C++Builder
C++Builder is a rapid application development (RAD) integrated development environment (IDE) for modern C++ that enables developers to build high-performance, native applications for multiple platforms using visual tools, component-based design, and a single codebase.[1] Originally released by Borland on February 26, 1997, as a visual extension of Turbo C++ technology shared with Delphi, it was acquired by Embarcadero Technologies in 2008 and has evolved into a full-stack toolset supporting cross-platform deployment.[2] Key frameworks in C++Builder include the Visual Component Library (VCL) for native Windows applications with responsive UIs across devices, and FireMonkey (FMX) for creating visually rich, cross-platform user interfaces that adapt to various screen sizes, orientations, and hardware features like cameras and geolocation.[3] The IDE facilitates 5x faster development compared to traditional coding through drag-and-drop visual designers, pre-built components, and integration with version control systems such as Git and Subversion.[1] It supports connectivity to local and remote databases (e.g., SQLite, InterBase, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server), cloud services like AWS and Azure via HTTP/REST clients, and IoT protocols for multi-device strategies.[3] C++Builder is available in several editions tailored to different user needs: the free Community Edition for non-commercial or low-revenue projects (under $5,000 annually) with limitations on runtime libraries and commercial use; Professional Edition for data-rich apps on Windows, macOS, and IoT with FireDAC database access and InterBase support; Enterprise Edition adding multi-tier connectivity, RAD Server for client/server apps, and advanced deployment; and Architect Edition for large-scale teams, including multi-site RAD Server, web integration via Ext JS, and tools like Aqua Data Studio.[4] The latest version, C++Builder 13 Florence, released in September 2025, incorporates LLVM/Clang-based compilers alongside classic Borland compilers, supporting C++23 standards and multi-device development for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android from a unified environment.[5]Overview
Description
C++Builder is an integrated development environment (IDE) developed by Embarcadero Technologies for building native applications using C++.[1] It enables rapid application development through visual, drag-and-drop design of graphical user interfaces, primarily targeting Windows platforms, with extensions to mobile devices such as iOS and Android, and cross-platform capabilities.[6] Launched in 1997 by Borland as a successor to its Turbo C++ tools, C++Builder emphasized enhanced developer productivity by introducing visual paradigms that minimized traditional text-based coding requirements.[7] Among its unique selling points are the seamless integration of visual components from frameworks like VCL for Windows and FireMonkey for cross-platform use, along with automated code generation and comprehensive debugging tools in a unified environment.[6] As of 2025, C++Builder forms a core component of the RAD Studio suite, supporting modern C++ standards including C++23.[8]Development and Ownership
C++Builder was initially developed by Borland International as a rapid application development (RAD) tool for C++ programmers, serving as a counterpart to the company's successful Delphi environment for Object Pascal. Development began in 1996, drawing on the visual design paradigms and component-based architecture established in Delphi to address the need for a similar IDE tailored to C++ developers. The first version, C++Builder 1.0, was released on February 26, 1997, marking Borland's effort to unify its development tools under a shared VCL (Visual Component Library) framework.[7][2] Borland retained ownership of C++Builder from its inception through 2006, during which the product evolved through several iterations as a standalone offering focused on Windows application development. In November 2006, Borland spun off its developer tools division, including C++Builder and Delphi, into a wholly owned subsidiary named CodeGear to streamline operations and refocus on core business areas. This transition positioned CodeGear as an independent entity dedicated to advancing RAD tools, though it remained under Borland's umbrella for a brief period.[9][10] In May 2008, Embarcadero Technologies acquired CodeGear from Borland for $23 million, completing the transaction on June 30, 2008, and integrating it fully into its portfolio. This acquisition brought C++Builder under Embarcadero's stewardship, where it has remained to the present day, benefiting from sustained investment in cross-platform capabilities and compiler enhancements. Key influences on C++Builder's foundational design trace back to Anders Hejlsberg, the original architect of Turbo Pascal and Delphi, whose innovations in component-oriented programming and IDE efficiency shaped the tool's rapid prototyping model. Under Embarcadero, C++Builder shifted from a standalone product to a core component of the RAD Studio suite starting in 2007 with the CodeGear era, enabling bundled licensing with Delphi and other tools for comprehensive multi-language development. This evolution has supported ongoing updates, including modern IDE features and support for emerging platforms.[9][10][11][1]Core Technology
Integrated Development Environment
The C++Builder Integrated Development Environment (IDE) features a multi-window layout designed to facilitate efficient application development, comprising key components such as the Object Inspector for examining and editing object properties and events, the Palette for selecting UI components, the Form Designer for visually laying out user interfaces that automatically generate code, the Code Editor for writing and editing source code with syntax highlighting support, and the Debugger for setting breakpoints, watching variables, and stepping through execution.[12][13] These elements are arranged in a customizable workspace, with the Form Designer and Code Editor sharing a central pane that can be toggled using the F12 key.[13] Project management in the IDE is handled through the Projects Window, which organizes files, supports adding or removing items, and enables compilation for multi-device projects targeting various platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.[13][12] It integrates version control systems such as Git, allowing users to clone repositories, commit changes, push updates, view logs, and perform diffs directly within the IDE after configuring the Git executable path via Tools > Options > Version Control > Git.[14] Build configurations can be set up for different platforms and architectures using tools like MSBuild, CMake, and Ninja to support continuous integration workflows.[1] The user interface includes customizable toolbars with actions like Run and Stop, dockable windows for flexible layouts, and theme support, where dark and light modes were introduced in RAD Studio 10.2.2 (2017) to reduce eye strain and enhance usability, accessible via Tools > Options > User Interface > Theme Manager.[12][15][16] Workflow enhancements streamline coding tasks with features like code completion powered by Language Server Protocol (LSP) support for automatic suggestions, refactoring tools for code restructuring, and an integrated help system providing tutorials, samples, and documentation aligned with C++ standards.[12][13] The History Manager further aids development by displaying Git commit history and file comparisons.[14] Extensibility is enabled through the Open Tools API (OTA), a set of interfaces that permit third-party developers to add custom features, such as wizards, experts, or editor decorations, by accessing IDE state, modifying functionality, and receiving event notifications.[12][17] This architecture supports integration of additional tools without altering the core IDE.[18]Compiler and Build Tools
C++Builder's compilation engine has evolved significantly since its inception under Borland, transitioning from the proprietary BCC32 compiler to modern LLVM/Clang-based frontends for enhanced standards compliance and performance. The classic BCC32 compiler, used for 32-bit Windows targets, was the original engine but has been supplemented and partially replaced by Clang-enhanced variants starting with RAD Studio 10 Seattle in 2015.[19] By 2025, in RAD Studio Florence, the primary compilers—such as BCC64 for 64-bit Windows and BCC64X for modern platforms—are based on Clang 20, providing stricter adherence to ISO C++ standards compared to the legacy BCC32.[8] This shift enables better interoperability with contemporary C++ codebases while maintaining backward compatibility options for older projects. The compilers offer robust support for recent C++ standards, with full compliance for C++17 in Clang-enhanced variants (BCC32C, BCC64, BCC64X), while the classic BCC32 supports only partial C++11 features. For C++20, support is partial, encompassing core features but with ongoing implementation for advanced elements like modules and coroutines, allowing developers to target this standard where feasible.[8] C++23 features are now configurable and default for new projects on Win64 modern platforms via BCC64X, marking a significant advancement in the toolchain's alignment with the latest ISO specifications.[8] C++Builder's build system leverages MSBuild as its core engine for Windows projects, enabling automated compilation, thorough dependency analysis, and integration with IDE workflows.[20] This facilitates seamless handling of .bproj files, which are XML-based and compatible with Microsoft's build tools for efficient batch processing and CI/CD pipelines. For cross-compilation, the system supports targets like ARM for mobile platforms (Android/iOS) and x64 for Linux and Windows, allowing a single codebase to generate binaries for diverse architectures without manual reconfiguration. Optimization capabilities include link-time optimization (LTO), which performs inter-module analysis during linking to inline functions and eliminate redundancies across object files, yielding measurable runtime improvements. Profile-guided optimization (PGO) incorporates runtime profiling data to guide the compiler in prioritizing hot paths, enhancing execution speed for performance-critical applications. Dead code elimination is automatically applied, removing unreachable or unused code segments to reduce binary size and improve load times. Debugging is tightly integrated with native tools, including LLDB for 64-bit Windows (since RAD Studio 10.4 Sydney), macOS, iOS, and Android targets, supporting breakpoints, watchpoints, and evaluation of complex types like STL containers via DWARF debug info. GDB is utilized for Linux cross-platform debugging, providing consistent command-line and IDE-based stepping, inspection, and conditional breakpoints. Memory leak detection is enabled through FastMM, a high-performance memory manager that logs allocations and detects leaks at runtime, configurable via project options for both debug and release builds.[21]Component Frameworks
C++Builder provides several foundational component frameworks that enable developers to build robust applications through an object-oriented architecture. These frameworks include the Visual Component Library (VCL) for Windows-specific user interfaces, the FireMonkey (FMX) framework for cross-platform development, and the Runtime Library (RTL) for core system-level utilities. Additionally, data-aware components like dbExpress and DataSnap facilitate database connectivity and multi-tier application development. All components inherit from the TComponent base class, promoting reusability and encapsulation in an event-driven paradigm.[22][23] The Visual Component Library (VCL) serves as the native Windows GUI framework in C++Builder, offering over 100 built-in components such as buttons, grids, and dialogs for constructing user interfaces. It employs an event-driven model where components respond to user interactions through predefined events and actions, allowing centralized handling of UI logic. VCL rendering is based on Windows handles (HWND), leveraging native Windows API controls for high performance and seamless integration with the operating system. This framework is implemented via header files that developers include in their C++ code, with linkage to the underlying libraries during compilation.[23][1] FireMonkey (FMX) extends C++Builder's capabilities to cross-platform application development, supporting Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux with a unified codebase. Unlike VCL, FMX utilizes hardware-accelerated rendering through DirectX on Windows and OpenGL (or equivalents like Metal on macOS) on other platforms, enabling vector-based user interfaces that scale across devices. It includes support for dynamic styles, allowing customization of visual themes at runtime, and built-in animations for creating responsive, modern UIs. FMX components are also header-declared in C++, linking to platform-specific runtime libraries for native performance.[24][1] The Runtime Library (RTL) forms the core foundation shared across all C++Builder frameworks, providing essential utilities for strings, mathematics, threading, and internationalization. For string handling, RTL offers classes like UnicodeString for robust text manipulation, with full Unicode support integrated since the 2009 release to enable global applications. Mathematical functions include standard operations and advanced routines via units like Math, while threading support through System.Threading allows parallel programming with tasks and synchronization primitives. Internationalization features encompass locale-aware formatting and resource management for multi-language support. RTL is typically linked as a dynamic or static library, with headers exposing its API for C++ integration.[25][26][1] Data-aware components in C++Builder build on these frameworks to handle database interactions efficiently. dbExpress provides a cross-platform, driver-based architecture for connecting to various databases, including SQL Server, Oracle, and InterBase, using lightweight, unidirectional datasets for high-performance data access. DataSnap complements this by enabling multi-tier application development, where server-side components expose methods via JSON or XML for client-server communication, supporting RESTful services and proxy generation. These components inherit from TComponent, allowing seamless integration with VCL or FMX forms.[27][28] The overall architecture of C++Builder's frameworks emphasizes object-oriented design, with TComponent as the universal base class for all reusable elements, enabling properties, methods, and events through inheritance. Developers extend base classes to create custom components, which can be visual (e.g., controls with UI) or non-visual (e.g., timers or data modules). While headers provide declarative access without source code exposure, the frameworks link to compiled libraries—static for embedded binaries or dynamic for shared runtime efficiency—ensuring modularity and platform adaptability.[22][29]Key Features
Visual Application Design
C++Builder's visual application design capabilities center on its Form Designer, which provides a live preview of user interface layouts during development. This tool allows developers to visually construct forms by placing and arranging components in a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) environment, with real-time rendering that mirrors the runtime appearance. Property editing is facilitated through the Object Inspector, a dedicated panel that lists all selectable properties and events for the currently focused component or form, enabling inline modifications such as adjusting sizes, positions, colors, and behaviors without writing code.[30][31] The Component Palette serves as the primary interface for accessing and placing UI elements, organizing controls from the VCL and FMX frameworks into categorized tabs for efficient navigation. Developers can drag components directly onto the form, where alignment tools like snapping to grid lines and anchor-based positioning ensure precise layouts that adapt to form resizing. Additional features include guidelines for visual alignment and z-order management, streamlining the creation of responsive interfaces.[32] Event handling integrates seamlessly into the visual workflow, with the Object Inspector generating code stubs automatically when events such as mouse clicks, keyboard inputs, or form activations are assigned to components. These stubs appear as method declarations in the header file, ready for custom implementation, and wizards assist in creating standard dialogs by pre-populating event logic and UI elements. This approach reduces boilerplate code and accelerates the connection of user interactions to application logic.[33][34] Support for styles and themes enhances UI polish, with VCL Styles enabling design-time previews of custom skins applied across forms and controls. High-DPI scaling is handled automatically in the Form Designer through configurable modes (e.g., Automatic or User Editable), ensuring crisp rendering on modern displays by adjusting element sizes and bitmaps based on monitor DPI. LiveBindings further connects data sources to UI elements visually, allowing bidirectional updates between datasets and controls like labels or grids without manual synchronization code.[35][36][37] The prototyping workflow in C++Builder emphasizes rapid iteration, starting from basic wireframes built via drag-and-drop in the Form Designer and progressing to fully compiled applications through integrated build tools. Multi-form projects are navigated via the Project Manager, which organizes units and resources, while design-time data simulation via LiveBindings enables testing of UI-data interactions early in development. This end-to-end process supports quick transitions from conceptual layouts to deployable executables, leveraging the underlying VCL framework for Windows-native applications.[6]Cross-Platform Support
C++Builder facilitates the development of applications targeting multiple operating systems from a single codebase, primarily supporting Windows in 32-bit and 64-bit configurations, with capabilities extending to macOS, iOS, and Android through the RAD Studio ecosystem. This multi-target approach leverages the integrated development environment to streamline cross-platform workflows while maintaining native performance on each host.[3][38] Central to this capability is the FireMonkey framework, which acts as an abstraction layer for handling platform-specific rendering and APIs. For instance, it utilizes Metal for graphics acceleration on iOS and macOS devices, while employing Vulkan on Android to ensure efficient hardware utilization and consistent visual output across diverse environments. This design allows developers to write UI-agnostic code that adapts seamlessly to underlying system resources without requiring extensive platform-specific rewrites.[39][40] The IDE includes multi-device preview tools, such as built-in simulators for emulating mobile interfaces during design time, which facilitate rapid iteration without physical hardware. Developers can incorporate conditional compilation directives, like#ifdef for target-specific includes (e.g., #ifdef [ANDROID](/page/Android)), to manage variations in code behavior across platforms while preserving a unified project structure. These features enhance testing efficiency, particularly for responsive layouts that must scale from desktops to touch-enabled devices.[41]
Deployment is supported through integrated tools like App Tethering, which enables real-time communication and data sharing between tethered devices over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, ideal for companion app scenarios. Packaging utilities handle app store preparation, including automated signing for Apple App Store and Google Play compliance, ensuring secure and compliant distribution to end-users. This end-to-end process minimizes deployment friction, allowing a significant portion of the codebase—often the core logic and business rules—to remain shared across targets, with modular platform-specific extensions for UI and hardware access.[42][43]