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0e1f616
(Get the code!)
bvidinli_ehcp:
One of the points of Free Software licenses is to support true evolution of software, by sharing and participation, without restricting the direction taken and forcing them as a whole into arbitrary standards. (Components adhering to certain standards is a different matter, I think this is not what you meant.) If there weren't so many Linuces, you would not be able to enjoy your distribution now in the first place. This is evolution: branches growing branches growing branches. (And branches merging then branching again.) This makes diverse, peer-reviewed, high quality code (and an user-friendly, free-as-in-speech OS of your choice). Also consider that Linux usage is by no means limited to the average PC desk/laptop but far greater and diverse than that.
If you'd like 'one and only', go forth (back) and use YouKnowWhich OS (with Delphi installed).
For the IDE, take a look at Gambas (if you don't mind programming in Basic, although an object oriented dialect of that). It can be seen as a 'smarter' version of Visual Basic.
Kylix would be the closest to Delphi but that project is long dead as far as I know.
CodeBlocks is an IDE for some compiled languages, most notably C/C++. The wxSmith GUI builder is integrated into that.
You can try other separate GUI builders as well, and use your favourite text editor for the rest.
Not using all-in-one environments can be a good thing, because you will grow your own style of development, you get used to writing more flexible code, can have control of every little detail and you don't depend on a bloated Big App and its limitations, etcetc. Stepping back, it can be seen as the OS is your IDE and all the programs you use for developing are the IDE's components. This way you can also prepare for the need of quick and dirty GUI apps.
I suggest you try Python with wxPython. Python is an easy-to-use, powerful, clean, cross-platform language, and most likely comes with your distro. Coupled with wxPython (which is based on the wxWidgets C++ library), you can create nice'n'flexible applications quickly. (Both are very well documented, including tutorials.)
Recommended reading:
www.fsf.org, www.gnu.org. wikipedia.org (also google.com)
regards