Delphi Workflow Reverse Engineering: Capturing Pharma Lab Processes with 99.9% Accuracy

Pharma labs are currently held hostage by Windows XP-era Delphi applications that nobody knows how to update, yet everyone is afraid to turn off. These legacy systems—often powering critical sample tracking, chromatography analysis, and clinical trial data—represent a significant portion of the $3.6 trillion global technical debt. When a single workflow error can lead to a multi-million dollar FDA non-compliance finding, the "if it ain't broke, don't touch it" mentality becomes a survival strategy.

However, survival is not innovation. The challenge isn't just the code; it's the lost tribal knowledge. According to Replay's analysis, 67% of legacy systems lack any form of usable documentation. In the pharmaceutical sector, this lack of documentation is a regulatory time bomb. Traditional modernization requires months of interviews with lab technicians and manual code audits. Delphi workflow reverse engineering via visual capture offers a faster, more accurate path forward.

By using Replay, enterprises are now bypassing the "black box" problem of Delphi. Instead of spending 18-24 months on a high-risk rewrite, teams are using visual reverse engineering to extract the precise business logic of lab processes and porting them into modern React-based architectures in a fraction of the time.

TL;DR:

• •The Problem: 70% of legacy rewrites fail due to poor documentation and complex Delphi business logic.
• •The Solution: Replay uses visual reverse engineering to record lab workflows and automatically generate documented React components.
• •The Impact: Reduce modernization timelines from 18 months to weeks, saving 70% in engineering costs.
• •The Result: 99.9% accuracy in capturing pharma lab processes for FDA-compliant environments.

---

The Hidden Cost of Technical Debt in Life Sciences#

In the pharmaceutical industry, software isn't just a tool; it’s a validated process. Most Delphi applications in this space were built 15–20 years ago using the VCL (Visual Component Library). These systems are incredibly stable but virtually impossible to integrate with modern cloud-based LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems).

Industry experts recommend that legacy modernization should prioritize "intent over implementation." You don't necessarily want to copy the exact Delphi code (which is likely procedural and tightly coupled to the UI); you want to capture the workflow intent.

Visual Reverse Engineering is the methodology of using video recordings of legacy software interactions to automatically generate modern front-end components, state management logic, and architectural documentation.

When you perform delphi workflow reverse engineering manually, an architect must sit with a lab scientist, watch them click through 40 screens of a titration workflow, and manually document every validation rule. This process takes an average of 40 hours per screen. With Replay, that same screen is documented and converted into a React component library in just 4 hours.

Comparing Modernization Approaches#

---

The Mechanics of Delphi Workflow Reverse Engineering#

Delphi's VCL components (like

, , and ) often hide complex business logic behind UI events. In a pharma lab environment, a button click might trigger a cascading series of database updates and hardware signals that are not documented anywhere.

Delphi workflow reverse engineering with Replay works by recording these real-world interactions. The platform’s AI Automation Suite analyzes the video frames, identifies UI patterns, and maps the state changes.

Step 1: Capturing the Workflow#

A lab technician performs a standard operation—for example, "Batch Sample Approval"—while Replay records the session. The platform doesn't just see pixels; it identifies the underlying structural intent. It recognizes that a specific grid layout in Delphi is actually a data-entry table with specific validation constraints.

Step 2: Generating the Blueprint#

Replay’s "Blueprints" editor takes the recording and decomposes it into a structured architecture. It identifies:

• •Flows: The sequence of screens and user actions.
• •Components: The reusable UI elements (buttons, inputs, complex grids).
• •State Logic: How data flows from one screen to the next.

Step 3: Code Generation (React & TypeScript)#

Once the workflow is captured, Replay generates clean, documented React code. This isn't "spaghetti" code; it’s production-ready TypeScript that follows modern design patterns.

typescript
// Example of a generated React component from a Delphi 'Sample Entry' screen
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { LabGrid, ActionButton, ValidationAlert } from '@/components/lab-system';

interface SampleData {
  id: string;
  reagentLevel: number;
  status: 'pending' | 'verified' | 'flagged';
}

/**
 * Replay Generated: SampleEntryWorkflow
 * Original Delphi Source: FRMSampleEntry.pas
 * Accuracy Rating: 99.9%
 */
export const SampleEntryWorkflow: React.FC = () => {
  const [samples, setSamples] = useState<SampleData[]>([]);
  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);

  const handleValidation = (data: SampleData) => {
    // Logic extracted from Delphi's TBitBtnClick event
    if (data.reagentLevel < 0.05) {
      setError("Critical Reagent Level: Validation Failed");
      return false;
    }
    return true;
  };

  return (
    <div className="p-6 bg-slate-50 border border-slate-200 rounded-lg">
      <h2 className="text-xl font-bold mb-4">Batch Sample Processing</h2>
      {error && <ValidationAlert message={error} type="error" />}
      <LabGrid 
        data={samples} 
        onRowEdit={(newData) => handleValidation(newData)}
      />
      <div className="mt-4 flex gap-2">
        <ActionButton variant="primary" onClick={() => console.log('Submit Batch')}>
          Submit to LIMS
        </ActionButton>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
};

Learn more about modernizing legacy UI

---

Why Pharma Labs Trust Replay for Migration#

In regulated environments, you cannot simply "guess" what the old system did. You need a 1:1 functional equivalent to satisfy GxP (Good Practice) requirements. Replay provides the "Library" (Design System) and "Flows" (Architecture) that serve as the technical foundation for validation.

Overcoming the "Document Gap"#

According to Replay's analysis, the biggest bottleneck in pharma modernization is the "Document Gap." When a system has been patched for 20 years, the original specification is long gone. By using delphi workflow reverse engineering, you create a "living documentation" of the system as it actually functions today, not how it was imagined in 2004.

Handling Complex Data Grids#

Delphi was famous for its powerful data grids. Many pharma apps rely on

for real-time sample monitoring. Replay identifies these complex components and maps them to modern equivalents like TanStack Table or AG Grid, ensuring that the user experience remains familiar to the lab staff while the underlying tech is modernized.

typescript
// Mapping a Delphi TDBGrid to a modern React Table
import { useTable } from '@tanstack/react-table';

export const ReagentMonitoringGrid = ({ data }: { data: any[] }) => {
  // Replay automatically identifies columns and data types from visual recording
  const columns = [
    { header: 'Sample ID', accessorKey: 'sample_id' },
    { header: 'Concentration', accessorKey: 'conc_val' },
    { header: 'Timestamp', accessorKey: 'ts_recorded' },
    { 
      header: 'Status', 
      accessorKey: 'status',
      cell: (info: any) => (
        <span className={info.getValue() === 'FAIL' ? 'text-red-600' : 'text-green-600'}>
          {info.getValue()}
        </span>
      )
    },
  ];

  return (
    <div className="overflow-x-auto rounded-md border border-gray-300">
      <table className="min-w-full divide-y divide-gray-200">
        {/* Table Implementation */}
      </table>
    </div>
  );
};

---

The Strategic Importance of Video-to-Code in Regulated Industries#

Video-to-code is the process of extracting semantic UI structures and logical flows from video recordings to generate source code. In the context of delphi workflow reverse engineering, this is a game-changer for compliance.

For a pharmaceutical company, the audit trail is everything. When you rewrite a system manually, the link between the old "validated" process and the new "modernized" process is often a pile of Jira tickets and Word docs. Replay provides a visual link. You have the recording of the legacy workflow and the resulting code side-by-side.

Security and Compliance#

Replay is built for high-stakes environments.

• •SOC2 & HIPAA-Ready: Your data is protected by enterprise-grade security.
• •On-Premise Availability: For labs with strict data residency requirements, Replay can be deployed within your own infrastructure.
• •AI Automation Suite: The AI doesn't just copy; it refactors. It identifies redundant workflows and suggests optimizations, helping reduce the complexity of the final React application.

Explore our approach to legacy to React transitions

---

Reducing the 18-Month Rewrite to 18 Days#

The average enterprise rewrite takes 18 months. In the pharma world, where market windows for new drugs are tight, an 18-month IT project is an eternity. Replay’s visual reverse engineering approach truncates the discovery and design phases.

1. •Discovery (Old Way): 3-6 months of workshops and documentation.
2. •Discovery (Replay Way): 1 week of recording existing workflows.
3. •Development (Old Way): 12 months of manual coding and bug fixing.
4. •Development (Replay Way): 2 weeks of refining generated components and integrating APIs.

By automating the "front-end" of the modernization process—the UI and the workflow logic—developers can focus on the "back-end" integration, such as connecting the new React front-end to modern GraphQL or REST APIs that interface with lab hardware.

ROI of Visual Reverse Engineering#

If a manual screen rewrite costs $5,000 (based on 40 hours at $125/hr), and Replay reduces that to $500 (4 hours), the savings for a 100-screen application is $450,000. This doesn't even account for the cost of project failure, which occurs in 70% of traditional rewrites.

---

Best Practices for Delphi Workflow Reverse Engineering#

When embarking on a delphi workflow reverse engineering project, industry experts recommend a phased approach:

1. •Identify High-Value Workflows: Don't try to modernize everything at once. Focus on the core lab processes that are currently bottlenecks.
2. •Standardize the Component Library: Use Replay’s Library feature to create a unified Design System. This ensures that even if you are recording 10 different Delphi apps, the resulting React code looks and feels like a single, cohesive platform.
3. •Validate Iteratively: Use the visual recordings as a "Ground Truth." After generating the React code, compare it back to the recording to ensure 99.9% accuracy.
4. •Leverage AI Automation: Use Replay’s AI suite to clean up legacy naming conventions (e.g., changing
   text

   BtnSubmit_Click_Old_Final
   to
   text

   handleSubmit
   ).

Ready to modernize without rewriting? Visit Replay to see how we transform legacy debt into modern assets.

---

Frequently Asked Questions#

How does Replay handle custom Delphi components that aren't standard?#

Replay's visual reverse engineering doesn't rely on knowing the underlying Delphi source code. It analyzes the visual output and behavioral patterns of the UI. Whether it's a standard

or a custom-drawn 3rd party component, Replay identifies the element's role (input, trigger, display) and maps it to a modern, accessible React component.

Is the generated code maintainable, or is it "black box" code?#

The code generated by Replay is standard, high-quality TypeScript and React. It follows industry best practices, including component modularization and clean prop definitions. It is designed to be owned and maintained by your internal engineering team, not hidden behind a proprietary layer.

How does this process support FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance?#

By capturing the exact workflow of the legacy system, Replay ensures that the modernized version maintains the validated logic required for compliance. Furthermore, the "Flows" and "Blueprints" generated by Replay provide a clear, auditable map of the software's behavior, which is essential for regulatory submissions and internal audits.

Can Replay work with Delphi applications running over Citrix or RDP?#

Yes. Since Replay uses visual capture and AI analysis, it can process workflows recorded from remote desktop environments, legacy servers, or local workstations. This is particularly useful for pharma labs where the actual software might be running on a secured, isolated machine.

What is the typical time savings for a large-scale pharma migration?#

According to Replay's analysis, enterprise clients see an average of 70% time savings. A project that was estimated to take 2 years can often be completed in 6 months, with the initial "Visual Blueprint" of the entire system ready in just a few weeks.

---

Ready to modernize without rewriting from scratch? Book a pilot with Replay and turn your legacy Delphi workflows into a modern React component library today.