RAD Server is a powerful solution for building web services and modern multi tier applications, and as a backend for mobile applications. You can use RAD Server to publish your own REST APIs, like exposing database data or any other data source, but also perform actions on the backend. This is often needed for mobile applications, but, in general, for any modern multi-tier architecture. Having the data access logic and business logic on the server helps making changes without having to update the client application, for example.
The RAD Server technology has been part of the RAD Studio development tools for a couple of years now. We have seen a lot of interest for the technical approach RAD Server uses in publishing REST APIs based on HTTP and JSON and we have been extending the server capabilities to better support JavaScript client (to help using RAD Server for ExtJS projects, but also for any other javaScript client library). The support for building RAD Server applications (and a local server used for debugging) are included with Delphi, C++Builder and RAD Studio Enterprise and above.
At the time we released RAD Studio 10.2.2, we decided to make the RAD Server deployment license for the single site available with Enterprise and Architect licences. Now we have taken an extra step, as an appreciation to our loyal customers on the Architect edition.
If you have an Architect edition license of Delphi, C++Builder or RAD Studio, you will receive a RAD Server multi-site license. This adds the ability to deploy RAD Server solutions on multiple, distinct company servers, cloud services, or on-premise customers servers. The RAD Server multi-site deployment license is roughy a $10,000 USD value when purchased separately.
Who is going to receive this license? In short, all new Architect Edition customers and Architect Edition customers on an active Update Subscription, but the process is slightly different.
Any customer currently on an Architect level Update Subscription will receive a key over email (which is another good reason to keep your subscription active!). If you haven’t received it yet, please note that they are sent to companies, not individual developers — so there might be a discrepancy on who receives them. If you checked with whoever receives license activations and your anti-spam filter and you still have not received it, feel free to ping your sales representative or partner.
Any customer buying a new Architect license after 16 August 2018 will receive this key instead of the RAD Server single-site key. Enterprise customers will continue to receive the RAD Server single-site deployment license.
If you are interested in RAD Server multi-site deployment licenses and you do not have RAD Studio, Delphi, or C++Builder Architect editions with a current Update Subscription, you can purchase it separately through your partner or sales. However, now is a good time to evaluate if Architect license including RAD Server is a better value for your needs and may even save you money compared to separate purchases.
I personally really believe RAD Server is a powerful solution for building web services and modern multi tier applications, and as a backend for mobile applications. We have been extending it and plan to expand RAD Server in the future (as highlighted in the recent RAD Studio roadmap). Now with this additional licensing option, make sure you double check this technology and migrate your existing client/server applications to it.
Summary:
- New RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++Builder Architect Editions now come with RAD Server multi-site deployment license ($10,000 USD value)
- Existing RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++Builder Architect Edition customers with an active Update Subscription will receive their new license key via email.
- RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++Builder Enterprise Editions will continue to include RAD Server single-site deployment license ($5000 USD value)
- RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++Builder Professional and Community editions do not include RAD Server development tools nor a deployment licenses.
- For additional information on RAD Server and available licensing models, please see https://www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-server