Lotus Notes - Will it last?
Discussion
Customer of mine is looking to write a new application in Lotus Notes/Domino. We need to steer them reliably, so would appreciate comments from the PH C&S crowd.
Gut feeling is that this technology is not pervasive enough to survive greater than a couple more years.
Is Lotus Notes/Domino akin to OS/2, IBM's other hard-pushed, yet little used technology?
Comments & thoughts most welcome.
Gut feeling is that this technology is not pervasive enough to survive greater than a couple more years.
Is Lotus Notes/Domino akin to OS/2, IBM's other hard-pushed, yet little used technology?
Comments & thoughts most welcome.
Its got a huge customer base worldwide and is still being actively developed by IBM.
The upcoming Notes R7.0 is going to be powered by a relational database back end so will be scalable and have the trademark workflow features.
Its never going to be the same level as a fully architected built for purpose application but for what it does its pretty damned good.
Greg 'alive alive oh' E240 is your man...
The upcoming Notes R7.0 is going to be powered by a relational database back end so will be scalable and have the trademark workflow features.
Its never going to be the same level as a fully architected built for purpose application but for what it does its pretty damned good.
Greg 'alive alive oh' E240 is your man...
plotloss said:
I still don't like it though!
Nor me, but it is a succesful product with a massive base...
Indeed. I hate it but it's been a dying technology for the past ten years and I don't see it kicking it's back leg yet. It'll be around for ages as there is a need Notes type application, I just wish it was written by people who understand how to make useable software.
I use Notes (Little Choice) but to be honest I like it. If you are only going to use the email facility then clearly Microsoft has the upper hand, but all the ascocited bits that come with it make it a great all in one application in my eyes.
I'm not technical enough to sing the merits on a technology basis, but as an end user interacting with database and mail items all day long I think it is ideal.
I'm not technical enough to sing the merits on a technology basis, but as an end user interacting with database and mail items all day long I think it is ideal.
OK, my opinion is as follows:
1) If you already have an existing Domino infrastructure upon which you depend for groupware as well as e-mail function, I'm not sure tere are too many compelling reasons to go elsewhere.
2) If you are looking to replace an outdated mail infrastructure with something else, there is little to argue against Exchange. For what it does, it represents great value for money. The later versions that fully integrate into AD provide seamless admin function, not that its difficult in earlier flavours.
3) Exchange is becoming more focused on collaborative technology than it ever was (current E2K03 integration with MS Orifice 2003 for instance), but I still think Domino has the upper hand here. AT THE MOMENT. That said, MS provides Messenger integration out of the box, Domino uses its own product (which used to be called Sametime, now called WorkPlace Messaging I think)
4) Plotloss is right - Domino 7 will offer the option of storing Domino databases using DB/2, allowing further flexibility on storage options - it means you can now store your Notes data on enterprise class storage as opposed to using NSF format on OS/400, AIX etc. Bear in mind Exchange is stuck on good 'ole NTFS.
So in summary....there are still a number of big hitters that are using Notes. If code has been written to provide business critical apps, I see little to compel them to move elsewhere. However, Exchange moves onwards and upwards and you never know, one day it may fully integrate with existing MS products to provide a full collaborative solution. Its as near as damn well there already....
Greg
1) If you already have an existing Domino infrastructure upon which you depend for groupware as well as e-mail function, I'm not sure tere are too many compelling reasons to go elsewhere.
2) If you are looking to replace an outdated mail infrastructure with something else, there is little to argue against Exchange. For what it does, it represents great value for money. The later versions that fully integrate into AD provide seamless admin function, not that its difficult in earlier flavours.
3) Exchange is becoming more focused on collaborative technology than it ever was (current E2K03 integration with MS Orifice 2003 for instance), but I still think Domino has the upper hand here. AT THE MOMENT. That said, MS provides Messenger integration out of the box, Domino uses its own product (which used to be called Sametime, now called WorkPlace Messaging I think)
4) Plotloss is right - Domino 7 will offer the option of storing Domino databases using DB/2, allowing further flexibility on storage options - it means you can now store your Notes data on enterprise class storage as opposed to using NSF format on OS/400, AIX etc. Bear in mind Exchange is stuck on good 'ole NTFS.
So in summary....there are still a number of big hitters that are using Notes. If code has been written to provide business critical apps, I see little to compel them to move elsewhere. However, Exchange moves onwards and upwards and you never know, one day it may fully integrate with existing MS products to provide a full collaborative solution. Its as near as damn well there already....
Greg
Thanks Greg, Matt & all.
Interesting stuff. The customer is looking at doing a completely NEW custom-build application in Notes, as they already have other Notes applications and have some skilled Notes staff.
My concern is that this might become an issue for them in the future, if the staff leave or they need to upgrade (sounds like v7 will have a different architecture if it's going to sit on an RDBMS).
With MS as omnipotent as it is, I can't get away from feeling that this is OS/2 all over again. Some big companies got burnt by not switching to Windows early enough.
This decision provides the customer with an opportune moment to move to a more predominant architecture. At the end of the day it's their decision, but we need to lever their eyes wide open first...
Interesting stuff. The customer is looking at doing a completely NEW custom-build application in Notes, as they already have other Notes applications and have some skilled Notes staff.
My concern is that this might become an issue for them in the future, if the staff leave or they need to upgrade (sounds like v7 will have a different architecture if it's going to sit on an RDBMS).
With MS as omnipotent as it is, I can't get away from feeling that this is OS/2 all over again. Some big companies got burnt by not switching to Windows early enough.
This decision provides the customer with an opportune moment to move to a more predominant architecture. At the end of the day it's their decision, but we need to lever their eyes wide open first...
In any other technology I would be inclinded to agree but Notes does have a flourishing community and there is no classic MS bridge off Notes into Exchange (as Greg says though it can only be a matter of time).
I'd say that Notes developers and admins have a safe skill set for some time yet...
I'd say that Notes developers and admins have a safe skill set for some time yet...
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