IBM Composite Applications in Lotus Notes technical education roadmap

Learn how to acquire the technical skills necessary to administer, develop, and deploy applications for IBM Composite Applications in Lotus Notes. From classroom courses to articles to samples to Internet-based training and resources, if you are ready to learn, the IBM Composite Applications technical education roadmap will show you the way.

5 - domain experts, can teach / mentor

Certification: IBM Certified Instructor program - Lotus Software <-- No Instructor certification available for composite applications

4 - highly skilled, independent successful complex implementations demonstrated

Building NSF Components

• Creating form based and frameset based components as described in Designing composite applications: IBM Lotus Notes components
• Enabling properties and actions through the LotusScript APIs as described in Domino Designer Help (Section: Using LotusScript classes and APIs in composite applications)
• Adapting an existing NSF application into components as described in Designing composite applications: Component design
• Creating custom types with the Property Broker Editor (PBE)

Building Eclipse Components

• Review IBM Education Assistant Lotus Expeditor Version: V6.1.1
• Review L2 – Essential core skills of the Lotus Expeditor technical education roadmap for Desktop (skip sections on devices)
• An understanding of building complex UI with SWT components, integrating Swing and AWT
• An understanding of advanced view manipulation (programmatic visibility, appearance, page switching)
• Adapting existing Eclipse RCP views and perspectives for use as components
• Installing additional features from IBM Lotus Expeditor 6.1.2 onto IBM Lotus Notes 8.0.1

Testing Components

• Use of the Topology peek monitor tool
• Use of the LotusScript debugger and tips to debug NSF components
• Use of the Eclipse/Rational IDE debugger

Application Assembly

• Creating user requirements for the design or alteration of components
• Understand End-to-end provisioning

Composite Application Architecture

• Can consult with a customer on how to best convert an existing application to a composite application
• Can consult with a customer to determine how new work can best designed to take advantage of a component architecture
• Can give industry specific and targeted vertical advice on composite applications
• Ability to apply different layout and application patterns as described in Developing composite applications: Composite application assembly, part 1

3 - can perform independently, might need assistance / mentoring in complex situations

Building NSF Components

• Creating a view based components
• Review using built-in properties and actions
• Use of Domino Designer and Property Broker Editor (PBE) in support of the above
• Create a unit test component as described in Designing composite applications: Unit testing
• Follow the IBM - My First Wire tutorial

Building Eclipse Components

• An understanding of basic Eclipse RCP UI structures (perspectives, views, extension points)
• Migrating Eclipse RCP applications to IBM Lotus Expeditor
• Review Developing an Eclipse component for Lotus Notes 8 (part 1) and Developing an Eclipse component for Lotus Notes 8 (part 2)
• Creating WSDL files with custom types within the Eclipse/Rational IDE
• Enabling properties and actions through the Property Broker APIs. An example: How to publish and consume properties in Eclipse components
• Review Creating collaborative components for IBM Lotus Expeditor Property Broker Article
• Review Creating Cooperative Components with the Lotus® Expeditor Property Broker section in the Information center
• Using Advanced Component Properties in Eclipse Components
• Create a unit test component as described in Designing composite applications: Unit testing
• Extending the Notes client through non-component extension points (menus, toolbars, sidebars, etc) including the following:

- Extending the IBM Lotus Notes V8 sidebar and toolbar
- Integrating IBM Lotus Notes data into the Lotus Notes V8 sidebar and toolbar
- Leveraging user context in the IBM Lotus Notes V8 sidebar and toolbar
Testing Components

• Techniques and tools for debugging Composite Applications

- Advanced use of the Property Broker monitor tool
- Use of the osgi console to observe component interaction
- Creating collaborative components for IBM Lotus Expeditor Property Broker

• Debugging NSF applications
• General hints and tools for debugging Composite Applications
• Isolation of problems within a component

Application Assembly

• Developing composite applications: Composite application assembly, part 1 and part 2
• Follow the IBM - My First Wire tutorial
• Review Composite Application Editor Help and understand the following:

- Modifying the Notes URI of components on the palette or in application
- Creation and distribution of palettes
- Creating a multi-page application
- Cross page wires

• Understand the benefits of the PIM applications mail, calendar, contacts components and Managed Browser
• Domino Designer Help (Section: Composite Applications - Design and Management)
• Defining advanced (static) page and component properties
• Modifying an existing application to work on a different set of component sources or updated versions of Eclipse components
• Introduction to provisioning and updating and How to calculate links to NSF Components at runtime

Composite Application Architecture

• Understand how existing notes solutions can benefit from incorporation or conversion to a component structure
• Understand how existing Eclipse RCP solutions can benefit from incorporation or conversion to a component structure
• Understand how a new project would benefit from adopting a component structure from the start
• Understand the different component patterns as described in Designing composite applications: Design patterns

2 - basic experience with enterprise grade implementations

General Resources

• IBM Composite Applications wiki

Building NSF Components

• Review and follow the Building composite applications for IBM Lotus Notes V8 tutorial to build a simple NSF component
• Review Designing composite applications: Component design
• Review Designing composite applications: IBM Lotus Notes components
• Review Lotus Domino Designer 8 Help (Section: Composite Applications - Design and Management)

Building Eclipse Components

• Follow Expeditor documentation and samples to create simple components
• An understanding of basic Eclipse RCP deployment structures (plugins, features, update sites)
• Review Designing composite applications: Component design
• Review Designing composite applications: Writing an Eclipse component for IBM Lotus Notes

Testing Components

• Simple use of the Property Broker monitor tool to observe properties and actions
• Using a unit test component to create a unit test application as described in Designing composite applications: Unit testing

Application Assembly

• Review and follow the Building composite applications for IBM Lotus Notes V8 tutorial to assemble a simple composite application
• Review Composite Application Editor (CAE)Help
• Understand how to add NSF and Eclipse components to the component palette in CAE

Composite Application Architecture

• Describe the basic advantages and benefits that a composite application development brings
• Understand the basic component types as described in Designing composite applications: Component design
• Understand the benefits of the PIM applications mail, calendar, contacts components
• Review the Lead Manager Sample
• Review Designing composite applications: Design patterns