Book Review
LAZARUS – The Complete Guide
Background
This book is an English translation of the German original, written
by several authors who are part of the Lazarus design team. Following
the conversion into English by several translators, a final overall grammatical
review was undertaken by Howard Page-Clark, creating a uniform style
throughout. The translation and production of this English version was
managed by Detlef Overbeek, Editor in Chief of Blaise Pascal Magazine.
Following a knowledgeable Foreword by Detlef, the opening chapter contains
a very descriptive and competitive opening paragraph about this free,
open source software development product:
"Lazarus
is an integrated development environment
(IDE) for the Object Pascal Language. The
Free Pascal Compiler provides the backend
for Lazarus. This combination of backend
engine and integrated development environment
is comparable to Visual Studio for C++ or
Borland Delphi. It yields efficient, highly
optimised native source code. Whereas Java
and C# development environments produce bytecode
that must be interpreted in a runtime environment
or converted into poorly optimised code by
a JIT compiler."
Go Pascal!
Review
This is a large book that contains 735 pages comprising 12 chapters. A
CD containing the source code is also provided with the book, as well as
a free USB stick that contains an installed version of Lazarus - just plug
it in and go.
The book's chapters are listed here together with a small summary of each
to give an idea of the book's coverage.
1: The Architecture of Lazarus
The Pascal language and the tools available to enhance the
writing and correction of source code; the meaning and descriptions of projects,
components and packages
2: Installing Lazarus
Installing Lazarus for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and MacOS
X, plus installation of version management systems: TortoiseSVN and Subversion
3: The IDE
Using the Lazarus IDE (Integrated Development Environment)
for rapid application development, explained in detail
4: Projects
Developing different types of projects - GUI (Graphical
User Interface), console and unit test applications, and using packages
to develop new components
5: Target Platforms
Understanding the differences among the platforms Lazarus
supports - Windows 32 and 64, Windows CE, Unix Systems (FreeBSD) and
MacOS X
6: The Class Libraries
The class libraries available: RTL, FCL and LCL, and a description
of the functionality supplied with Lazarus in its two hundred components.
7:
Porting Delphi Components
How to port existing Delphi components to Lazarus (where possible)
8: Files and Devices
Working with files, directories, serial and parallel ports,
and printers.
9: Graphics Programming
Lazarus graphics programming - working with images and icons,
the necessary basics for making attractive interfaces in this day and age
10:
Processes and Threads
Operating system processes, and programming with multiple
threads - functions that highlight the ability to make the compiled software
operate efficiently
11: Network Programming
Web services, client/server and TCP/IP network programming
12:
Database Access
Working with flat-file and client/server databases (via a unified database
interface to DBF files, Firebird, Interbase, MySQL, Oracle, PostGreSQL,
SQLite and ODBC), SQL and reporting (based on FastReports)
Each chapter contains very well described topics along with relevant screen
shots and source code. The level of detail is relevant and correct, given
that the authors of the book were involved in the development of Lazarus.
The chapters are presented in
a logical courseware type layout and sequence for beginners to the Pascal
language, one of the key target audiences of Lazarus. It also provides
sufficient details for experienced Pascal/Delphi programmers wishing
to utilise the benefits of Lazarus.
Summary
One has a feeling of the good old days when manuals provided the reader
with a logical and educational theme for learning about particular software
products, such as Turbo Pascal or Delphi.
This book has been generated by a group of highly skilled contributors
and, together with the other positive benefits mentioned above, is highly
recommended for use by both beginners and experienced Pascal developers.
Am I going beyond the subject
of reviewing the book when I say many of its topics make the end product
very attractive? Also, the ability to have an efficient development tool
delivered on a USB stick, ready to go, is another positive element. Hmmm,
I think this book has done its job on me.
The Book
LAZARUS – The Complete
Guide
- Including CD
Authors:
M. van Canneyt, M. Gärtner, S. Heinig, F. Monteiro de Cavalho, I.
Ouedraogo
Development Editor, Production Editor and Cover Designer: Detlef Overbeek
Copyright © 2010 by C&L Computer und
Literaturverlag
Copyright © 2011 All rights for the English version reserved by Blaise
Pascal Magazine
ISBN: 978-94-90968-02-1 Paperback
|
