New in C++Builder/Delphi 10.4.1 IDE: Package LibSuffix Auto Choice

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David Intersimone David Intersimone "David I" 4 months ago in C++, C++ Programming, c++17, C++Builder 10.4.1 Sydney, cbuilder, components, Delphi, Delphi 10.4.1 Sydney, Delphi Programming, Developer Tools, ISO C++, object pascal, Packages 0

The C++Builder and Delphi Project | Options | Description page allows developers to

  • Choose and Set build target configurations
  • Write a description for the package
  • Set strings for the package library filename’s prefix, suffix and version
  • Define the use of the package (designtime, runtime or both)
  • Specify how the package is built (rebuild as needed or explicit rebuild)

In previous versions (version 10.3 and earlier) of C++Builder and Delphi developers building packages needed to manually set their package’s library suffix setting. The DocWiki “What’s new in version 10.4.1” mentions a new IDE projects option for setting the library suffix:

“Package AUTO libsuffix: packages can now have an automatic version suffix, instead of manually updating and specifying the right version suffix with each new release. (The compiler quietly supported this in 10.4, but full support for the feature in the IDE and package project settings is introduced in 10.4.1.)”

While you can still set a string for the library filename suffix, selecting the new ComboBox choice, “$(Auto)”, allows the compiler to set the suffix to match the package build version used by the compiler. For each target build (debug and release) and OS platform the resulting package filename follows a pattern:

Win32 and Win64: <prefix>Package1<suffix>.<version>.bpl
Android: <prefix>Package1<suffix>.so.<version>
macOS and iOS: <prefix>Package1<suffix>.<version>.dylib

Creating and building a package with Delphi and C++Builder version 10.4.1, choosing the $Auto option for the suffix and setting other Description page settings results in a filename like the test package project images shown below.

C++Builder and Delphi also support package-specific compiler directives to include in a package project’s source code.

C++Builder Product Information

C++Builder Product Page – Native Apps that Perform. Build Windows C++ Apps 10x Faster with Less Code
C++Builder Product Editions – C++Builder is available in four editions – Professional, Enterprise, Architect and Community (free). C++Builder is also available as part of the RAD Studio development suite.