ChatGPT can be a huge time saver when working with Delphi code.
But that does not mean you should blindly paste AI-generated code into your project and hope for the best.
Here is a simple habit that helps: compare the before and after files first.
Delphi includes a copy of Beyond Compare Lite, and it is easy to overlook. On my machine it is located here:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\XX.X\bin\
Replace XX.X with your installed RAD Studio version folder.
Recently, I asked ChatGPT for a complete drop-in replacement for a Delphi form that contained a TStringGrid. The goal was simple:
Save and load the grid column widths from the existing config.ini file when the form loads and closes.
ChatGPT gave me the full updated unit. Before replacing my working source file, I opened the original file and the new file in Beyond Compare Lite.
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| Beyond Compare Lite showing the original Delphi source file on the left and the ChatGPT-modified version on the right. |
That made the review much easier.
Instead of hunting through the entire unit by hand, Beyond Compare Lite showed me exactly what changed. In this case, I could quickly see the new private fields, the new load/save methods, and the places where the form startup and shutdown logic had been modified.
That matters.
AI-generated code can be useful, but you still need to own the change. A file comparison tool helps you answer the important questions:
What did it add?
What did it remove?
What did it touch?
Did it change anything I did not ask for?
Does the change make sense before I compile it?
Beyond Compare Lite does a fantastic job of making those differences visible.
It is one of those tools that ships with Delphi but can be easy to forget about. If you are using ChatGPT, Copilot, or any other AI coding assistant, this little utility becomes even more valuable.
My rule of thumb is simple:
Never accept a full-file AI replacement without comparing it first.
Compare it. Review it. Then compile and test it.
AI can help write the code.
Beyond Compare Lite helps you keep your hands on the steering wheel.
Enjoy!
Semper Fi
Gunny Mike
https://zilchworks.com
https://debtblaster.com
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