Athena

C++Builder 5 Easter Eggs

The C++Builder 5 Easter Eggs are much the same as those found in Delphi 4, but without Alt+CHUCK.

Additionally, it has these.

  1. Run the command-line compiler with the undocumented -Team command-line switch, and the compiler team is listed:

    C:\Tools\CBuilder5\Bin>bcc32 -Team
    Borland C++ 5.5.1 for Win32 Copyright (c) 1993, 2000 Borland
    
        It's the compiler team!
    
            John   Wiegley
    
    Error E2075: Incorrect command line option: -Team

  2. Use of the undocumented #pragma curious_george directive in a source file gives you a special message.
    #pragma curious_george
    int main()
    {
      return 0;
    }
    C:\Tools\CBuilder5\Bin>bcc32 egg.cpp
    Borland C++ 5.5.1 for Win32 Copyright (c) 1993, 2000 Borland
    egg.cpp:
    No eating puzzle pieces!
    Turbo Incremental Link 5.00 Copyright (c) 1997, 2000 Borland
    
    C:\Tools\CBuilder5\Bin>

    This message will only be displayed in the IDE if the Show general messages option on the Compiler page of the project options dialog is checked.

  3. Use of the undocumented #pragma gpfault prettyplease directive in a source file gives you what you ask for.
    #pragma gpfault prettyplease
    int main()
    {
      return 0;
    }
    E:\Tools\CBuilder5\Bin>bcc32 egg.cpp
    Borland C++ 5.6 for Win32 Copyright (c) 1993, 2002 Borland
    c:egg.cpp:
    Fatal F1004 c:egg.cpp 3: Internal compiler error at 0x4208b2 with base 0x400000
    Fatal F1004 c:egg.cpp 3: Internal compiler error

    This option appears to be used to test the resilience of the IDE against Access Violations. If you compile a source file like this in the IDE, the initial compilation and any use of Code Completion (which invokes a partial background compilation) will give similar errors.

  4. Use of the undocumented #pragma keeka directive in a source file gives you a special message when compiling with the command-line compiler.
    #pragma keeka
    int main()
    {
      return 0;
    }
    C:\Tools\CBuilder5\Bin>bcc32 egg.cpp
    Borland C++ 5.5.1 for Win32 Copyright (c) 1993, 2000 Borland
    egg.cpp:
             /\__/\
            | -  - |
            * ^--^ *
             x=--=x
             |    |
            |      |
            | |  | |     .
            | |__| |\___//
             vv  vv *---*
    
    Keeka: Simply the best darn cat in the Universe.
    Turbo Incremental Link 5.00 Copyright (c) 1997, 2000 Borland
    
    C:\Tools\CBuilder5\Bin>

  5. This is a rare one! It revolves around the Evaluate/Modify dialog box when the debugger is inactive.

    Choose Run | Evaluate/Modify... and enter the expression:

  6. for(i=0;i<IDETeam;i++){ShowQuote(i);}

    exactly as shown (no spaces). When you press Enter or the Evaluate button some credits are added to the Result window, one at a time:

    Scrolling down the Result window will show a dedication to one of the key testers from the development team:

  7. Invoke the About box with Help | About..., then hold down Alt whilst typing GUNGLA. This shows Tequila Joe Monkey on a surfboard. It also has a short musical accompaniment that is a section of the sound track from The Hamster Dance web site, http://www.hamsterdance.com.

    Apparently, Gungla comes from the film CaddyShack where Bill Murray is talking about the Dali Lama. One of the C++Builder developers likes using this word...

  8. Set the environment variable SHOW_RTLDLL_VERSION to 1 and the C++ RTL DLL (CC3250MT.dll) will give you information on its location and version and which application is loading it. It also asks if you wish to continue, or abort.

  9. If you hold down Ctrl+Shift whilst C++Builder 5 starts, it chooses the splash screen randomly from the normal one, and seven additional ones. Some of these were used as the splash screen in Field Test releases of this version. Others have been added in just for fun.

    When any of the non-standard splash screens are displayed, they are accompanied by a Godzilla-type roar. Incidentally, the Godzilla-like character in the splash screens is called Borzilla.

    The noise is a WAV file and the splash screens are all JPEG files, all of which are bound into the main BCB.EXE executable file as custom Windows resources.


    Borzilla defeats the smoking monkey


    Borzilla takes a holiday to Greece


    The army vs. Borzilla


    Borzilla takes a moment with the Linux penguin


    Borzilla in the arts (American Gothic by Grant Wood)


    Borzilla on the rampage


    The C++Builder IDE R&D team become Borzillas
    Left to right, they are: Robert Kozak, Adam "Sparky" Markowitz, David Wilhelm, Allen Bauer, Chris Hesik, Robert West

  10. The CodeGuard Configuration utility, available from Tools | CodeGuard Configuration, or just by running cgconfig.exe from C++Builder's bin directory, has an Easter Egg in the About box. Choose Help | About CodeGuard..., then hold Ctrl and double click on the icon.

    This produces a Canadian flag that transforms into a US flag, signifying the move from Canada to America of the developer involved, Robert Kozak.


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