C++Builder

C++Builder
Company type	Software
Industry	Software development tools
Founded	February 1997; 29 years ago
Founder	Borland
Products	Rapid application development platform for C++ programming
Owner	Embarcadero Technologies (a subsidiary of Idera Software)
Parent	Embarcadero Technologies
Website	www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder

C++Builder serves as a rapid application development (RAD) platform designed for programming in C++. Initially created by Borland, it has been under the ownership of Embarcadero Technologies, a branch of Idera Software, since 2009. This tool compiles software for Windows (both IA-32 and x64 architectures), iOS, macOS, and 32-bit Android devices. It offers drag-and-drop visual design capabilities through a WYSIWYG graphical user interface builder.

As a counterpart to Delphi, which utilizes the Object Pascal language, C++Builder combines the Visual Component Library (VCL) and IDE—both authored in Object Pascal—with several C++ compilers. These two environments produce compatible binaries, enabling interoperability between C++ and Object Pascal code. They also share a common back-end linker that supports debugging across both languages. While C++Builder projects can incorporate Delphi code, the reverse—Delphi projects including C++ code—is not supported.

Technology

C++Builder and Delphi share the same IDE and foundational libraries. Among their common elements are the FastMM4 memory manager, developed through the FastCode community initiative; the VCL user interface framework written in Object Pascal; and highly optimized core system routines.

The Delphi compiler outputs C++ headers, facilitating seamless linkage of C++ code with Delphi classes and methods. Although integrating C++ code into Delphi projects is more complicated, it remains achievable.

Originally focused solely on Microsoft Windows, C++Builder later incorporated Borland’s now-obsolete cross-platform CLX library, which was based on the Qt framework. Presently, Embarcadero promotes cross-platform development via the FireMonkey (FMX) framework.

Editions

C++Builder is available in four tiers that increase in features and cost:

Community: A free edition valid for one year with a restricted commercial license; includes local database access and partial library source availability.
Professional: Provides cross-platform compilation for macOS (with iOS and Android support up to version 10.2.2 through a separate Mobile Add-On pack), expanded library source code, code formatting tools, and a full commercial license.
Enterprise: Adds support for mobile platforms plus client/server database connectivity, Enterprise Mobility Services, and the DataSnap multi-tier SDK.
Architect: Incorporates advanced data modeling capabilities.

History

Launched in 1997, C++Builder succeeded Borland C++ and the Object Windows Library (OWL), creating disruption due to discontinued support without migration aids. Some developers continued maintaining OWL applications or transitioned to alternatives such as Microsoft Foundation Classes or wxWidgets. Nevertheless, C++Builder was praised for delivering an effective visual development experience for C++. Borland emphasized commendations from noted C++ expert Bruce Eckel, who regarded it as a significant advancement in visual programming with C++.

Release cycle

Initially, major updates were released for Delphi prior to C++Builder; however, recent versions have synchronized their release schedules.

1.0

In January 1997, Borland unveiled a preview of C++Builder 1.0, followed by the official retail launch in February 1997. This initial release was available in three variants: "Standard," "Professional," and the "Client/Server Suite."

3.0

Borland chose to omit version 2.0 in order to synchronize C++Builder’s version numbering with that of Delphi.

4.0

Notable capabilities included:

Incorporation of Inprise Corporation’s VisiBroker 3.3, featuring event and naming service integration
A versatile C++ compiler adhering to the latest ANSI/ISO standards, equipped with Dynamic Compilation and Adaptive Compiler Technology (ACT) to accelerate build times, comprehensive template and STL compatibility, and a high-efficiency 32-bit native code compiler
A customizable AppBrowser integrated development environment (IDE)
Compatibility with Windows 95, 98, and NT, supporting multi-monitor setups, docking forms, toolbars, and standard controls
Improved Code and Parameter completion tools; ClassExplorer offering live structured class visualization and member creation wizards
Sophisticated debugging utilities including remote debugging for COM and CORBA, multiprocess debugging with inspectors, and dynamic watch windows
Internet development tools such as ActiveForms for browser-based C++ applications, WebBroker supporting CGI, ISAPI, NSAPI applications, along with over 25 protocol components covering HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP, NNTP, HTML, TCP/IP
Multi-Tier Database Application Services (MIDAS) Development Kit version 2
Support for Oracle8i, Microsoft MFC and ATL libraries, SQL Server 7, MTS; as well as Inprise OWL and VCL frameworks
EZ-COM technology simplifying COM client creation and enabling one-step ActiveX control development with data binding

5.0

Launched on March 22, 2000, this version came in Enterprise, Professional, and Standard editions. Enhancements included:

Compatibility with Windows 2000
Introduction of the Internet Express framework
Support for XML and HTML4 to facilitate dynamic client-side applications
Active Server Objects designed for the Microsoft Internet Platform
Integration with TeamSource version control system
Added support for InterBase 6.5 database

6.0

Borland announced C++Builder 6 on February 5, 2002, with availability starting February 8 in three editions: Enterprise, Professional, and Personal. A complimentary 60-day trial of the Enterprise edition was provided. Key updates featured:

Windows XP compatibility
BizSnap platform for e-business development incorporating Web Services
WebSnap framework for building web applications
Borland CLX component library included in Professional and Enterprise editions
dbExpress enhanced with additional drivers for DB2, Informix, and Oracle in the Enterprise edition
NetCLX framework compatible with WebBroker for cross-platform development on Windows and Linux (Professional/Enterprise)
MyBase XML data briefcases available in Professional and Enterprise versions
Borland C++ Compiler version 5.5

The minimum supported operating system requirement was increased to Windows 98.

C++BuilderX

On September 15, 2003, Borland introduced Borland C++BuilderX (CBX), bundled within Borland Enterprise Studio for Mobile development. Built upon the same architecture as JBuilder, CBX targeted large-scale enterprise software but diverged significantly from previous C++Builder iterations. Despite its strategic intent, CBX experienced limited commercial success.

Subsequently, on September 22, 2003, Borland licensed PalmSource SDKs to enable Palm OS application development within C++BuilderX and its Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) offerings for C++.

By late 2004, Borland ceased further development of C++BuilderX to concentrate efforts on the original C++Builder product line and integrated it alongside the Delphi suite.

2006

On October 10, 2005, Borland introduced C++Builder 2006 (code-named "DeXter"), requiring at least Windows 2000 as the operating system.

Approximately a year later, Borland unveiled Borland Developer Studio 2006, a unified suite incorporating Borland C++Builder 2006, Delphi, and C#Builder, which brought enhanced configuration management alongside various bug resolutions.

2007

In 2006, Borland's Developer Tools Group, the team behind C++Builder, was separated into a fully owned subsidiary named CodeGear.

On June 5, 2007, CodeGear launched C++Builder 2007, which included:

Comprehensive API compatibility with Windows Vista, supporting Aero and themed applications
Improved compliance with ANSI C++
Build speeds within the IDE increased by up to 500%
Integration with MSBuild, DBX4 database framework, and "VCL for the Web" utilizing Ajax
Enhancements to the IDE, debugger, dbExpress, and VCL components

The CodeGear RAD Studio 2007 package combined C++Builder 2007 and Delphi. Additionally, Borland revived the "Turbo" series that year by releasing two editions: Turbo C++ Professional and Turbo C++ Explorer (the latter was eventually discontinued), both based on Borland C++Builder 2006.

In 2008, Embarcadero Technologies acquired CodeGear and took over its development efforts.

2009 and 2010

Following Embarcadero's acquisition of CodeGear, C++Builder was packaged together with Delphi and other development tools under the RAD Studio brand.

Released on August 25, 2008, C++Builder 2009 introduced:

Complete Unicode support throughout VCL and RTL
Early implementation of the C++0x standard
Support for Integrated Translation Environment (ITE)
Native components for Ribbon interfaces
Inclusion of the Boost library
Various improvements to VCL and RTL
A new DataSnap library aimed at database application development

C++Builder 2010, which came out on August 24, 2009, brought:

Touchscreen and gesture capabilities for VCL controls
A class explorer tailored specifically for C++
Enhanced code completion features
Updates to the IDE interface

XE releases

Embarcadero adopted a versioning scheme labeled XE#, where # represents a sequential number.

XE

Launched on August 30, 2010, C++Builder XE delivered numerous updates to the C++ language support, new compiler options, and a range of fixes requested by users.

XE2

Released on August 31, 2011, XE2 introduced the FireMonkey framework enabling cross-platform GUI development for Windows, macOS, and iOS. It improved dbExpress connectivity with support for InterBase XE, FireBird 2.5, SQL Anywhere 12, and ODBC. Additionally, DataSnap mobile support expanded to iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone. Cloud services integration was broadened with Amazon EC2 and Microsoft Azure support. The release also added LiveBindings for both VCL and FireMonkey components along with new reporting capabilities.

XE3

Arriving on September 4, 2012, XE3 showcased a Windows 8 Style UI featuring advanced native control styling plus third-party Pro-Designer UI Styles. It extended compatibility to Mac OS X Mountain Lion and Retina displays. New project templates were added alongside touch input and Live Tile functionality. The release enabled one-click application conversion as well as multimedia audio/video controls. It simplified data/property binding through “Draw to bind,” supported rapid application prototyping, and organized bindings using Layers.

XE4

Launched on April 22, 2013, XE4 brought a 64-bit Windows compiler built on Clang 3.1, while still supporting the previous 32-bit compiler. This release introduced the FireDAC database access framework, expanded the FireMonkey component suite with updates, and incorporated a Mobile Form Designer.

XE5

C++Builder XE5, made available on September 11, 2013, featured several notable enhancements such as:

Time Picker control compatible with Windows and OS X
Integrated search filtering for TListView on both Windows and OS X
Performance improvements for the FM Platform
Broadened FireDAC support in the Professional edition for local databases including Microsoft Access, SQLite, InterBase ToGo/IBLite, MySQL Embedded and Server (localhost), Advantage Database, PostgreSQL (localhost), and Firebird Embedded/local instances
FireDAC included across Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate, and Architect editions
REST Client components (TRestClient, TRestRequest, TRestResponse) accompanied by a REST Debugger tool
Support for various authorization methods such as Basic, Plan, OAuth1, and OAuth2 authentication

The Starter Edition permitted creation of 32-bit Windows applications utilizing C++Builder VCL and FireMonkey frameworks. It featured an IDE equipped with hundreds of components but was restricted by individual or company revenue limits up to $1,000 or teams with no more than five developers. Editions offered included Architect, Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, and Starter.

XE6

Released on April 15, 2014, C++Builder XE6 extended its platform capabilities by adding:

Development support for FireMonkey Android applications
Windows 64-bit package compatibility
Upgraded C++ compiler features
Enhancements to the IDE along with Deployment Manager and SDK Manager improvements

XE7

On September 2, 2014, C++Builder XE7 was released with new functionalities including:

FireMonkey multi-platform "multi-device application" development
Runtime Library upgrades supporting Bluetooth connectivity, parallel programming models, XML handling, and web encoding/decoding processes
Enterprise Mobility Services enabling connections to DataSnap REST APIs and enterprise-grade databases

XE8

C++Builder XE8 arrived on April 7, 2015, introducing key features such as:

Updates to the GetIt Package Manager
Native iOS Presentation support for FireMonkey components
A desktop web browser component
Interactive mobile mapping capabilities alongside expanded media library options
Mobile application analytics integration
A new 64-bit iOS C++ compiler
Integration with Mercurial version control system
Introduction of the DUnitX testing framework

Subsequent releases

In 2015, Embarcadero modified its version numbering approach beginning with version 10.0, assigning each release a unique codename.

10.0 Seattle

Released on August 31, 2015, Seattle enhanced the IDE by incorporating:

The CLANG 3.3 C++ compiler suite (with some exceptions)
Support for Windows 10 across FireMonkey, CVL, and RTL libraries
New VCL controls and styles tailored for Windows 10
Improvements in multi-monitor support configurations
Updates to the IDE itself along with debugger enhancements, database/cloud libraries revisions, and documentation improvements

10.0.1 Update 1

Issued in November 2015, this update introduced:

FMX Grid control availability for iOS devices
Native UI styling enhancements for iOS
Additional FMX feature demonstration projects
Compatibility support for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra operating systems

10.1 Berlin

Launched on April 20, 2016, the Berlin release featured:

FireUI App Previews enabling design-time visualization of FireMonkey applications across iOS, Android, OS X, and Windows
Compatibility with Android API level 23
Upgraded Style Designer alongside improved Address Book support for both iOS and Android platforms
JSON streaming capabilities within DataSnap
Enhancements to FireDAC database components
Broadened API support for Azure and Amazon Web Services
Optimizations within the Runtime Library
Debugging tools for iOS (both 32-bit and 64-bit) and Android environments

10.1.1 Update 1

Issued in September 2016, Update 1 introduced:

Native iOS styling for the TGrid component
FMX ListView Item Designer featuring a search filter functionality
Support extended to iOS 10 and macOS Sierra operating systems

10.1.2 Update 2

Released in December 2016, Update 2 brought:

Deployment support via Windows Desktop Bridge
VCL QuickEdits enhancements along with new styles tailored for Windows 10
Improvements to the GetIt package management system

10.2 Tokyo

Debuted on March 22, 2017, the Tokyo version delivered notable advancements:

Strengthened debugging capabilities
Enhanced code generation powered by Clang compilers
Ability to build C++ Android applications without reliance on specific NDK versions
Linker upgraded to utilize memory up to 4 GiB
Refined exception handling and application tethering features
Debugger improvements for both iOS and macOS platforms
High DPI scaling fixes applied to VCL components

10.2.1 Update 1

Arriving in August 2017, Update 1 included:

Fixes targeting C++ compiler and linker issues
Added support for iOS 10.3 and Xcode 8.3.3 for App Store submission compliance
Runtime Library and VCL component enhancements
Enhanced rendering of Android controls

10.2.2 Update 2

Issued in December 2017, Update 2 featured:

Introduction of FireMonkey QuickEdits functionality
Addition of new VCL controls
Refreshed IDE user interface
Support extended for iPhone X and iPhone 11 devices

10.2.3 Update 3

Released in March 2018, Update 3 concentrated on stability and quality improvements:

Compatibility with iOS version 11.3
Upgrades to CodeInsight functionality
Improvements in C++ compiler stack allocation processes
Updates to context-sensitive help features
Support added for Android push notifications

10.3 Rio

C++Builder version 10.3, launched on November 21, 2018, introduced major enhancements including:

Compliance with the C++17 standard
Better code completion performance and optimized mathematical computations
Error Insight feature offering real-time code issue previews
Access to additional libraries through the GetIt package manager
IDE improvements such as a dark theme option and VCL High DPI support
Introduction of the TWindowsStore component
Support for Android API level 26 incorporating Z-Order management, native control integration, and updated permissions framework
Compatibility with iOS version 12
Numerous upgrades to database connectivity and REST architecture
Expanded integration capabilities with Azure services and AWS S3 storage

10.3.1 Update 1

Launched in February 2019, Update 1 brought the following enhancements:

Broadened compatibility with iOS12 and iPhone X devices
Improvements to HTTP and SOAP Client Libraries on Windows
Productivity tools added to Bookmarks and Navigator within the IDE
Introduction of 15 new custom styles for VCL and FMX
Compiler refinements alongside various bug resolutions

10.3.2 Update 2

Released in July 2019, Update 2 featured:

Support for C++17 on Windows 64-bit platforms
Upgrades to Code Insight and Code Completion capabilities
Refreshed Android Firebase push notification integration
Optimizations applied to the Run Time Library
Quality enhancements across VCL, FMX frameworks, and the IDE

10.3.3 Update 3

Issued in November 2019, Update 3 focused on quality improvements and bug fixes targeting:

C++ RTL and compiler components
Compatibility improvements for IDE on iOS and Android
FireDAC database tools refinement
Web client stability enhancements
Debugger reliability updates

10.4 Sydney

Debuted on May 26, 2020, Sydney introduced:

Consolidated memory management system
Expanded support for C++ libraries
Enhanced debugging and linking for Windows 64-bit
New VCL Styles with improved high-DPI control rendering
Metal GPU driver support extended to macOS and iOS platforms
Strengthened parallel programming library capabilities
Boosted LiveBindings execution efficiency

10.4.1 Update 1

Arriving in September 2020, this update concentrated on:

Quality enhancements across the IDE, C++ Toolchain, FMX, VCL, and associated libraries
Improved support for multi-monitor desktop configurations
Upgrades to Windows 64-bit debugger and linker functions

10.4.2 Update 2

Released in February 2021, Update 2 included:

An advertising component for iOS leveraging AdMob through Google Firebase SDK
Introduction of VCL TControlList: a high-performance virtualized list control designed for lengthy lists with a contemporary appearance
VCL TNumberBox: a modern numeric input control accommodating integers, floating-point numbers, and currency formats
Updated Konopka Signature VCL Controls collection (over 200 Windows UI controls), accessible via GetIt Package Manager

11 Alexandria

C++Builder version 11 was launched on September 10, 2021.

11.1 Update 1

On March 15, 2022, Embarcadero released RAD Studio 11.1 featuring major IDE improvements such as comprehensive High DPI support, enhanced Remote Desktop functionality, upgraded designers for VCL and FireMonkey, plus enhancements to the GetIt Library Manager. This version also delivered improved Code Insight performance in Delphi and C++Builder, optimized the Delphi LSP engine’s efficiency, increased compiler stability and speed across all platforms, and refined RTL, UI components, and database libraries.

11.1.5 C++ Code Insight Update

Issued on July 14, 2022, C++Builder 11.1.5 targeted productivity gains for C++ developers by introducing multiple navigation target handling, deferred indexing to reduce CPU usage, a new LSP Code Insight toggle option, faster performance, enhanced code completion interface and navigation features, along with fixes addressing classic compiler issues and project file saving anomalies.

11.2

C++Builder version 11.2 was made available in September 2022.

11.3

Following that, C++Builder 11.3 was released in February 2023.

12 Athens

The release of C++Builder 12 Athens occurred in November 2023.

12.1

C++Builder version 12.1 became available in April 2024.

12.2

The release of C++Builder 12.2 occurred in September 2024.

External links

Embarcadero Technologies' C++Builder product pages: Complete edition, Entry-level edition
Downloads for the latest version
Archived editions from Embarcadero, CodeGear (Borland), Borland Software Corporation, Inprise Corporation, and Borland International
Collection of previous versions
Journal for C++Builder developers