C++ Builder Helper

2007–2009 (OLD)

In 2004, I got my first computer. And in 2006 the Internet appeared, and I became interested in programming. At that time there were two very popular development environments: Borland C++ Builder and Delphi, but I was not interested in Pascal. In C++ Builder 6 I was attracted by the possibility to build an interface from different components right in the visual editor. Before that, I had already tried to get into application resources and translate them into another language, redraw graphics and icons. But making my own Windows application from scratch was more difficult.

I bought a couple of C++ books, but it was more interesting to look for tutorials online. Besides various articles, I quickly found a kind of BCB6 guide called «Builder Helper». Technically it was a Windows application with a built-in browser with navigation through lessons downloaded at the click of a button. The project also had a website and a guestbook, where users left comments: asked questions and suggested lesson topics. The lessons themselves were written in modern language with a share of sarcasm and a small amount of swear, rude words. By that time it already contained about 20 lessons.

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Builder Helper 3

One day the author admitted that he could no longer keep updating the articles and said that he was ready to give the source code of the application, lessons and access to the site to active users. I was not a good programmer (and I was only 14 years old!), but for some reason his choice fell on me. So I got a fairly well-known project with a large user base and started working on new articles and the interface of the new version of the application.

I also asked other users to submit their articles, realizing that my knowledge is not enough for regular updates, and the community needs to be developed somehow and motivate readers to participate in the life of the project. I myself was more interested in the graphical interface, and Dmitrij Kiselev helped with logotypes for the app and website.

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Builder Helper 4

So the app has gone through 4 versions, 60 articles and over 20000 downloads in 5 years. In 2010, popularity of Borland C++ Builder was falling and having passed the code to the next active user, I finished participating in the life of the app.

Builder Helper was one of the first fairly serious project: I made the interface, logo, banners, website, developed the user community and met people with whom I later became friends and worked together.
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App Website

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Authors & Roles

UI, Web Designer & Author
Artur Netsvetaev

Logo Designer
Dmitry Kiselev