Using external libraries

Sometimes, performance problems are too hard to be solved in code. Maybe the problem lies in a specific domain that requires specialized technical knowledge to be solved efficiently. Or maybe the compiler is generating code that just doesn't cut it.

In both cases, the answer is the same—if you can't solve it internally, find a better solution and use it as an external module. If you can get a DLL, great! Using DLLs from a Delphi application is a breeze. Lots of times, however, you'll have to use either object files generated with a C compiler, or C++ libraries.

While the former can be used directly in Delphi, there are usually several obstacles to overcome. Firstly, the object file has to be in the correct format. The 32-bit Delphi compiler can link OMF and COFF formats (generated by the Embarcadero's and Microsoft's compiler, respectively), while the 64-bit Delphi compiler can only link COFF format files.

Secondly, the object file may refer to external methods that...