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Hydra 3
Helping Delphi developers to mix managed and unmanaged code...

11 August 2006

by Huw Collingbourne

Delphi developers should soon be able to bridge the gap between Win32 and .NET thanks to a new product from RemObjects. Currently under development, Hydra 3 will provide a way of creating hybrid applications which combine elements using both managed and unmanaged code.

For example, you could write a managed .NET plugin written in C# or RemObjects’ own Chrome Object Pascal, compile this as a DLL and then load the control into an unmanaged (Win32) application in Delphi. According to RemObjects this gives Delphi developers the opportunity to “migrate and replace existing modules (and even host applications) over time and at their own pace – arriving at a fully managed solution eventually, or they can keep moving the project forward as a mixed solution indefinitely.”

Hydra 3 will let you create .NET plugins for use in Win32 Delphi programs

Hydra 3 can be used from within Visual Studio and Delphi (versions 6 and above), to simplify the creation both of the managed code plugins and the target application in which those plugins will be used.

Hydra 3 is currently being beta tested prior to release later in the year. For more information, see the illustrated Hydra 3 walkthrough on the RemObjects site.