Delphi language features missing from the Free Pascal Compiler

New since Delphi 2007

Operator Overloading Syntax for records and classes

Delphi win32 compiler supports only operators for records. .Net compiler also supports classes.

Info: http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/Operator_Overloading http://wiert.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/delphi-operator-overloading-table-of-operators-names-and-some-notes-on-usage-and-glitches/

Class Helpers

http://www.prestwood.com/ASPSuite/KB/Document_View.asp?QID=101869 http://blog.excastle.com/2007/08/29/unfinished-delphi-feature-of-the-day-virtual-class-helper-methods/

Advanced Records

http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/Structured_Types#Records_.28advanced.29

New since Delphi 2009

Anonymous Methods

http://docs.embarcadero.com/products/rad_studio/delphiAndcpp2009/HelpUpdate2/EN/html/devcommon/anonymousmethods_xml.html

New since Delphi 2010

Class constructors and destructors

http://blogs.embarcadero.com/abauer/2009/09/03/38898

Delayed directive

Info is here: http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/Libraries_and_Packages#Delayed_Loading Some info about internals:

1. http://blogs.embarcadero.com/abauer/2009/08/25/38894
2. http://blogs.embarcadero.com/abauer/2009/08/29/38896
3. http://blogs.embarcadero.com/chrishesik/2009/11/02/35056

fpc wiki about that topic: http://wiki.freepascal.org/Dynamically_loading_headers

AS and IS extended for interfaces

Info is here:

1. http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/Interface_References#Casting_Interface_References_to_Objects
2. http://blogs.embarcadero.com/abauer/2009/08/21/38893

Misc

1. using point in the unitname like: unit Borland.VCL.Types (since Delphi 7)
2. {$pointermath ON} directive which turns on pointer arithmetic.

Reference

1. http://edn.embarcadero.com/article/34324
2. http://edn.embarcadero.com/article/images/39076/New_Delphi_Coding_Styles_and_Architectures.pdf
3. http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/What's_New_in_Delphi_and_C%2B%2BBuilder_2010