Lazarus 4.0 is a major release of the Free Pascal-based IDE, bringing significant improvements and new features. Highlights include a completely rewritten IDE Docking system, enabling flexible window layouts and improved multi-monitor support. The code editor has been enhanced with a new LSP (Language Server Protocol) integration, offering better code completion, navigation, and refactoring capabilities. Debugging is improved through a rewritten debugger core and integration with LLDB. The IDE's look and feel has been modernized with updated icons and widget themes. Further enhancements include a new macro system, updated compiler and debugger support for various platforms, and various improvements to the IDE's form designer and other components.
The Lazarus team proudly announces the major release of Lazarus 4.0, a significant milestone for this Free Pascal-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) renowned for its Delphi compatibility and cross-platform capabilities. This release, after several years of development incorporating contributions from numerous dedicated individuals, brings a wealth of enhancements and new features aimed at improving developer productivity and modernizing the Lazarus experience.
Central to this release is the integration of the latest Free Pascal Compiler (FPC) 3.3.1, offering performance improvements, expanded language features, and enhanced platform support. This synergy between Lazarus and FPC provides developers with a robust and up-to-date foundation for their projects.
The user interface and user experience have undergone substantial refinement. High-DPI scaling is now fully supported, addressing the needs of modern high-resolution displays. This ensures crisp and clear visuals across various screen configurations. The IDE's appearance has also been refreshed with modernized icons and themes, providing a visually appealing and contemporary workspace.
Code editor enhancements abound, including improved code completion, navigation, and refactoring tools. These enhancements streamline the coding process, facilitating faster development and reducing errors. Debugging capabilities have also been strengthened with improvements to the integrated debugger, simplifying the process of identifying and resolving issues.
Beyond the core IDE enhancements, Lazarus 4.0 offers significant improvements for cross-platform development. Support for various widgetsets, including Qt5, GTK2, GTK3, Win32/64, and Cocoa, ensures that developers can create applications with native look and feel across diverse operating systems. This release further strengthens Lazarus's commitment to providing a truly cross-platform development experience.
Furthermore, Lazarus 4.0 introduces numerous improvements and fixes to existing features. These address bugs and inconsistencies from previous versions, resulting in a more stable and reliable development environment. The extensive changelog details the comprehensive list of modifications and improvements.
The Lazarus team encourages users to upgrade to this latest version to benefit from the significant advancements and improvements. The release marks a significant step forward for the Lazarus project, reinforcing its position as a powerful and versatile cross-platform development tool. The announcement expresses gratitude to all contributors and community members for their invaluable contributions to this milestone achievement.
Summary of Comments ( 153 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43913414
Hacker News users generally expressed positive sentiment towards the Lazarus 4.0 release, praising its cross-platform compatibility and ease of use for creating GUI applications. Some highlighted the project's maturity and stability, having used it for years in production environments. A few pointed out its resemblance to Delphi, suggesting it's a viable alternative, particularly for those seeking a free and open-source option. One commenter specifically appreciated the improved high DPI support, while another mentioned its usefulness for scientific applications due to its simple deployment process. Some discussion centered around the choice of Free Pascal as the underlying compiler and its performance compared to other languages. Finally, there were some minor criticisms, such as the IDE feeling dated, and a desire for better documentation in certain areas.
The Hacker News post titled "Lazarus Release 4.0" links to a Lazarus forum announcement and has generated several comments discussing the release.
Several commenters express enthusiasm for Lazarus and Free Pascal, highlighting their cross-platform capabilities and ease of use. One user shares their positive experience using Lazarus for rapid application development and praises its stability. Another appreciates the project's commitment to remaining free and open-source.
A few comments delve into technical aspects, discussing improvements in the new release, such as the updated LCL (Lazarus Component Library) and code completion features. One user specifically mentions the benefit of anchoring controls for responsive UI design.
Some commenters draw comparisons with other development tools. Lazarus is favorably compared to Delphi, with some users suggesting it's a viable alternative, particularly for those seeking a free and open-source solution. There's also a comparison to Gambas, another cross-platform RAD tool.
Several users mention using Lazarus for a variety of projects, ranging from hobbyist endeavors to professional applications, demonstrating its versatility. Specific examples include database frontends and embedded systems programming.
While many comments are positive, a few raise concerns or offer constructive criticism. One user points out the challenge of achieving true cross-platform UI/UX consistency. Another expresses a desire for improved documentation.
Overall, the comments reflect a generally positive sentiment towards Lazarus 4.0, with users appreciating its capabilities, cross-platform nature, and open-source philosophy. The discussion also highlights specific features and improvements while acknowledging areas for potential future development.