lotusphere 2010: an oral history of ibm lotus notes first 20 years
DESCRIPTION
From Lotusphere 2010, an informal presentation that looks at the first 20 years of Lotus Notes since its release in 1989. Individual memories, anecdotes, and key milestones covered.TRANSCRIPT
INV107 An Oral History of IBM Lotus Notes: The First Twenty YearsEd Brill | Director, Product Management
Scott Souder | Sr. Product Manager, Product Management
Financial DisclaimerThe information on the new product is intended to outline our general product direction and it should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. The information on the new product is for informational purposes only and may not be incorporated into any contract. The information on the new product is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for our products remains at our sole discretion.
A little passion...
A handful of inspired visionaries...
Some really skilled nerds...
Some crazy sales people...
A cool basement-building...
Some sushi and really BIG burritos...
A little luck...
A whole lot of faith...
20 years...the rest in history!
From the edge...
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Lotus Notes® 1.0 – 1989
● Ray Ozzie Tim Halvorsen,Len Kawell
● Later...Steve Beckhardtand Alan Eldridge
Desce
ndan
t of
PLATO N
OTES
Develo
pmen
t beg
an
1984
, “Iri
s Ass
ociat
es”
“Iris
Office
Notes
,”
Octobe
r 11,
198
6:
”Not
e fo
rwar
ding
works
!”
FCS: Dec
embe
r 7,1
989
Floppie
s, zip
ped:
2M
b
5
6
Notes 2.0 – 1991
Tradition of working on next release before shipping current development effort began (e.g., V2 efforts started in 1989, V3 discussions started in 1991, etc.)
Design
ed fo
r sca
labilit
y
for l
arge
custo
mer
s
Intro
ducti
on o
f APIs
Focus
on
Esther
Dys
on's
PC For
ums:
Mar
ch, 1
991,
Bill
Gates
refe
rred
to “I
ris N
otes
”
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Notes V3 – May, 1993
● Mac client● Threading● Document hierarchy
● Windows server● Full-text search
½ million users
First “mainstream”Notes release
Added:
Suitable for 200 simultaneous server-based users
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1993/1994 – Notes marketplace matures
● Lotus shipped additional templates to create vision▬ CSERV customer service application▬ The “Nifty Fifty”
● Partner community expanding rapidly▬ Custom applications, extensions
● Acquisition of cc:Mail® – concept of customer-controlled migration was introduced
▬ “Lotus Communications Server,” aka Notes R4, announced September, 1993
● Opening of the Internet to commercial interests introduced pending intersection...or collision
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1995 – IBM Acquisition
● Lotus stock had performed in a less than stellar fashion
● AT&T® Network Notes introduced to huge fanfare, but quickly devalued due to the Internet
● Microsoft® Office™ and Windows™ 95 introduced into the market
● IBM acquires Lotus for US$3.5 billion inJuly, 1995
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IBM® Lotus Notes® R4.0January, 1996 ● Evolution into client/server messaging
product▬ New UI, new messaging capabilities
● First “Professional Programmer” release
▬ Lotuscript introduced, new APIs, net tools
● Pressure to evolve more quickly▬ “Internet time”▬ Introduction of major features in point releases▬ Introduction of “QMR” process
The first re-invention of Notes
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Notes
R4.5/
4.6
– 19
96
● First feature release since 1.1 withina major release
● Introduction of Calendaring & Scheduling
● Separate download for “Domino,” a web application server add-on – shipped as “4.6”
● Added support for emerging Internet standards: POP, IMAP, LDAP, NNTP, HTTP
● Added support for new platforms
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● Microsoft® Exchange™ 1.0 4.0 shipped in April, 1996
▬ The “seat wars” were on...▬ Notes price drop from US$270/user to ~US$70
● Netscape® announced groupware servers/clients in October, 1996
▬ “IBM will no longer be recommending Netscape products to it customers,” said John Patrick ,IBM vice president of Internet technology
● 20 million seats, but...▬ Longer release cycles▬ “Notes is dead” – Internet seen as replacement▬ “Decline and Fall of Lotus” written in Forbes magazine▬ Realization that IBM integration should have begun sooner
1996 to 1998 – Explosive growth, explosive market
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Notes R5 – March, 1999
First major renovation of the
Notes user interface
Introduction of separate Domino Administrator tool
Introduction of Java, Javascript, CORBA/IIOP,
native SMTP/MIME
Features released in interim MRs included:
● 5.0.2 – Linux server● 5.0.5 – “Bluejay,” iNotes Access for Microsoft® Outlook™,
OLE/DB connector, DNFS● 5.0.8 – iNotes Web Access
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IBM Lotus Notes 6 / Domino® 6October, 2002
Substantialuser interface improvements
The beginnings of integrating withthe rest of theIBM Software portfolio
Focus on mobility – IBM Lotus Domino Everyplace®, IBM Lotus EasySync® Pro, etc.
Improved system administration:
● Policy-based administration● Server/performance
monitorThe last BIG release – Future releases faster, more focused
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● Integration of IBM Lotus Sametime® instant messaging into Notes client at no additional charge
▬ Awareness, presence capabilities
● A dozen “best of breed” end-user features
● Mozilla browser support, first foray into supported Linux® clients
● More integration across IBM Software portfolio
● 6.5.1 – an aligned server release▬ QuickPlace, Sametime, DomDoc® 6.5.1 all released within 90 days▬ All supported on current, concurrent server level for the first time
Notes 6.5 / Domino 6.5 – September, 2003
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● Major update of Domino server architecture▬ Massive scalability and performance enhancements▬ Improvements to system administration and autonomic system management – Activity
trends, Domino Domain Monitor, policy-based administration, SmartUpgrade▬ Introduction of Domino Web Services▬ Limited introduction of IBM DB2® as alternative data store
● Major update to Domino Web Access
● New incremental client features▬ Autosave, multi-threaded views, better window state management
● 7.0.2 “Innovation Pack” – blog template, sever RSS feeds, “Notes on a USB stick”
Notes 7 / Domino 7 – August, 2005
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● First announced in Hannover, Germany – June, 2005▬ Built on IBM Lotus Expeditor®, IBM's universal managed client software, which in turn, is built
on the Eclipse framework▬ Wiring of Eclipse plug-ins with Notes applications – “Composite” applications – now possible▬ Notes is now a Java-based platform!
Notes 8 / Domino 8 – August, 2007
● Sidebar to display context-sensitive information (Sametime contacts, day-at-a-glance, RSS/ATOM feeds)
● Additional features▬ Support for “activity-centric” computing, “productivity editors” based on ODF, mail
recall, “conversation mode” for e-mail threads, “Open” button for fast access to applications
● Server improvements in performance, administration and serviceability including support for RedHat® Linux 5
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Notes 8.5 / Domino 8.5January, 2009
Xpages for Notes client AND browser
Notes Traveler 8.5.1 supports the Apple® iPhone®
DAOS refinements
DCT Eclipse-based Domino Designer®
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““Laura Moyet”Laura Moyet”
““ODS 14”ODS 14”
““1989”1989”
““A-O-D”A-O-D”
“Proven in Production” Release-to-release compatibility = Longer-lasting applications
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Ed,
From my buying Notes to replace PROFS in 91-92 to make the Vermont DMV collaborate, to solving the Purchase & Use Tax refund crisis, to making sure Colin Powell fnished his speech on time at the 99 convention, to helping the Navies of the world fght pirates last year, Notes/Domino has worked.
If the organization I m working in has Notes, most of the battle has been teaching them how to use it and how powerful it is.
Rob Novak and I are hoping to solve even more of the government s information sharing problems before we re done..
Talk to you soon,
Mike GrifesFormer DoD Senior Executive ServiceUS Navy Captain, Retired
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ca. January, 1997
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History of Lotus Notes – Videos used during Lotusphere presentation