7 Delphi Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Cary Jensen Ph.D., a seasoned expert in Delphi programming and database connectivity, brings a wealth of practical experience to this detailed exploration of FireDAC. You’ll find thorough guidance on connecting to diverse databases, optimizing connection settings, and leveraging advanced features like Array DML and Local SQL to boost performance. The book digs into key topics such as indexes, searches, filters, and cached updates, offering clear explanations suited for both newcomers and seasoned developers. By focusing on real capabilities within the RAD Studio XE6 environment, it equips you with skills to enhance your Delphi database applications efficiently.

The methods Huw Collingbourne developed over decades of programming and teaching come through clearly in this focused guide to Delphi and Object Pascal. You’ll encounter an efficient breakdown of core concepts like object orientation, file handling, and memory management, with chapters that methodically build your skills from variables to complex serialization techniques. Collingbourne’s experience as a longtime columnist and instructor shows in the straightforward explanations and practical code samples, such as those illustrating constructors and inheritance. This book suits anyone aiming to master Delphi programming without wading through unnecessary filler, especially self-learners and developers transitioning from other languages.

This tailored Delphi Mastery Blueprint explores the core concepts and advanced techniques essential for mastering Delphi programming. It covers key topics from Object Pascal fundamentals to complex GUI design, offering a personalized guide that matches your background and skill level. By focusing on your specific interests—whether it’s database integration, cross-platform development, or performance optimization—it reveals how to navigate Delphi’s rich ecosystem effectively. The book synthesizes collective programming knowledge into a clear, engaging narrative that adapts to your goals, helping you build practical skills through targeted examples and project-oriented learning. This personalized approach ensures the content is relevant and deeply aligned with your journey toward Delphi expertise.

When Nick Hodges wrote More Coding in Delphi, he aimed to shift the focus away from GUI frameworks and into the heart of writing solid, maintainable Delphi code. This book dives into advanced programming concepts like SOLID principles, design patterns including Factory and Observer, operator overloading, and parallel programming to fully leverage modern CPU cores. You’ll also explore aspect-oriented programming and get a thoughtful history and technical breakdown of the TSmiley component. This is a book for Delphi developers who want to deepen their coding craft beyond basics and build cleaner, more efficient applications.

What happens when a computer engineer with a deep background in artificial intelligence turns his focus to Delphi GUI development? Andrea Magni, leveraging two decades of software development and consultancy experience, unpacks the FireMonkey (FMX) framework to help you build cross-platform applications with a single codebase. You’ll learn how to create visually responsive interfaces using FMX components, manage data binding, incorporate animations, and even explore 3D functionalities. Chapters on parallel programming for UI responsiveness and comparisons with VCL offer practical insights. If you’re looking to enhance your Delphi skills and deliver modern, interactive apps across platforms, this book aligns well with your goals.

Daniele Spinetti, a seasoned software architect and Embarcadero MVP, channels his passion for Delphi and deep experience in software architecture into this third edition of the Delphi Cookbook. This book offers practical recipes covering IoT integrations, cross-platform development, mobile, and server-side applications, giving you concrete tools to extend Delphi beyond traditional desktop apps. You’ll find detailed guidance on design patterns and test-driven development, reflecting Spinetti’s expertise and community leadership. If you're looking to deepen your Delphi skills with real-world examples and modern applications, this book delivers targeted insights, though it’s best suited for developers ready to engage with intermediate to advanced concepts.

This tailored book offers a focused, step-by-step plan for rapidly enhancing your Delphi programming skills. It explores essential concepts and practical applications, breaking down complex topics into manageable daily lessons. The content is personalized to match your existing background and specific goals, ensuring you engage deeply with areas most relevant to your needs. Through this tailored approach, you gain a clear pathway from foundational principles to hands-on coding techniques. By synthesizing a broad range of Delphi knowledge into a structured 30-day journey, the book reveals how to efficiently build proficiency and confidence. It covers core programming constructs, user interface development, database connectivity, and performance considerations, all customized to your interests and pace.

The methods Dr. Holger Flick developed while navigating modern software engineering challenges shine through this guide, offering a detailed path to building sophisticated Delphi applications. You’ll explore creating a desktop app alongside an API and ORM using TMS Aurelius, FlexCel, and XData technologies, which streamline database management and report generation without deep SQL knowledge. The book breaks down complex features like generics, interfaces, and custom attributes, making them accessible whether you’re expanding your skills or new to Delphi. If your goal is mastering Delphi’s modern capabilities for robust, flexible development, this book offers a solid, practical foundation without fluff or oversimplification.

Marco Cantù draws on decades of experience with Delphi to deliver a focused guide for developers aiming to expand beyond Windows into cross-platform app development. This book walks you through leveraging the Delphi IDE and FireMonkey library to create fast, native apps for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows from a single codebase. You’ll learn to configure the IDE for mobile projects, implement parallel programming, embed databases, and integrate with web services, all illustrated with practical examples like using FireMonkey 3D and deploying REST APIs. If you’re comfortable with Delphi on Windows but want to build modern mobile or desktop apps efficiently, this book offers a clear path without unnecessary filler.