FireDAC - universal enterprise database connectivity for iOS, Android, Windows and OSX

With the release of Delphi XE5 developers now can use the advanced capabilities of FireDAC to build apps that connect with local and remote databases (via DataSnap) that run on iOS, Android, Windows and OSX. C++Builder developers can currently use FireDAC for their Windows and OSX applications (the RAD Studio Roadmap shows C++Builder support for iOS and Android coming later this year). With its powerful universal architecture FireDAC enables direct access from your application from your Android, iOS, Windows and OS X apps to Oracle, SQL Server, InterBase, DB2, Firebird, SQLite, IBLite, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Anywhere, Advantage DB, Access, Informix, DataSnap and more. In addition to blazing speed and universal access, FireDAC also supports vendor specific database features as well as deployment across multiple client operating systems and device platforms.

FireDAC on iOS and Android can directly work with InterBase IBLite, InterBase ToGo and SQLite databases. FireDAC on Windows can leverage available native SQL database client drivers to connect to local and remote databases.  FireDAC on MAC OSX can leverage available native SQL database client drivers to connect to local and remote databases. For specific database connectivity for each database there is a large amount of help available at http://docs.embarcadero.com/products/rad_studio/firedac/frames.html?frmname=topic&frmfile=Database_Connectivity.html.

For developers who are still using the older Borland Database Engine (BDE) for Paradox and dBase databases, there are articles in the Embarcadero DocWiki to help you migrate from BDE to FireDAC at http://docs.embarcadero.com/products/rad_studio/firedac/frames.html?frmname=topic&frmfile=Migrating_BDE_applications.html.

FireDAC XE5 is included in and works with Professional and higher editions of RAD Studio XE5, Delphi XE5 and C++Builder XE5. The XE5 version of the FireDAC Client/Server Add-On Pack is available for RAD Studio XE5 Professional, Delphi XE5 Professional, C++Builder XE5 Professional. The FireDAC Client/Server Add-On Pack for RAD Studio XE4 is also still available and installs into the XE4 versions of Delphi and C++Builder. The FireDAC Client/Server Add-On Pack for RAD Studio XE4 can also be manually configured to work with older versions of Delphi and C++Builder, however use with older versions is not officially supported. You must own an Embarcadero version (2010 or later) of Delphi, C++Builder or RAD Studio to purchase FireDAC.

You will find additional information and links on the FireDAC home page at http://www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio/firedac.

If you are new to FireDAC you can also give FireDAC a try. FireDAC is now included in the RAD Studio XE5, Delphi XE5 and C++Builder XE5 trials.