Free Pascal
Free Pascal (FPC) is a free, open-source, 32-bit/64-bit/16-bit professional Pascal compiler. It is designed to be highly compatible with Borland Delphi and Turbo Pascal, providing a robust, multi-platform solution for Pascal development across a vast array of operating systems and architectures.
Key facts
- First appeared
- 1993
- Category
- technology
- Problem solved
- Free Pascal was created to address the lack of a free, open-source, and multi-platform Pascal compiler that offered compatibility with the popular Borland Pascal and Delphi dialects. It sought to provide a native code compiler that could run on various operating systems like DOS, Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD, and target numerous CPU architectures, effectively democratizing Pascal development.
- Platforms
- OpenBSD, Solaris, Raspberry Pi (ARM), FreeBSD, Android, DOS, macOS, Linux, iOS, Xbox, Haiku, Nintendo Switch, NetBSD, WebAssembly (experimental), Windows
Related technologies
Notable users
- Individual developers and small teams building cross-platform utilities
- Makers and hobbyists for embedded development
- Educational institutions (for teaching structured programming)
- Companies maintaining legacy Pascal systems or seeking low-cost Delphi alternatives