Before you start writing code

... we're going to need a few Basic Resources There's a lot more to getting started and doing it right than running up the IDE. You need to arm yourself with some basic knowledge and practical reference material. Yes, Delphi is a RAD product and you can just jump in, start throwing interface objects linked to data controls onto forms and hit the run button to create a piece of "software" that "works" but if that's where you want to go ... what the heck are you doing here? Hobbyists and Occupational Developers, by definition [well, perhaps only as I would define them], have an innate desire to do things with precision and dedication - you won't get there thinking everything you need will be in the box. The resources available to you are simply massive in scope. A concise listing of everything that is out there is far more than what I have the resources to compile. So, we'll have to do with the resources that I rely on, usually daily, to get you started. Considering a target audience of occupational developers and hobbyists, this is my list of ... Can't live without books;

• Code Complete 2nd Edition by Steve McConnell A practical handbook to software construction is a very modest description [from the cover] of what it contains for the hobbyist and occupational developer. I almost stopped here ... I'm of the opinion that this book must be purchased. If you're anything like me; It will become your best friend. You will read it cover to cover and more than once. It will sit by your side and you'll flip to one of the many markers you have placed in it to refer to one aspect or another of the life of a program.
• Anything and Everything by Marco Cantu Anything and everything isn't the title of a particular book. It's to be taken literally. If you can get hold of a Cantu ... buy it. Start off with;
• Essential Pascal Free!
• Essential Delphi Free!
• Delphi Developer Handbook
• Mastering Borland Delphi 2005 with the Update for Delphi 2006
• Inside Delphi 2006 by Ivan Hladni An excellent handbook to keep at your side for quick reference to all the basic elements of Delphi for Object Pascal. Make sure you have a look at this book before you get your cash out. It covers both Delphi and C++ and may not be of interest to everyone. To me, it's as important as Code Complete - my copy is dog-eared, contains dozens of post-it-note markers and I use it all the time.
This by no means the full extent of my collection but it's certainly enough to get you started. I may publish my full library and a review of each of the books at some point in the future. The books you buy, may be required to be more specific to the tasks you have at hand. Hopefully, with the recent rejuvenation of the CodeGear product line, it will inspire some of the authors to update their books and make them current with the latest IDE.

Can't Live Without Reference Web Sites;

• Delphi Basics If you've got an Internet connection available to you all the time ... this one goes on your desktop. If you don't [or even if you do], purchase and download the Windows program. It's worth every cent!
• About Delphi Programming If you've got a problem or just want to see how things are done ... this is the spot for you. The only caveat about this site ... make sure you've got AddBlock enabled and running :) If something you want to see can't be found on the site, contact the host. Zarko is excellent.

Can't Live Without Search Web Sites;

• Google
• Search Borland* Newsgroup Database at Tamarack

Must Read Web Sites;

• DelphiFeeds All Delphi Blogs in one place ... is probably the best daily read for Delphi programmers there is.
• Delphi Wiki an excellent collaborative project from the Delphi community.
• Coding Horror by Jeff Atwood another daily read where you'll find great articles like these ones;
• Learning on the Battlefield
• Going Commando - Put Down The Mouse
and many, many more ...

Tutorials;

• by Nick Hodges of CodeGear ...
• Getting Started With Delphi -- A list of tutorials
• Thirty Camtasia Demos in Thirty Days
• a nine episode series for TurboDelphi by 3DBuzz

Finally ... newsgroups;

• the CodeGear [actually still called Borland] newsgroups are a resource that you can't ignore. If you manage to run into a problem that you can't resolve using any of the resources that I've listed so far -or- you like to learn from reading the discussions about problems others are having, then read the newsgroups! Get yourself a good newsgroup reader - I use XanaNews and dial it in to the CodeGear newsgroups. If Web based is your preference ... find what you need here.

As I've mentioned this only scratches the surface of what there is out there to help you get started writing professional software with Delphi for Object Pascal. I hope this small sampling of it helps you get where you need to go ... it's done alright by me. Thanks for stopping by, -- Dave