Forum Discussion

gschoch's avatar
gschoch
Occasional Contributor
2 months ago

Delphi 12.x officially unsupported?

Hello TestComplete Team

Recently we've faced a problem with TestComplete testing DevExpress Ribbon Control in Delphi x64 application using Delphi 12.2 + newest DevExpress V2024 1.5 / 16-AUG-2024.
We raised support case as your TestComplete is "under a running support" (case No 00678248). This  case was answer by SmartBear:

Thank you for reaching out to TestCompete support! Unfortunately, the issue is likely due to the lack of support for Delphi 12 and newer versions. 

We are now opening this community thread to find a solution for companies having invested into TestComplete and looking for a solution:

Facts from our side:

  • Delphi 12.1 was still fine.
  • Our problem is only x64 specific in the combination of DevExpress/Ribbons/Delphi 12.2"
  • We have a large investment into our TestCompete testing environment, which is now "worthless" due to a small error!

Questions:

  • Does the SmartBear support answer mean, that TestComplete has, without prior announcement, dropped Delphi out of the supported platforms?
  • Is that possible while support contracts are running (e.g. we have a 3 year contract).

Suggestion:

  • As SmartBear obviously lacks of Delphi specific resources, could at least consider, to release the necessary pluggings (tc*.bpl files) as opensource in order to maintain them?

with best regards,
the gs-soft dev Team (www.gs-soft.com)

  • Hassan_Ballan's avatar
    Hassan_Ballan
    Frequent Contributor
    2 months ago

    From TestComplete documentation https://support.smartbear.com/testcomplete/docs/app-testing/desktop/delphi/about.html#General it would seem that Delphi support is specific to the listed versions, and version 12 is not on the list. 

    Since your problem manifested after upgrading from 12.1 to 12.2 can you consider going back to 12.1?

    SmartBear maintenance agreement is restricted to TestComplete updates and what ever SmartBear deem feasible to enhance. Requesting from SmartBear to provide support to 12.x, in my mind may not be realistic or feasible for your project.

    • gschoch's avatar
      gschoch
      Occasional Contributor
      2 months ago

      well, Delphi 12.1 and 12.2 are just quality patches. But anyway, the problem is in the area of the DevExpress support.

      Tools like TestComplete have to adapt to the real world DevTool cycles and cannot block Dev Teams from upgrading (for that, BETA programs are available for 3rd party provides). But anyhow: If not Smartbear is able to maintain the TC-Delphi Pluggins anymore, then this area should be made opensource.

  • rraghvani's avatar
    rraghvani
    Champion Level 3
    2 months ago

    It might be best to speak to your sales representative, as opposed to support, to consider alternative solutions if possible.

    • gschoch's avatar
      gschoch
      Occasional Contributor
      2 months ago

      Well, we do not need a refund (as "sales" suggested for AQTime). We need a solution to make our test environment running again.

  • Marsha_R's avatar
    Marsha_R
    Moderator
    2 months ago

    I don't see Delphi 12* on here at all. The latest one I see here is 10*

    https://support.smartbear.com/testcomplete/docs/app-testing/desktop/delphi/about.html

    • gschoch's avatar
      gschoch
      Occasional Contributor
      2 months ago

      yes, IMO no active maintenance anymore.

      • Marsha_R's avatar
        Marsha_R
        Moderator
        2 months ago

        For what version of TestComplete did you see it on this list? 

  • gschoch's avatar
    gschoch
    Occasional Contributor
    2 months ago

    Well, I try again to make explain my view of the situation:

    when we ordered a 3 year support contact in 2021, the TC support was Delphi 10.4 at the newest version. We used TC since 15 years and always the newest Delphi (+ 3rd parties) versions were supported. Now since 2021, no new versions of the Delphi are officially supported = a gap of 3 years!

    Compare: https://support.smartbear.com/testcomplete/docs/app-testing/desktop/delphi/about.html#General

    To: https://delphi.fandom.com/wiki/Delphi_Release_Dates

    Anyhow, I can understand that the small Delphi market is not of any interest for SmartBear. But there should be a solution for existing customers (under support contract)! 

    As a last solution I suggested, to make the TC plugins for Delphi opensource. It looks, as these plugins are BPL based and therefore can be debugged during a TC run (to trace down our x64 specific problem).

      • gschoch's avatar
        gschoch
        Occasional Contributor
        2 months ago

        Thank you for the hint! Yes, we have been writing some own plugins as well. But starting to re-write the whole Delphi&DevExpress area + all tests, just to get rid on a single x64 error is too much😒. BTW: I assume that a mapping is pointing to a wrong integer type due to new NativeInt overloads.