Delphi and C++ Builder allows two measly installs before it's over

Why isn't deactivating a license made as self-service functionality?

Embarcadero permits measly two installs before you have to request to “bump” up your install limit. This pisses off all Delphi developers¹ and hinders Delphi open-source.

Download Rust, Python, or Go; you can re-install their runtimes as many times as you want.

Embarcadero’s competitors self-service

On Unity3D’s customer website, there’s a button to deactivate an existing install.

In JetBrain’s license portal, there’s a button to reassign an existing JetBrains license.


For Delphi...
Good luck if you’re doing work on Friday and your computer acts up, either due to BDS occasional crashing or some debug issue, then Delphi becomes unlicensed or comically forgets it’s personality².

After Delphi becomes unlicensed, you start to wonder if you worked too hard or if some unlucky incident happened. You browse to their support website, request an installation bump, and wait.

Monday comes... nothing. Tuesday... is Tuesday a public holiday in the USA? What’s taking so long?

The longest wait in Delphi development is waiting for that email that your installation is bumped up again. Hours turn to days...

Embaracdero has a website that shows you your licenses. Couldn’t Embarcadero have added a button to remove an existing installation, or deactivate an install? Also, allow that button to be enabled after maintenance expires.


If you didn’t renew your annual maintenance, you are blocked out of something you paid dearly for.


Embarcadero wants you to be in debt to an endless subscription. Paying to do open-source development is insane.

Few Delphi stars

Delphi github open-source repositories have few stars, or little or no development activity.

1. https://blog.dummzeuch.de/2019/06/10/on-re-installing-delphi-without-active-maintenance/

2. https://en.delphipraxis.net/topic/10329-personality-defaultpersonality-is-not-supported/