​​Lazarus now includes TMS Web Core.

Check out a special version of this free IDE in Blaise Pascal Magazine. This is really interesting news 😲
Image by TMSsoftware.
https://www.blaisepascalmagazine.eu/9372-2/

😲 Wow, didn't know that WinSCP was built with C++Builder! Check out this interesting blog post.

The program utilizes Putty and Filezilla code to protect communication and file transfers:

https://blogs.embarcadero.com/award-winning-native-windows-sftp-built-with-cbuilder-and-download-143-million-times/

​​Have you ever used the transaction log backup or the copy-only backups when administering an SQL Server DB? In my practice, I only used the full and the differential backups 👀

The following article may be helpful in understanding different backup types, which are available to administer databases and recover a database in the event of a database corruption issue ☝️
https://www.red-gate.com/simple-talk/sql/backup-and-recovery/sql-server-backup-types/

Check out an interesting article, which describes different ways to compare two SQL server databases. The author uses the standard SQL Server Data Tools, dbForge Schema Compare, and SQL Server Integration Services:
https://blog.devart.com/compare-and-find-data-differences-between-two-tables-in-sql-server-with-ssis-and-dbforge-tools.html

☝️I know at least, one more easy-to-use yet power tool, Database Comparer, which allows both comparing and synchronizing the databases structures. BTW, not only for SQL Server.
https://www.clevercomponents.com/products/dbcomparer/

​​Good news - the TaskRunner version 1.3 has been released 🎉🍾👍

This build automation tool allows you to run sequential tasks, such as compiling projects, backup, restore DBs, executing JavaScript, and many more. The new version provides the redesigned app GUI and introduces the tabbed task editor.

The guys behind TaskRunner promise to publish an article, describing how to automate the InnoSetup script compilation process.

Let's try the updated TaskRunner, and ⭐️ the repo to help other devs to learn about this tool.
https://github.com/CleverComponents/Task-Runner/releases/tag/1.3

​​Recently, I've read an interesting blog post about migrating from BDE/Paradox to InterBase. The author uses the CleverComponent's IBPump utility to transfer data to a new database.
Huh, we wrote this app in Delphi 6 18 yeas ago. Maybe it's time to update the app up to Delphi 10.3 Community and publish on Github?
https://blogs.embarcadero.com/migrating-from-bde-paradox-to-interbase/

​​Yesterday, DevExpress has updated their VCL product line and released the version 20.2.

😲Wow, there are replacements for the standard open/save file dialogs that use your selected theme, various UX enhancements, the beta for a new Gantt control, PDF sign/verify, and many more. You can get more details in their dev blog:
https://community.devexpress.com/blogs/ctodx/archive/2020/11/23/devexpress-vcl-subscription-v20-2-released.aspx

​​Check out the new Database Comparer Tools 8.0 Beta, the team behind CleverComponents has published yesterday.
This beta version has an updated UI, new comparison profiles, includes fixes for some existing issues, and other code improvements.

🔥 The tools are absolutely free for non-commercial use. If you like to get a paid version of the Database Comparer Tools or VCL components, feel free to use a special offer, they have published for this Black Friday season.
https://www.clevercomponents.com/downloads/dbc/dbcdownload.asp

​​Recently, I have found a useful manual on how to install Delphi packages manually in RAD Studio IDE.

The author, Jim McKeeth, has shared some tips to compile, install, and set up third-party components in case if these components do not have own installer, even if you have only the source code for these components.

This matters to newbies in Delphi, or to those who devs end-user apps using third-party open-source libraries 👍
https://blogs.embarcadero.com/installing-component-packages-manually/

If you need to get rid of duplicates in your SQL database, check out this interesting article to learn how to identify duplicates, how to remove duplicates, and recommendations how to avoid them. There are several useful example scripts 👍
https://towardsdatascience.com/how-to-deal-with-duplicate-entries-using-sql-4b017465d6dc

​​Do you use InnoSetup for making installations? Check out a script, which can download and install any dependency such as .NET, Visual C++ or SQL Server Express Redistributable during your application's installation process. You can even easily add your own dependencies. A really useful addon for one of the best free installer tools 🔥

The script uses the standard InnoSetup's Download wizard page. Wow, I didn't know about this feature 😲 Next, the script collects dependencies together with the direct download links, adds them to this page, and starts the downloading process.

I think, we will implement this feature in our TaskRunner installer, because this program often requires vc redistributables when installing on some old machines 👍
https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/20868/Inno-Setup-Dependency-Installer

​​Upcoming webinar DEC 2, 2020. Learn how to mix C++Builder and Python with David I & Kiriakos Vlahos. Hurry, the webinar starts today at 3:00 PM GMT 👉
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5414464058002270476

​​Last week, Marco Cantu has announced his new book on the Delphi Object Pascal language, covering all of the new features in the 10.4 release.

Check out the design of the cover while waiting for the book release. And surely don't forget to 👍
https://blog.marcocantu.com/blog/2020-november-announcing-objectpascal-handbook-104.html

​​Just tried new TMS VCL UI Pack. Wow, it allows converting svg graphics to pdf in one line of code. Didn't know that it's possible 🔥
https://www.tmssoftware.com/site/blog.asp?post=712

​​Off topic 🤣

​​An upcoming webinar. Join Alexey Sharagin tomorrow December 9th, 9 AM CST, to learn everything you need to know about working with VCL styles, including how to customize and make your own ones 👌
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/483236871005209869

​​Woah, DevExpress offers their cool VCL NavBar Control for free 🔥
However, there are conditions, the offer is applicable only for RAD Studio 10.4 and valid until the end of January.

More details here 👉
https://www.devexpress.com/vcl-navbar-free

More screenshots https://www.devexpress.com/products/vcl/navigation/getting-started.xml

​​If you have a Logitech gaming keyboard, headset, or a mouse, you can try one interesting Delphi library, by Delphi MVP François Piette, who is known for the Internet Component Suite (ICS) 🔥

The library allows you to make illuminations on your Logitech hardware using the Logitech Gaming LED SDK. The sources for the library are available on GitHub.

My Microsoft Natural keyboard doesn't allow me to run the supplied examples. So if somebody has tried the library, please share your experience 👌
https://github.com/fpiette/Logitech-Gaming-LED-SDK-for-Delphi

​​Tomorrow starts an interesting webinar - Python Native Windows GUI with Delphi VCL (Thu, Dec 17, 2020 9AM CST) 👀
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7093310562018477071

👉 BTW: to those, who uses Python together with Delphi, Embarcadero community has published an article to learn how to connect Python iterators with Delphi string lists. The demo project has VCL UI and available on GitHub.
https://blogs.embarcadero.com/learn-how-to-build-an-iterator-python-type-for-delphi-in-this-windows-gui-app/

​​On Sunday, Marco Cantu announced RAD Studio 10.4.2 Beta and a Teaser Image availability. If you have an active update subscription, you can download and try it 👉
https://blog.marcocantu.com/blog/2020-december-rad1042-beta-teaser.html