Question

I need to maintain different versions of a software, the problem is like this:

1. v 1.0 – Delphi 7 – DevExpress build 20 – TeeChart 5

2. v 2.0 – Delphi 2005 – DevExpress build 40 – TeeChart 7

3. v 2.1 – Delphi 2009 – DevExpress build 52 – TeeChart 8

4. v 3.0 – Delphi 2009 – DevExèress build 53 – TeeChart 2010

(of course this is an example)

What solution do you suggest? What I do now is using virtual machines and taking snapshots, anyway this means having in practice one Windows version per software version.

What else can be done? Typically old versions need to be maintained just for bux fix, not for new development.

I added (4), this is an extra problem, maintaining same Delphi version with different versions of components. It seems that Snapshot of Virtual Machine is still the most convenient way to work with no many compromises. Of course the problem is the complexity given by the 3rd party libraries, not Delphi itself.

Answer 1

Personally I think you’re already working with the best solution with your VMs.

Before I started using different VMs for my projects though, I made use of the Delphi “-r” command line switch to load different component sets for different projects under the same IDE.

There’s also a tool Jed’s Configuration Manager which simplifies doing this.