Lotusphere 2007: Composite applications – I’m psyched!!


What’s that sound? Wait – it’s 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) I’m psyched! The presenters showed us how to build composite applications in Notes 8, Portal and Expeditor and I must admit that – hands down – I’m impressed. Very impressed!

I don’t 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 drag’n’drop, 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 doesn’t 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 I’m 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 there’s so much exiting stuff there that I can’t 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! Can’t wait to hear what IBM’s going to announce in the upcoming General Opening Session. Rumours talk of exiting new stuff…

Can it get much better than this?

Lotusphere 2007: The expanded Jumpstart service is great!


It’s really starting to feel like Lotusphere! The hallway was crowded with people. All is looking really enthusiastic and it looks like everyone is happy that the conference has finally started.

Also it’s *really* nice that Lotus has expanded the service to include the Sunday as well. Last year the Sunday didn’t include any service at all. This year breakfast, coffee breaks and lunch is all included. Nice!

It’s the little things…

Ooops… The next session is starting.

Lotusphere 2007: BALD


After going shopping yesterday for new clothes since I still hadn’t received my suitcase I went to the Blogger Annual Lotusphere Dinner at the Brewery on the Boardwalk. I didn’t get to go last year because I got in at 2am on Sunday morning so it was nice being able to go.

For those interested – and to get that out of the way – I did get a new set of very nice clothes. And yes – this was why my outfit was entirely from Oakly! People at the BALD were *very* impressed by that! 😉

Anyways… I sat down next to Tom Duff aka Duffbert as I by chance ended up in the same Mears shuttle from Orlando airport to the Dolphin as he did. I thought it would be a good place to start. At the same table were Julian, jonvon and Warren and Kitty Elsmore. We quickly got to talking so that was nice. Nice beer as well!

We quickly agreed that in a virtual crowd like this it isn’t so much name to face but domain name to face… It’s weird knowing people without recognizing their face. A picture on you blog should be mandatory! For those here at Lotusphere you might want to swing by the session on the IBM blog template by jonvon to see how.

The mingling continued and I got to talk to numerous bloggers there – very nice. Even met Stephan Wissel (wissel.net) who’s here all the way from Singapore. 11 hours difference – wow! He looked surprisingly fresh though.

After a couple of hours I went home to take a shower before going to the ESPN bar at 8pm but I never got there as the jetlag caught up with me. Bummer! Well another lesson learned before next year.

Gotta go get breakfast – more later. The show is about to begin!

P.S.: Did anyone see who scored my two t-shirts?

Lotusphere 2007: More and more Lotusphere 2007 posts on technorati…


What do you do at 5am in your hotel room when you can’t sleep due to jetlag? Well there’s wi-fi so I thought I’d catch up on feed reading and stopped by technorati.com for the latest and greatest on Lotusphere 2007. The number of posts are really picking up… Good thing we all use the same tag!



(click image for updated version on technorati.com)

Lotusphere 2007: I’m in Orlando – how I wish my suitcase was here as well…


I flew in from Copenhagen via Atlanta but my suitcase never made it to the conveyor belts in Atlanta… 🙁 After some quick shopping (t-shirt, shirt and socks) in Orlando airport I’m at an airport hotel before going to the resort tomorrow (Saturday).

If someone knows a shop in Orlando Intl. Airport that carries boxershorts please let me know… Good thing I always pack a share set of clothes in my carry-on.

Lotusphere 2007: I’m packing my bag and getting ready to go…

I wouldn’t think it possible but it seems like Bruce and Julian actually produced enough podcast material during the last week to entertain me all the way across the Atlantic to Orlando. Quite an effort! Combining Taking Notes with a couple of other podcasts where I’m a little behind should keep be enough to keep me inflight-entertainment-center free for the duration of the flight.

P.S.: Leaving in 21 hours…

Lotusphere 2007: Agenda booklet PDF – available?


Last year I found the agenda booklet you get at Lotushere on the web in PDF format. I printed this booklet beforehand and used it to prepare my schedule on the plane on the way to Orlando. I haven’t been able to find the PDF anywhere – does anyone know if it’s available anywhere?

P.S.: I know of Bens session database but with airport security being as it is, I don’t want to risk not being able to plan Lotusphere due to not having access to my laptop in-flight.

P.P.S.: Leaving for Orlando in 35 hours… 😉