5 reasons why you should replace Delphi!

We have in-depth knowledge of Delphi programming and the expertise to support and further develop Delphi applications. Delphi has long been a reliable development platform for desktop and client/server applications. However, technological requirements have changed dramatically. Many companies are now faced with a decision: should they modernize Delphi or replace it completely?

In this article, we present five good reasons why replacement may be advisable. We base our arguments on current studies, market statistics and proven practical examples. By the end, you will have a clear understanding of when it is time to act and how you can make the change strategically and safely.

Reason 1: Declining availability of Delphi expertise & increasing risk due to skills shortage

• The Delphi community is growing slowly. According to the StackOverflow developer survey, the proportion of developers using Delphi in 2025 was 2.5%.
• When key developer with Delphi expertise leave the company, there is a risk of bottlenecks in maintenance and further development.
• Spare parts (special libraries, plug-ins) become obsolete, support becomes more difficult.
• According to research on legacy migration, a lack of expertise within the team is often the main obstacle to successful migrations.

Reason 2: Technical limitations and integration problems

• Older Delphi architectures are often monolithic and difficult to modularise. This makes it difficult to integrate modern services.
• Modern systems are based on APIs, microservices or modular design. Delphi projects are usually not designed for this.
• Studies show: Legacy systems hinder digital transformation if they are not modernised.
• Integration problems lead to high interface costs and manual processes.

Reason 3: High operating costs & hidden technical debt

• Legacy software often causes hidden costs, e.g. through detours, workarounds, technical debt.
• Maintenance, bug fixing and adjustments to older Delphi modules are often more time-consuming and expensive.
• Modern systems make it easier to implement automation, continuous deployment and DevOps. This reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Short-term savings result in expensive long-term costs (e.g. due to outdated interfaces, security updates).

Reason 4: Security and stability risks

• Older Delphi environments receive fewer updates and patches, which opens up security gaps.
• Legacy systems are considered a risk factor in cyber attacks, as they are often no longer secured using modern methods.
• Studies on legacy migration often cite security and compliance requirements as key drivers.
• Performance and stability problems increase with the age of the software. Failures or data corruption (e.g. during migration) are the main dangers.

Reason 5: Growth brakes & innovation barriers

• A modern system enables faster expansion, cloud integration, AI/analytics and new business models.
• Legacy systems slow down growth because changes are difficult to implement.
• Delphi reaches its performance limits with large amounts of data and real-time applications. Programming languages such as Python, .NET or C# are often faster here.
• Early migration is often necessary to enable digital transformation.

Companies are faced with the challenge of updating outdated Delphi technology or switching to a more modern development environment in order to solve compatibility problems and ensure access to the latest support. The use of middleware and APIs facilitates the integration of Delphi applications with other systems and platforms, improves compatibility with other systems and avoids isolation.

To overcome the shortage of Delphi developers, companies should invest in internal training programmes or find a company that still has Delphi experts on staff. It’s a good thing that we still have enough Delphi specialists in our development teams!

Alternatively, and probably inevitably in the medium term, you can choose new technologies that are better suited to scalability and integration, such as web or cloud-based solutions, and consider hybrid approaches if necessary. Modern development environments and programming languages offer possibilities that go far beyond the capabilities of Delphi. Find out what the future really holds for Delphi here!

The migration of Delphi requires careful planning and a structured approach. At soxes, we have extensive experience in migrating legacy systems such as Delphi and are happy to support you in making this process run smoothly.

With over 20 years of experience in individual software development, soxes has the expertise to take over old Delphi applications, analyse them, continue programming and, if necessary, carry out re-engineering in a targeted manner.

Our team analyses your existing Delphi applications and develops an individual plan for your company. We stabilise your application and maintain or extend it according to your wishes and requirements.

Are you more interested in entering a new development environment instead of an extension? We bring outdated applications back into the present through the re-engineering process by porting them to modern and more powerful technologies such as C# (C-Sharp) or Python.

Our aim is to offer a comprehensive solution that meets the specific requirements of your company and facilitates the transition to modern, more powerful products and technologies.