Web application in Delphi

Question

I'm evaluating the possibility to write a web application using Delphi (ISAPI/CGI/...). I still cannot see enough reasons to use Delphi instead of a "classic" web development framework.

If you have experience in this specific area please share your remarks. Would you recommend Delphi instead of PHP/Rails/ASP/...? Do you know any web applications written in Delphi? (not web services)

Answer 1

If you use Delphi for web application, you will get these benefits:

1. Performance compared to other scripts languages.
2. Reusing of your Delphi code.
3. Working in great IDE.
4. Use your favorite language (Delphi).
5. If you use Intraweb, you can get built in Ajax support and producative without requiring to have deep knowledge in web or JavaScript.

but the disadvange:

1. Deployment isn't easy, you need to work with ISAPI & IIS, and you rarely find Hosting copmany that offer ISAPI for you.
2. Only windows platform, (If you use freePascal you may get others).
3. No frameworks, No libraries for helping you on this side.
4. Very poor documentation on this side, and most of articles are old.
5. Working with Webbroker isn't productive compared to other solutions like Asp.Net.
6. Even if you use Intraweb, it's more productive than other solutions, but isn't flexible, because it's hide the web side on you.

BTW, Shareit has replaced their old web applicatoin that was based on PHP with newer one built with Delphi and Intraweb.

Answer 2

A reason could be that your model, business logic or data access layer is written in Delphi and you need to use that in your webapplication. Al tough, you could use your model, business logic or data access layer from other programming languages through things like dll calls, COM, REST or SOAP. Then this is not a reason to use Delphi to develop webapplications anymore.

Another reason could be that the developers are very good in Delphi and less good with the other languages.

Using a compiled language also gives you a performance benefit over interpreted languages like php, rails and asp.