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CLAUDE.md

This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.

Project Overview

This is a port of the Free Vision (FV) text-mode UI framework from Free Pascal to modern Delphi (10.x, 11.x, 12.x). Free Vision is a classic console-based GUI toolkit originally from Turbo Pascal.

Key constraint: The port maintains the legacy Turbo Pascal OBJECT syntax - do not convert to CLASS.

Original source code

The original sourcecode for free vision is in C:\temp\fpc\fpc\packages\fv reference it as necessary.

Build Commands

Use the MCP build tool with Win32 platform and Debug configuration:

mcp__dbuildmcp__msbuild with projectfile="C:/projects/fv-delphi/FVTest.dproj", platform="Win32", config="Debug"

Important: Always use Win32/Debug during development. The project targets 32-bit Windows.

Testing

There is no automated test suite. Testing is done via the interactive FVTest.exe application:

# Run after building
FVTest.exe

The test app exercises all ported widgets through menu options (Test menu). Debug output is written to fvtest.log.

Architecture

Core Layering (bottom to top)

  1. FVCommon.pas - Platform types (Sw_Word, Sw_String = ShortString, PString)
  2. Objects.pas - Base object system, streams, collections (TObject, TStream, TCollection)
  3. Video.pas - Console output via Windows Console API
  4. Drivers.pas - Input handling (keyboard, mouse, event queue)
  5. Views.pas - View hierarchy (TView, TGroup, TWindow, TDesktop)
  6. Menus.pas - Menu system (TMenuBar, TMenuBox, TStatusLine)
  7. App.pas - Application framework (TProgram, TApplication)
  8. Dialogs.pas - Dialog controls (TDialog, TButton, TInputLine, TCheckBoxes, etc.)

Extended Components

  • MsgBox.pas, StdDlg.pas - Standard dialogs (message boxes, file dialogs)
  • Validate.pas - Input validators
  • Gadgets.pas - TClockView, THeapView
  • Tabs.pas - Tab control
  • TimedDlg.pas - Auto-closing dialogs
  • ColorTxt.pas, InpLong.pas, AsciiTab.pas - Specialized widgets

Code Conventions

Type System

  • Use ShortString (aliased as Sw_String) for FV string types
  • Use PString (pointer to ShortString) with NewStr/DisposeStr from Objects.pas
  • Use THandle from Winapi.Windows for file handles
  • CPU-native types: CPUWord, CPUInt, PtrInt

Compiler Directives

  • Range checking OFF ({$R-}) in units with pointer arithmetic
  • This is a Delphi-only project targeting Windows

Memory Management

  • Views are owned by their parent TGroup and disposed automatically
  • Use New(PTypeName, Init(...)) pattern for object creation
  • Call Dispose(Ptr, Done) for cleanup

Porting Status

See PORTING_STATUS.txt for detailed status. Core functionality is complete. Recently ported:

  • Editors.pas - Text editor (compiles, needs testing)
  • ColorSel.pas - Color selection dialogs
  • Outline.pas - Tree view (with mousewheel support)

Known Issues

  • Console window resize causes visual artifacts (resize not handled)
  • Some units use FPC-specific features like get_caller_frame that need alternatives in Delphi