BOB Builder is a comprehensive command-line build automation tool designed specifically for Delphi projects. It streamlines the build process by managing compilation, versioning, resource generation, code signing, installer creation, and post-build processing through a single JSON configuration file.
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- Multi-Project Builds: Build multiple Delphi projects in sequence with a single command
- Multi-Platform Support: Target Win32 and Win64 platforms
- Multi-Configuration: Build Debug and/or Release configurations
- Version Management: Centralized version information across all projects
- Resource Generation: Template-based resource file generation with variable substitution
- Code Signing: Automated code signing with profile management
- Installer Creation: Inno Setup script compilation and MSI generation
- MD5 Checksum: Generate and compare MD5 checksums for binaries
- MAP to JDBG: Convert MAP files to JDBG debug symbols
- Pre/Post Build Scripts: Execute custom scripts before and after builds
- Code Formatting: Execute code formatters independently with
/FORMATparameter - Cleanup: Automated cleanup of build artifacts
- Logging: Comprehensive build logging with debug output
bobbuilder/
├── source/
│ ├── builder/ # Main bobbuilder and bobbuildergui
│ ├── codesign/ # bobcodesign - Code signing tool
│ ├── compare/ # bobcompare - File/version comparison tool
│ ├── library/ # boblibrary - Library helper tool
│ ├── maptojdbg/ # bobmaptojdbg - MAP to JDBG converter
│ ├── md5/ # bobmd5 - MD5 checksum tool
│ ├── resource/ # bobresource - Resource template processor
│ ├── wixwrapper/ # bobwixwrapper - WiX MSI wrapper
│ ├── common/ # Shared Bob.* units
│ └── tests/ # Unit tests
├── installer/ # Inno Setup installer scripts
├── resources/ # Resource templates and files
└── build/ # Build output directory
Main build automation tool that orchestrates the entire build process.
Graphical interface for bobbuilder with:
- Visual project/script selection
- Build progress monitoring
- Configuration editing
- Version information management
Code signing utility with profile management for signing executables and installers.
Comparison tool supporting:
- Version strings and files
- MD5 checksums
- Integer, float, date/time comparisons
MD5 checksum generator and validator.
Converts Delphi MAP files to JDBG debug symbol files.
Processes resource template files with variable substitution.
Wraps Inno Setup executables into MSI packages using WiX Toolset.
BOB Builder uses a .builder JSON configuration file that defines:
- Project Information: Product name, version, company details
- Project Groups: Collections of related Delphi projects to build
- Test Project Groups: Projects that run tests
- Install Script Groups: Inno Setup scripts and MSI generation
- Pre-Build Scripts: Scripts to run before compilation
- Post-Build Scripts: Scripts to run after compilation
- Build Complete Scripts: Scripts to run after all builds complete
- Variables: Environment variables for template processing
- Version Information: Separate versions for Development, Staging, and Production
See bobbuilder.builder for a complete example configuration.
# Build all projects with defaults from .builder file
bobbuilder
# Build specific project
bobbuilder /PROJECT:source\myproject.dproj /PLATFORMS:Win32 /CONFIGS:Debug /CLEANUP:false
# Build for multiple platforms and configurations
bobbuilder /PROJECT:source\myproject.dproj /PLATFORMS:Win32;Win64 /CONFIGS:Debug;Release
# Clean build all projects
bobbuilder /CLEANUP:true
# Run code formatters without building
bobbuilder /FORMAT
# Build with specific configuration file
bobbuilder /CONFIG:custom.builder /CONFIGS:Release| Parameter | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
/PROJECT: |
Specific project file to build | /PROJECT:source\client\app.dproj |
/PLATFORMS: |
Target platforms (semicolon-separated) | /PLATFORMS:Win32;Win64 |
/CONFIGS: |
Build configurations | /CONFIGS:Debug or /CONFIGS:Release |
/CLEANUP: |
Clean build folders before building | /CLEANUP:true or /CLEANUP:false |
/FORMAT |
Execute code format scripts only | /FORMAT |
BOB Builder includes VS Code task and launch configurations:
Build Tasks (Press Ctrl+Shift+B):
- Build All Projects (Release) - default
- Build All Projects (Debug)
- Clean and Build All
- Individual tool builds
Launch Configurations (Press F5):
- Launch any tool with pre-build tasks
- Debug configurations
- Test runners
See .vscode/VSCODE-BUILDER.MD for complete VS Code integration guide.
Required Delphi Version:
- Delphi 10.3 Rio or later (tested with Delphi 11.x and 12.x)
Required External Libraries:
-
Lazy-Library
- Website: https://www.littleearthsolutions.net
- Purpose: Core utilities, logging, model system, Windows helpers
- Units:
Lazy.Model,Lazy.Log,Lazy.Types,Lazy.Utils,VCL.Lazy.Utils.Windows,Lazy.CryptINI,Lazy.Token
-
JEDI Code Library (JCL) - Required
- Website: https://github.com/project-jedi/jcl
- Purpose: File utilities, system utilities
- Units:
JclFileUtils,JclSysUtils
-
JEDI Visual Component Library (JVCL) - Required for GUI
- Website: https://github.com/project-jedi/jvcl
- Purpose: Enhanced VCL controls
- Units:
JvExComCtrls,JvProgressBar,JvExMask,JvToolEdit,JvComCtrls,JvExControls,JvFilenameEdit,JvTreeView
-
Indy (Internet Direct) - Required
- Usually included with Delphi
- Purpose: MD5 hashing
- Units:
IdHashMessageDigest,IdHash,IdGlobal,IdHashSHA,IdHMAC,IdHMACSHA1,IdSSLOpenSSL
-
TurboPower LockBox 3 - Required
- Website: https://github.com/TurboPack/LockBox3
- Purpose: AES encryption for passwords and profiles
- Units:
uTPLb_Codec,uTPLb_CryptographicLibrary,uTPLb_Constants
-
SynEdit - Required for GUI
- Website: https://github.com/SynEdit/SynEdit
- Purpose: Syntax-highlighted code editor
- Units:
SynEdit,SynEditHighlighter,SynHighlighterJSON
Method 1: Using BOB Builder (Self-Build)
- Ensure Required External Libraries for Delphi are installed.
- Install BOB Builder
- Install InnoSetup (or disable group Installers)
- Install WiX Toolset (or disable group Installers)
- Create a LITTLEEARTH code sign profile that does nothing and ignores fails
bobcodesign /MODE:ADDPROFILE /IGNOREFAIL:true /FILENAME:"cert.cert" /PASSWORD:secret /PROFILE:LITTLEEARTH- Alternative options are create a /SELFSIGN:true profile for LITTLEEARTH
- Create your own perferred profile and adjust bobbuilder.builder and adjust or disable scripts "Code Signing Installers" and "Code Signing Binaries"
- Build the entire project with
bobbuilder.exeorbobbuildergui.exe - Build individual projects with /PROJECT:bobbuildergui
Method 2: Using VS Code
- Open the workspace in VS Code
- Press
Ctrl+Shift+B - Select "Build All Projects (Release)"
Method 3: Using Delphi IDE
- Open
source\BOBBuilderProjectGroup.groupproj - Build all projects (Shift+F9)
Default build output structure:
build/
├── tools/
│ └── bin/
│ ├── Win32/
│ │ ├── Debug/
│ │ │ ├── bobbuilder.exe
│ │ │ ├── bobbuildergui.exe
│ │ │ └── [other tools].exe
│ │ └── Release/
│ │ └── [same structure]
│ └── Win64/
│ └── [same structure]
├── tests/
│ └── bin/
│ └── [test executables]
├── installer/
│ └── [generated installers and MSI files]
└── resource/
└── version_global.rc
# Add a signing profile
bobcodesign /MODE:ADDPROFILE /PROFILE:MyProfile /FILENAME:C:\cert.pfx /PASSWORD:secret /CONTAINERNAME:MyContainer
# Sign files
bobcodesign /MODE:SIGN /PROFILE:MyProfile /FILENAME:C:\Build\*.exe /RECURSE:true# Compare version strings
bobcompare /MODE:VERSIONSTRING /VALUE1:1.0.0.0 /VALUE2:1.0.1.0
# Compare file versions
bobcompare /MODE:VERSIONFILE /VALUE1:old.exe /VALUE2:new.exe
# Get MD5 checksum
bobcompare /MODE:GETMD5 /VALUE1:myfile.exe# Generate MD5 for files
bobmd5 /MODE:GENERATE /SOURCE:C:\Build\*.exe /RECURSE:true
# Compare MD5 checksums
bobmd5 /MODE:COMPARE /SOURCE:C:\Build\*.exe /RECURSE:true# Process resource template with variables
bobresource /SOURCE:version.template /DESTINATION:version.rc /VARIABLES:vars.txt# Wrap Inno Setup EXE into MSI
bobwixwrapper /EXEFILENAME:setup.exe /MSIFILENAME:setup.msi /COMPANYURL:https://example.com- Local variables prefixed with
L - Class fields prefixed with
F - Parameters prefixed with
A - No inline variables (Delphi 10.3 compatibility)
All BOB tools share common units in source\common\:
Bob.Common.pas- Shared utilitiesBob.CodeSign.pas- Code signing functionalityBob.Compare.pas- Comparison utilitiesBob.MD5.pas- MD5 generation and validationBob.ResourceGenerator.pas- Resource template processingBob.wixwrapper.pas- WiX MSI wrapperBob.Encryption.pas- Password encryption/decryption
BOB Builder uses a JSON-based model system powered by Lazy-Library:
Model.Build.pas- Build configuration modelsModel.Delphi.pas- Delphi version detection models- All models inherit from
TLZModelwith automatic JSON serialization
Run unit tests:
# Using bobbuilder
bobbuilder /PROJECT:source\tests\bobtests.dproj /PLATFORMS:Win32 /CONFIGS:Release
# Or directly
build\tests\bin\Win32\Release\bobtests.exe -exit:continueRequired only for bobwixwrapper MSI generation:
- Download: https://wixtoolset.org/
- Set
%WIX%environment variable to installation path
Required only for installer script compilation:
- Download: https://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php
- Configure path in bobbuilder settings
Required only for code signing:
- Included with Windows SDK
- Configure path via
bobcodesign /MODE:SETSIGNTOOL /FILENAME:"C:\path\to\signtool.exe"
For issues, questions, or contributions, contact Little Earth Solutions:
- Website: http://www.littleearthsolutions.net/