Lotusphere 2007: Sametime 7.5 and Notes 8 sidebar compability
After INV107 I talked to Kevin Cavanaugh since I wanted to hear if the the extension point (com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.imhub.miniApps) we currently use for miniApps in Sametime 7.5 will be the same as we should use in Notes 8 sidebar applications.
It turns out that the extension point name will be changed with the Sametime 7.5.1 release. From thereon it will be frozen and the extension point name will be the same for Sametime 7.5.x miniApps and Notes 8 sidebar applications.
A small detail worth noticing...
Lotusphere 2007: Future plans for Notes and Domino
I just attended INV107 (IBM Lotus Notes and Domino: A Look Ahead) by Penny Scharfman and Kevin Cavanaugh to hear a little about the future of Notes and Domino. Apart from hearing about Notes and Domino 8 they also showed a roadmap for Notes and Domino towards version 9 or "Next" as it is currently called.
Public beta of Notes 8 will start at the end of February/start of March. The URL to watch is http://www.lotus.com/beta/nd8. Nothing is there yet but come March there will be.
Some of the stuff Lotus is looking at for Notes and Domino "Next" Lotus is:
- Support for using an external LDAP directory instead of Domino Directory (names.nsf)
- Allowing for the Notes id-file to be an optional extra that is not being required anymore
- Major overhaul of shared templates
Lotusphere 2007: Composite applications - I'm psyched!!
Whats that sound? Wait - its the pieces falling into place for the Notes 8 client and the Lotus strategy! After going to JMP401 yesterday (Introduction to Composite Applications for IBM Lotus Notes and Domino and IBM Websphere Portal) Im psyched! The presenters showed us how to build composite applications in Notes 8, Portal and Expeditor and I must admit that hands down Im impressed. Very impressed!
I dont want to come of sounding too much as a fan-boy but I was very impressed by what I saw. It is as though all the technologies that have been introduced over the last few years (e.g. portlets, DXL, plug-ins for Eclipse) all fit into the greater scheme of things. I found myself numerous times simply smiling and thinking to myself that this is what we, as Notes developers, have been wanting to do for so long. Imagine a composite application in Notes 8, which btw is mostly done using dragndrop, that leverage existing Notes databases (or NSF-components as we are to call them), JSR-168 portlets and custom Eclipse ViewParts for those things that need that extra level of presentational control or which simply doesnt lend itself to be realized using NSF of other types of components.
As a Notes developer you might ask why all this portlet/JSR-168 technology is interesting. I too used to be a sceptic but Im turning on a plate. A JSR-168 portlet will be *the* way to directly leverage your existing investments in EJB or other J2EE technology. Due to the builders that IBM provides in Portal Factory you can now natively link CRM data to Notes data. No more nightly moving data around. All this from the RCP application of choice Notes 8!
As for the session... After some general introduction the presenters dived into the good stuff and in turn showed how to create composite applications in Notes 8, Portal and Expeditor. Although we have to get used to a couple of new words theres so much exiting stuff there that I cant wait to get my hands on the Notes 8 client. It actually seems like all our prayers will be answered and that Notes 8 will become the client of choice for the rich client experience.
During the session I wrote over 4 pages of notes so I have to gather my thoughts a little before I write too much more about the session but expect a write-up of the key points.
Oh JMP401 was my second session on Sunday! Cant wait to hear what IBMs going to announce in the upcoming General Opening Session. Rumours talk of exiting new stuff
Can it get much better than this?