C++ Builder vs Delphi vs MFC

Question

I am learning MFC and find it not that easy to use.

I've heard a lot about Delphi . researching on Delphi lead me to C++ Builder.

does C++ Builder offer a serious and good alternative to C++/MFC ? is C++ Builder better than MFC ? is C++ Builder better than Delphi ? (I've heard many goood things about Delphi)

can any one give me a comparison between C++/MFC, Delphi and C++ Builder ?

Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

If you're working with C++Builder, you will probably want to use VCL, not MFC.

As for VCL/MFC or Visual C++/C++Builder comparisons, there is a recent thread for that already.

Answer 2

Your question is confused. C++ Builder is just an IDE for C and C++. MFC is a library for C++ programming. C++ Builder can be used with or without MFC, and vice-versa. Delphi, also called Object Pascal, is another programming language.

Note: There is a whole forum dedicated to using C++ Builder with MFC.

Answer 3

I'am working on c++ builder for 3 years now, and it is great after using VB and VC++. Very easy to create nice looking modern interface, very easy to maintain program, good performance. But it's slightly unstable, and the IDE is very slow and unstable. VC++ is better in IDE and compiler stability only, faster. But really MFC is horrible, it's ok to make a driver or a system program on MFC without interface, but to make a nice looking with easy GUI program on MFC, really i can't imagine how the hell it takes time, and how to maintain!

Answer 4

You'll have to weigh your options and look into your crystal ball a little.

C++ Builder uses the VCL Framework which is undoubtedly a lot easier and more 'visual' (ie, designer supported) than VC++/MFC

But if there's a chance that you'll have to work with .NET (= all the nice new API's from MS) then you'll probably better of with VC++, I don't expect Codegear to support C++/CLI anytime soon.

There are other such considerations, so the counter-question is: What are you going to use it for?

Answer 5

My suggestion would be to forget about MFC. This framework is really no longer of this age. It is by nature a thin wrapper around the Windows API and therefore only slight easier to master than raw Windows C programming. My experience so far is that writing and maintaining software written in MFC takes about 2 to 3 times more time than in C++Builder or Delphi. A reason for choosing MFC could be that you want to stay close to the the Windows API, maybe because you call some exotic functions. If so, C++Builder is a better choice. The ease of use is close to Delphi, including the easy to use RAD controls, but it will allow you to call any Windows API function directly in it's native language. Even though the underlying code is that same if you call it from Delphi you always have to make a mental switch between the Pascal and C++.

But ultimately I would never start a new project in MFC but use C# / .NET instead...

Answer 6

I suggest you go with MFC and leave us Delphi programmers our competitive edge. ;-)