of Embarcadero RAD Studio XE7 for both Delphi and C++Builder developing environment
• Implemented Line spacing for Text object (LineSpacing property)
• Added Custom realization of ProcessMessages function for cocoa(One from FMX framework doesnt work correct). Fix for freezes of preview window and slow down during report preparation.

More changes can be found here, and paid customers can download the upgrade from the customer's panel.

We have created numerous videos that will help you take your existing Delphi, C++Builder and RAD Studio based projects and move the forward fast! Here are just a few of the many videos that will show you how easy it is to use 10 Seattle editions to modernize your applications.

Delphi

• Update Your Apps UI/UX with the All New Windows 10 Look and Feel
• How To Skin VCL Apps with Custom VCL Styles
• What's New in FireMonkey 10 Seattle
• Unlocking the Windows Runtime on Windows 10
• Integrating New WinRT and Windows 10 Platform Features Into Your App
• Using Sensors in Windows 10 with Delphi
• Composite VCL Controls Deep Dive: Manual Creation, Templates, Frames, and Sub-Components
• Amazon Web Services Programming with Delphi
• DataSnap Deep Dive: Building N-Tier Applications
• Flexible and Supercharged Key Hashing with Tdictionary
• Parallel Programming Deep Dive: Task Monitoring, Locking, Pools, Patterns and more!
• FixInsight Deep Dive: Squashing Bugs with Static Code Analysis
• Enterprise Mobility Services - Creating EndPoints, Push Notifications and Custom Logins
• LiveBindings From Forms to Code

C++Builder

• What's New in FireMonkey 10 Seattle
• Migrating your C++Builder Projects to Unicode
• Move your C++ projects to C++Builder 10 Seattle
• Integrate New WinRT Windows 10 Platform Features Into Your C++ Apps
• App Tethering for VCL and FireMonkey using C++
• C++11 Development for Windows, iOS and Android
• DataSnap Deep Dive: Building N-Tier Applications
• Update Your Apps UI/UX with the All New Windows 10 Look and Feel
• FireDAC Migration Made Easy: BDE, dbExpress, AnyDAC to FireDAC
• Enterprise Mobility Services - Creating EndPoints, Push Notifications and Custom Logins  

Both Delphi and C++Builder

• Windows 10 Look and Feel for VCL and FMX - Al Mannarino
• Windows 10 VCL Support - Al Mannarino
• Five New VCL Controls - Sarina Dupont
• Delphi Anonymous Methods and C++ Lambdas – when to use them and not use them
• Intro to NoSQL with MongoDB and FireDAC
• Using InterBase Events and Change Views with Callback Functions

If you find a topic that you need that isn't covered, let me know. You can send me an email (davidi@embarcadero.com) or post a comment on my blog.

Edrean Ernst (Tzaneen, South Africa), a Delphi developer, pointed me to a TouchID wrapper for Delphi. You can find the download on BitBucket at https://bitbucket.org/allesbeste/delphi-touchid-wrapper-for-delphi. On the page you'll find a README for the code that has example source code showing how to use it. There are also links to additional information. The README also includes a link to Apple's Local Authentication Framework developer documentation https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/LocalAuthentication/Reference/LocalAuthentication_Framework/.

Thank you so much, PJ Jansen and Edrean, for providing this code.

I just received this email from Facebook/Parse. "Important Parse Announcement" - "We have a difficult announcement to make. Beginning today we're winding down the Parse service, and Parse will be fully retired after a year-long period ending on January 28, 2017. We're proud that we've been able to help so many of you build great mobile apps, but we need to focus our resources elsewhere."

"We understand that this won't be an easy transition, and we're working hard to make this process as easy as possible. We are committed to maintaining the backend service during the sunset period, and are providing several tools to help migrate applications to other services."

"First, we're releasing a database migration tool that lets you migrate data from your Parse app to any MongoDB database. During this migration, the Parse API will continue to operate as usual based on your new database, so this can happen without downtime. Second, we're releasing the open source Parse Server, which lets you run most of the Parse API from your own Node.js server. Once you have your data in your own database, Parse Server lets you keep your application running without major changes in the client-side code. For more details, check out our migration guide."

"We know that many of you have come to rely on Parse, and we are striving to make this transition as straightforward as possible. We enjoyed working with each of you, and we have deep admiration for the things you've built. Thank you for using Parse."

Additional Facebook/Parse links:

• Parse blog post - http://blog.parse.com/announcements/moving-on/
• Database migration tool that lets you migrate data from your Parse app to any MongoDB database - http://info.facebookdevelopers.com/b0000ZFmGYr0Q90x020Acav
• Releasing the open source Parse Server - http://info.facebookdevelopers.com/b0000ZFmGYr0Q90x020Acav
• Migration guide - http://info.facebookdevelopers.com/O0G09aAQ0200vYms0y0Z0cF

What does it mean for RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder customers that use our Parse BaaS provider? You can still use your apps and the components until Parse is retired. Because of our BaaS provider architecture, we give you common reusable components that also work with Kinvey, App42 and our own EMS. Since this new just came out, I will talk it over with our product management and engineering teams to see what more guidance we can provide over the coming months.

Buy One Embarcadero Developer Tool and Get Another Tool Free. Get even more value from RAD Studio, C++Builder and Delphi 10 Seattle. The offer ends February 29, 2016. For a limited time, with each qualifying Embarcadero RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder product you buy, you can choose a second Embarcadero tool of equal or lesser value - FREE!

Embarcadero is making it easier and more affordable for you to be more productive. You can even choose from Embarcadero database tools like Rapid SQL, ER/Studio and other database tools before they’re gone! We don’t plan to offer them in future RAD Tools promotions.

Here's how the program works:

• Purchase RAD Studio 10, Delphi 10 or C++Builder 10 between February 1 and February 29, 2016.
• Install and register your purchased product.
• Choose your free product on the redemption page and download your free product.
• You can also look at the whole Terms and conditions section
• Have questions? See the promotion's FAQ

This is your change to Get More. Do More. For Less. You can find all of the details and links on the RAD Offer Page!

After you purchase, you will also have access to the Free Bonus Pack.

From time to time I get email from developers asking for help. I am always very happy to see what I can do. The topics often trigger an idea for a blog post (like this one), a developer skill sprint, a demo and a webinar. So, keep those emails coming and I will do what I can to answer and/or redirect you to other sources of information and help.

Here is my common list of places where you can get help with issues, questions and suggestions.

Quality Portal:

See if a problem is fixed or has a workaround – and to report a problem or add a feature suggestion (and vote for feature suggestions):

https://quality.embarcadero.com/secure/Dashboard.jspa

Community Questions and Answers:

You can ask questions and get community members, MVPs, field evangelists and employees to point you to sources of information, documentation, samples and advice.

http://community.embarcadero.com/answers

Community Blogs

Many of our field evangelists and employees post information on our Community Blog site. You'll find articles, links, demos, videos and other technical information that will help you. You can post comments and ask questions on the blog entries.

http://community.embarcadero.com/blogs

Community Web and Newsgroup Forums:

We have two types of community member supported forums - our web based community forums and our discusssion forums.

http://community.embarcadero.com/forum

https://forums.embarcadero.com/index.jspa

Support web site:

This landing page contains links to our support knowledgebase, discusssion forums and ways you can contact developer support if you have an active Update Subscription account or want to open a case.

http://support.embarcadero.com/