Beyond The Yellow Bubble

 I my last blog I outlined my excitement at finally getting a Notes/Designer client that provided reasonable performance and was also stable.  I have been so impressed that over the course of the past week I have upgraded all my four workstations to Notes 8.5.1 and upgraded my development server to Domino 8.5.1.  So I am now operating in a 8.5.1 ONLY environment, both at home and with my clients.  I continue to be impressed with the performance and stability of both the Notes and Designer clients.  Every other Notes developer I have spoken in the past week also seems to be raving about this release.  It is interesting, the discussion has been more about the improved performance than the exciting new features this release brings.  This is especially true of anyone that had been using Domino Designer 8.5.0.  For many it has been a struggle since 8.0.0 was released.  Lots of cool new stuff but these releases have been dogged with performance and stability issues.  Even 8.5.0 was falling short of expectations in several migration projects I have participated in.  I cannot yet be certain if 8.5.1 will meet the needs of the most concerning Notes user but I am pretty sure its the single best option for most Notes developers.  This version of Notes truly is the real deal....
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IMHO if you are a Notes developer and you are wanting to take advantage of any of the new features added to Notes since Notes 7.0 then, if your company will allow you, I would not hesitate to move to 8.5.1 at the earliest opportunity.  You will be rewarded with improved productivity that comes with a faster Designer client.  Your stress levels will be reduced with a stable Designer client.  Sorry it still won't debug your code for you!!!  Your productivity may also be improved significantly by the new LotusScript and Java editors.  And you will also get the chance to exploit the many new features IBM have recently added to Notes.  With Xpages, even a mug Web developer like me can turn out half-decent Web applications.  I have always said Lotus Notes made me look good as a developer.  I am sure this version of Notes/Domino Designer will help you look even better than you already do.  And in a tough global economy that never hurts!
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The world of Notes Development is changing and this release is a significant turning point where we are finally seeing IBM walk the talk.

 Oh what a difference 24 hours can make.  Yesterday, like many of you, I downloaded and installed the 8.5.1 Gold code.  I am not sure what the issue was with Passport Advantage entitlements!  The unistall (8.5.1 beta) took 45 minutes and the install a mere 20 minutes.  Notes must still be the slowest software product of all time to install!
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Having been a beta particpant I knew all the soft spots I had found during the beta program and so I wanted to verify these had all been addressed because they had been driving me nuts.  Ever since moving to 8.5.0 I have had no end of problems the moment I start DDE.  And I was finding 8.5.1 Gold was no different:-

1. A soon as Designer started to load I would get screen flickers for no apparent reason on one or both clients (I have 3 monitors)
2. At times the Notes and Designer client would go blank for 2-3 seconds
3. If I launched Designer (eclipse) help it would jump behind the Designer window and refuse to come out unless I moved it to another monitor
4. When I ran LS code via the LS debugger the Debugger window would also disappear behind the designer window.  I could switch to the window but then it jumped behind again when I stepped over the next line of code.
5. The LS debugger was taking 5-10 seconds to execute every line of code making a debug session take forever.
6. After a while (20mins to 1hr) I would get eclipse pop up windows appearing in an endless cycle causing both clients to lock up and I would have to restart my computer.
7. A few minutes after loading Quicken my Notes/Designer windows starting to flash endlessly until I closed Quicken.

The bottom line was I was devastated.  I decided to do another install the next day (today) before I vented and potentially rained on Ed's parade.  I was puzzled that everyone else seemed to be having pleasant experiences with their new toy so maybe it was just me....
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The second install on a laptop with Vista was a completely different story.  It was not lightening fast (what ever is with Vista) - but it was much better.  So I went back to my original workstation and tried to identify something in my environment that might be leading to some of these problems.  Sure enough it turned out that by disabling my NVIDIA graphic card's nView Desktop Manager I was suddenly unable to reproduce ANY of the above problems.  One small change to my configuration was the difference between 8.5.1 being a complete disaster and what I am now seeing.  What I am now seeing is all the great new features covered so well by so many people this past week, but I am now seeing it in a pretty snappy and stable environment.   I cannot describe how thrilled I am to finally have a version of 8.X that is not dogged by both performance and stability issues.  OK, so DDE is still not as fast as Notes 6.0 Designer but then I didn't have a powerful LotusScript Editor that more than compensates my time.  8.5.1 Designer is free and this latest release represents the future of Lotus Notes development .  So if you are still sitting on the fence I suggest now may be the time to get your hands dirty. The is not just the best thing since sliced bread, it is actually better than sliced bread.... 
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Oh, and if you are finding issues check out your software configuration as a few small tweaks may make a world of difference.

Somewhere across the expanses of the yellowverse there must be a time zone where it is getting close to being October 12 .  8.5.1 is sitting on its launch pad ready for its date with destiny to arrive.  And if all is ready and the 8.5.1 pilots are half as keen as I am they will surely push the necessary buttons that will allow us all to gain access to its cargo as soon as possible thereafter.  I was invited to be a test pilot on earlier missions.  In fact I must say had more joy flying some of the earlier versions than the last beta that I am now using.  Unfortunately the last code drop delivered doesn't seem to work well in my environment.  It can sometimes be hard to reach for the stars when your spaceship keeps falling out of the sky on a regular basis.  Previous versions seemed faster and more reliable than the 8.5.0 Gold code I am running elsewhere.  So when all the debug code is removed, those last few bolts tightened  and any cracked heat shield tiles are replaced I am sure we are going to have the single best release since 8.0.0.  And the great news is that we can all pilot this new spaceship thanks to the announcement earlier this week that Domino Designer will be available for free download.  So even if you are working at a shop using Notes R5 you can download 8.5.1 and start showing everyone what they are missing out on.  I am sure when the yellow faithful gather near Cape Canaveral next January there will be lots of success stories with 8.5.1 to share.  The era of Notes Sucks is now well behind us and Lotus Knows we are entering an era in which Notes Rules. 
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Note: When the signal is given that we a go for launch, don't bother me I have something IMPORTANT I will be doing!

Based upon the chatter across the airwaves in the past 48 hours I can only conclude that IBM have rolled out Notes 8.5.1 onto its launch pad ready for a launch later this week.  So look out yellowverse, here its comes.... After a delay last week due to some last minute technical hitches it is going to be a fitting end to what Ed Brill for some reason is calling "8.5.1 week"!

For me this will be perhaps the most exciting release since Notes 6.0.  Notes 7 was a dud.  Notes 8 was a great release for the Notes client & Notes 8.5.0 was cool for Domino Web development.  Notes 8.5.1 finally delivers some goodies for Notes client development.  The payload on board Notes 8.5.1 includes:-

1. ELSE - The long awaited Eclipse LotusScript Editor.
2. Improvements to Composite Applications, including NotesView and NotesDocument containers.
3. The ability to display Xpages within the Notes client.
4. Improvements to the speed and stability of DDE (at least I hope so).
5. A number of Fixes to the DXL Import/Export process.
6. And more general bug fixes than you can poke a stick at....
   

Houston... We are go for launch.

Well it looks like Steve McDonagh has let the cat out of the bag.  Being on the beta program I can probably help fill in some of the gaps left in Steve's report...

Disclaimer: IBM Lotus Notes/Domino and Lotus Notes Traveler 8.5.1 is prerelease code and there are no guarantees from IBM that the functionality presented or discussed will be in the final shipping product.  (Steve you forgot this!!!!)
"Domino 8.5.1 is very radio-active. It will probably be on CNN and as part of LotusKnows it will contain a dilithium crystals which not only vibrates at 1200Hz and can be used to irradiate kettles.  It can also be used for thermo-nuclear war and bringing world peace (such is its flexibility) but that is really only useful if you are able to walk on water with a penchent for doing healing to leapers (aka Exchange users)

The new LotusScript Editor with added support for a vastly expanded LotusScript syntax is really very useful and has been well received by all testers.  DXL now works as expected but can cause database corruptions (still) which may lead to emotional outbursts and tears before bed. A series of Lotus videos will describe how to reincarnate Domino.Doc in glorious detail and technicolor dreams but looks remarkably like Lotus Quickr with a weasel in up his Eclipse kilt an effect that detracts from the overall production.

Changes to the Basic Client have removed all performance advantages from the client which is a great relief to anyone who has EclipseClientUpgradeitis and uses curly side-bar plug-ins on a regular basis.

My contact was also keen to pass on the fact that xpages now come with usable on-line help which now allow you to actually find things and even learn at the same time! MaryBeth does warn that this can lead to understanding and XPage mastery and if left in place may cause your user's eyes to water. I for one look forward to this!

Performance issues have also been addressed with a vastly improved hyperdrive and new random error generator leading to the status quo being preserved but this is sort of like dancing with a Java programmer warts and all !!

I for one am moist with and my fellow yellowbleeders are tingling with excitement"

As the release date for 8.5.1 gets closer more and more information about 8.5.1 is coming into the public domain.  Over the past few months I have been keeping an updated blog entry with links to the various public announcements that have been made so far about what is in 8.5.1, 8.5.2, and 9.0.  It is being updated daily as new information appears.

I haven't gotten to play with Xpages much these past few days so I will continue with my commentary about DDE

The Good - Problems - No Problems! - So if you have been reading my previous articles you will have see me mention several times the large number of panels that now open up inside DDE.  This is both a good and bad thing!  One of those new panels is the Problems panel that appears down near the bottom of the screen.  This provides something I wave long wanted, a place where all the coding issues with my application are listed.  And not just errors with the current design element, not even just the errors with the current application, but it seems that it will report errors and warning for all the applications that "Active".  Don't wask me to define active I havent figured that out yet.  But I did have the pleasure of seeing all my bugs from multiple applications consolidated and displayed in a single list.  I  wont embarass myself and say how many! 

Prior to DDE it was an absolute pain to search through an application and find coding issues.  For LS it seemed the only effective way to to compile all the LS elements.  Only the list that then displayed all your errors would disappear after you opened the first one.  With CIAO you had better remember to check everything out before recompiling^%$#!     And then there were all the subforms and shared actions that not even this would find.  Missing views, forms, agents etc.  well good luck, that's what we havve a QA team for right? (if your lucky) .   In 8.5.0 the problems panel does not seem to be wired into all the design elements but the intent is clearly there so don't be surprised if you see it becoming a bigger and bigger part of your developing life soon.  With 8.5.0 it is very useful with when your in Xpages kindergarten...

The Bad - I Hate Moving House - I really do and I am am moving house in three weeks too (yuk)...  DDE is a little like going away on a long business trip only to return home and find your wife has rearranged all the furtniture  and changed your sock draw!  In 8.0 Databases became Applications and the LotusScript Debugger got moved.  I am still making mistakes with those.  Now I have to get used to having many of my design elements moved to different locations.  Of course IBM have given prime time to its new wonder children Xpages and Custom Controls while creating new categories for other legacy elements.  OK so its only a minor anoyance that we have had before with Notes R5.  I just want IBM to finally be done and stop moving my sock draw.

I have blogged a lot recently about Notes 8.5.1.  I even sent out a request to Santa Clause to place a copy of 8.5.1 under my Christmas Tree.  Shortly after that blog the beta program was announced so I wrote a letter to Santa (aka Ed Brill) and asked for a new bike and a copy of Notes 8.5.1.  Its only June, but I still stuck a stocking over my fire place just in case.  And then last night when I got home I found my stocking had a registration key allowing me to download and install the latest 8.5.1 beta. 

So the good news is I now know a lot more about 8.5.1.  The bad news is that in order to get my new toy I had to sign an NDA so I now can't actually say anything.   I did blog about consolidated stuff from public forums discussing what would be in 8.5.1.  It seems these people all knew what they were talking about!

Tonight I should check to see if the new bike is there too.  I was so excited about 8.5.1 I forgot to look.

The following is an updated list of features considered ikely to be included in future releases of Notes based upon postings across the yellowverse.  Note: This is not an official list, nor is it based upon any inside information (limited beta starting soon!).  It is, at best, an educated guess based upon what others have been saying (or hinting).

Note 8.5.1

1. Release Timetable
1. A managed public beta is now available  new  
2. Code has now reached code freeze   updated 
3. Gold code  is now likely in Late October  updated 
4. There will not be a 8.0.3.  The upgrade from 8.0.2 is to 8.5.1+.
2. Developer Features
1. Xpages for Notes clientXpages for Notes client   updated 
2. Integerate Xpages with Composite Applications  new  
3. New DDE LS Editor
4. New DDE Java editor
5. Application launch options for Notes client will include XPages
6. Opening database in Domino Designer will be 70-80% faster  updated 
7. Working set management in DDE
8. Improvements to DXL
9. Improved access to Java views updated 
10. Improved access to dojo  new 
11. Publish XPage as Widget  new 
3. Client Features
1. ActiveSync support for iPhone
2. Activities renamed to Lotus Connections   new 
3. The client will support roaming profiles
4. New toolbar icons ,including Insert Links
5. Right Click Open In New Window, removed in 8.5.0, will return in 8.5.1
6. The options to display unread mail in red will return as a preference
7. The Rich Text Editor will have autocorrect
8. Improvements to the sidebar   new 
9. Multi-level undo new 
10. Add a Notes view or framewset to the Notes toolbar   new 
11. Improvements to Archive UI   new 
4. Admin Features
1. Policy setting to control synching of contacts   new 
2. Notes User workspace can now roam
3. Windows single sign-on for Web clients using Active Directory
4. Improvements to client install
5. DAOS improvements

Note 8.5.2

1. Release Timetable
1. Daily builds of 8.5.2 have started within IBM.
2.  A release date for 8.5.2 may be announced at UKLUG.  Look for a big showing at LotusSphere 2010 and a release sometime thereafter.
   
2. Development Features
1. Possible - Support for Relational and other datasources in Xpages.
2. No official announcements, but it is speculated that Java UI classes will be added.
3. Not yet confirmed for specific release - New XPage controls for Outline, Menubar, Toolbar Tag cloud, Popup.

Notes 9.0

1. Timetable
1. Will be talked about in more detail at LotusSphere 2010    new 
2. May not be called Notes 9    new 
2. Client Features
1. Improved Search
2. Group Calendar
3. Adding RSS Feeds to Inbox
4. Contacts and Mail Federation   new 
5. Unified Task Management

FYI: The following screenshot has been spotted on a Notes forum shows how the Database Properties in 8.5.1 has been extended to includes the ability to launch an Xpage from the Notes client:-

Ed Brilll has also posted an update of the Lotus Notes and Domino Product family strategy and update presentation which includes details of the improvements to Xpages that are coming:-

1. New out of the box XPages Controls to expand capability
1.  Outline
   
2. Menu bar
3. Tool bar
4. Tag cloud
5. Popup Dialog, using the Dojo library
2. Xpages Data Sources
1.  XML
2. Rest
3. SOAP
4. Relational