Bob Devine

As I've mentioned a few times, a nice feature of Pax is the Javascript implementation. Anyone interested in an alternative for embedding JS scripting into their app might find this useful:

https://bellard.org/quickjs/

@Keesver I purchased additional licences from users (which is legit if you're in the EU) so it would be worth posting across the newsgroups to ask. 

@Markus Kinzler Yes but the use-case is having the compiler embedded in your application, so GPL is no use (if it's a closed-source commercial app). 

@Georgge Bakh FPC has no Basic, no Javascript and is GPL

@Keesver We have a private WeMe group and some more recent updates. Email me on gmail.com (name at the end of this post). The deal is that I confirm with Alexander that you're a registered user then you can get access.

Cheers, Bob (rlsdevine@)

I added the settings below to paxcompiler.def and I can build the paxtester app that came with the components on 10.3.3 (have only tested Win32 and Win64). However I get runtime errors on both. There are a few of us on a private MeWe group where we can share patches without violating the licence - email me on my gmail account (rlsdevine).

Cheers, Bob

{$ifdef Ver330}
  {$define VARIANTS}
  {$define UNIC}
  {$define DRTTI}
  {$define DPULSAR}
  {$define DX10_2}
  {$define GE_DXE2}
  {$define GE_DXE3}
  {$define GE_DXE4}
  {$define GE_DXE5}
  {$define GE_DXE6}
  {$define GE_DXE7}
  {$define GE_DXE8}
  {$define GE_DX10}
  {$define GE_DX10_1}
  {$define GE_DX10_2}
  {$define GE_DX10_3}
  {$IFDEF CPUX64}
    {$DEFINE PAX64}
  {$ENDIF}
{$endif}

For GUI work I still think Delphi/Object Pascal is best (especially with tools like TMS FNC components and pas2js available), but for my data analysis code I'm more often using Nim-based DLLs these days (https://nim-lang.org/).  Python-type syntax and generates C at the back end.  I was never a great fan of the significant indentation style but I've got used to it.  If the interop is approached as using a C DLL, with the associated care over types, I've found interfacing with Delphi to be pretty straightforward.  Would be cool to see it as RAD Studio's 3rd language - there's at least one other Nim user who's been looking at interop - see https://github.com/AdrianV/nimbackend and https://github.com/AdrianV/nimcb.

Just an update on this - I've been moving my persistence code (app settings, project definitions etc) from XML to JSON.  So far Neon is the only library that's coped with all of my classes.  I've tried maybe 6 or 7 other libraries (both commercial and open-source).  

I started testing a few days ago and, despite the lack of unit tests, I think it's worth a look.  I've tried just about every other JSON serializer out there but have come up against at least one limitation in each of them for my uses cases (including unable to serialize records, nested classes, generic lists). On paper, Neon looks like it'll do everything I need - I've a query in with the author and will be able to answer definitively when he gets back.

Thanks, but pax has some unique features that aren't available in the various Delphi scripting engines, including the ability to create Delphi-compatible interface-based DLLs (so you can create plug-ins from within your app) and cross-language programming (Object Pascal/Object Basic/Javascript). 

Since the rights to PaxCompiler have been acquired by Apex Data Solutions, they've decided not to supply it as a stand-alone royalty-free compiler, but as part of a larger interoperability suite (with no source and controlled through their licencing portal). I'm looking into the possibility of continuing development since I have a significant investment in the technology but don't have the time to become a compiler engineer! Initially I'm trying to (i) identify any compiler/interpreter developers who might be interested in contract work and (ii) identify other pax users who'd be interested in pooling bug fixes and possibly collaborating on funding further development. Obviously pax can't simply be open-sourced but I have some ideas on how to proceed in a way that keeps things legal. Any pax users who are interested can contact me on gmail (rlsdevine).

Cheers, Bob