[Lazarus] Search paths per platform

[Sven Barth]

On 14.09.2011 05:10, Hans-Peter Diettrich wrote:
> Sven Barth schrieb:
>
>> 2. Delphi uses the Windows Registry to store its known packages, true,
>> but Lazarus basically does the same for its installed packages in its
>> XML files that are stored in e.g. %APPDATA%\lazarus or ~/.lazarus.
>
> The difference becomes obvious with multiple Lazarus installations.
> Where multiple Delphi versions share packages (causing trouble), every
> Lazarus installation must be configured explicitly.

Different Delphi versions don't share packages. The "known packages" key 
in the registry is different for every version and also the IDE can't 
load packages that were compiled for another version the only exception 
being Delphi 2007 which has the same binary layout as Delphi 2006. The 
common packages "rtl", "vcl", etc. also all have the compiler version in 
it. E.g. "rtl170.bpl" for (I believe) Delphi 2007.

That the default of Lazarus isn't that user friendly especially for 
beginners is another topic...

Regards,
Sven