Of Threads, Stacks and RAM – Part 2

[Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes] In the previous post in this series, we saw that the number of threads that a given process could support was determined by a number of factors, of which the stack size reserved for each thread was key. We also saw how we could change the stack size used by our application and how this could increase the number of threads that our process could support. But if you thought it seemed a bit crude to have to set a single stack size for all the threads in a process (including the main thread), then you would be right, and we can do something about this.

Of Threads, Stacks and RAM – Part 1

[Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes] Roberto Schneiders recently drew my attention to the first post on his new blog (which I can recommend as a good read 🙂 ), presenting the results of some performance testing of DataSnap that he had been involved with which proved to be very interesting (if initially somewhat disappointing). But my post isn’t about that, at least not directly.

Price Rise for Delphi Pro in 2013

[Estimated Reading Time: < 1 minutes] This morning I received yet another email from Embarcadero enjoining me to purchase Delphi XE3, using the same email address that is already associated with the EDN account I used to activate the Delphi XE3 I already own. Some people apparently find this to be perfectly normal and (presumably) effective marketing. I disagree. Even more annoying, is that this email dangled the carrot of a FREE HTMLBuilder if I purchased before 31st December. Not that I think I will have much use for it, but it might be nice if those people who already purchased would be offered the same free deal, instead of being harassed by spam offering this deal to them inappropriately. But more important than that was an interesting note buried at the bottom of that email: STOP PRESS! You will be saving another 10% if you buy before 31 December 2012 and beat the upcoming price increase on Professional Edition products from 01 January 2013! Has anybody heard details about this price rise ? Is it coincident with the inclusion of RAD Mobile Studio in the Pro range ?

Suggestions for Marco … ?

[Estimated Reading Time: < 1 minutes] I have elevated this comment from David I in a previous post, to the status of a post in it’s own right, in order that it might elicit the suggestions from readers/commenters that David seeks. I have adjusted the opening wording to make more sense in the context of a post, but give full credit to David I for kicking this off. I shall be responding myself shortly, but in the meantime, here’s the chance for others to contribute to an interim, ad-hoc “Delphi Survey” of sorts. 🙂

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and the Margin on Spirits)

[Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes] I have decided I need to explain more clearly why I am so skeptical of the confident claims made for the “health” of Delphi based on the sales performance announced in the press release by Embarcadero earlier this year. Not that I don’t wish it were true, only that I fear that misplaced satisfaction can lead to complacency that I think could be costly. Rest assured, I shall respond to David I’s invitation to contribute to the list of things that the new Product Manager for Delphi might focus on soon. In the meantime I shall elevate his invitation to the status of a “New Post”, so as to elicit responses from others. But first, that press release.

New Delphi Product Manager and Top Engineers Depart ?

[Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes] Apparently the appointment of Macro Cantù as Delphi Product Manager has now been officially announced or at least confirmed. I cannot find any official announcement, not even on the Embarcadero web site. Anywhere. But the wires are full of people congratulating Marco on the official confirmation of his appointment and he has tweeted about it, so I have to assume it is now indeed confirmed.