Embarcadero is very excited to announce the release of RAD Studio 12.1 Athens along with Delphi 12.1 and C++Builder 12.1.

RAD Studio 12.1 Athens release primarily focuses on enhancing the new features in RAD Studio 12, adding further refinements and addressing customer requests. At the same time, we have completed the development of the new C++ Win64 Clang–based compiler and toolchain, which was initially released in 12.0.

Where Can I Find The 12.1 Release Webinar Replay?

Here’s the full replay of our RAD Studio 12.1 Release Webinar!

Key New Features in RAD Studio 12.1 

In this blog post, we want to highlight some of the main new features and enhancements in RAD 12.1, covering also the most relevant quality updates.

Modernized C++ Compilers and Toolchain

The first release of the new Clang-based C++ compiler for Win64, a high-quality toolchain with excellent STL support, 64-bit compiler and linker, great for building and linking large applications, integrating better with external libraries and C++ code. Includes full IDE integration and the ability to build VCL and FireMonkey apps, using FireDAC and other database and RTL libraries.

The Win64 Modern Platform activates the new Clang-based C++ Compiler

Split Editor Views in RAD Studio IDE

In RAD Studio 12.1, the IDE supports split editor views: multiple editors side by side, above and below each other. Split editors allow the same file to be edited next to itself, allowing you to edit the same file in multiple locations and to keep both a design and a code view on screen.

Editor split views in action in RAD Studio 12.1

Android API Level 34 and Improved Deployment

RAD Studio 12.1 has updated the supported Android API to level 34. This has been done in advance of the August 2024 deadline for Google Play Store app submissions, which will require API Level 34. This change required updates to the Android SDK, the introduction of some additional Android platform tools, an update of the Java runtime, and improvements to the app packaging  process.

Building an Android application with camera actions in Delphi 12.1

Key Quality Improvements in RAD Studio 12.1 

Improved Visual Assist Integration for C++Builder IDE

Visual Assist integration was introduced in 12.0 and has been significantly improved with a strong quality focus  in 12.1, as well as expanding its rename refactoring capability to rename a component across source code and visual designers. It provides best-in-class code completion, code navigation and refactorings for C++ code; an amazing productivity boost.

VA-powered C++ Rename refactoring now includes designer updates

Delphi LSP Quality Improvements

In 12.1, we added the ability to customize the behavior of specific keystrokes when code completion is shown, both when shown normally and when auto-invoked, as well as making auto-showing completion work smoothly. This will let customers configure completion to match their preferred behavior. We have also reworked auto-invoke and added a number of improvements to Delphi LSP overall.

Options to automatically invoke code completion

VCL and FireMonkey Quality Improvements

RAD Studio 12.1 has dozens of improvements to both the VCL and FireMonkey libraries, with specific focus on features introduced in RAD Studio 12.0, including the new Skia foundation for FireMonkey, which improves performance and quality in rendering graphics and UI controls across all target platforms.

The VCL NumberBox component now supports scientific notation

Data Access Quality and Supported Databases 

Besides a large number of improvements to the database libraries, the REST client library and other areas of the runtime library, FireDAC adds official support for Firebird version 5 and PostgreSQL version 16.

Quality Overall

In RAD Studio 12.1, we implemented quality improvements for 52 support tickets, 300+ Quality Portal tickets, and added 18 customer feature requests. 

Ready to Go

Product trials for RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder 12.1 are now available and the updated product builds are live in the online store. Customers on Update Subscription can download and install RAD Studio, Delphi and C++Builder 12.1 today using their existing license and will receive an email announcing the new release availability. Downloads are available in the customers portal at https://my.embarcadero.com.

For more information, you can check the following links:

• The Embarcadero Web Site page for RAD Studio 12.1
• The more detailed What’s New page in the DocWiki
• The list of publicly reported bugs fixed (also in DocWiki)
• The RAD Studio feature matrix PDF

A Great Release

We are very happy with the work our team did for RAD Studio 12.1 Athens and we are certain you’ll equally enjoy using this new version of RAD Studio, C++Builder, and Delphi.