One of the true killer features of XPages for any IBM Lotus Notes Domino application developer is the native ability to create a remote data source for any UI control, thus quickly extending or integrating with an existing Lotus Notes or Domino Web accessible NotesDatabase. However I have found that when you define a remote data source for a given xp:viewPanel or another data source-driven control... things really tend to slow down...

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I've been pondering the following question for quite a while, and wondering if anyone else has some insight into what exactly a Best Practice would be:

Should we include Dojo Modules, JavaScript Libraries, Linked Resources, Metadata, Resource Bundles, Stylesheets, and Dojo Module Path Resources via Server or in-NotesDatabase Themes, or simply via layout Custom Controls?

To give you more information before you gut-check respond "Themes!", here's what I'm getting at...

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(This was the first time I've used the Vendor - Commercial disclaimer on one of my posts... Not too sure if it's a perfectly accurate description tho, so mind the intro to the review/giveaway.)

I was one of the technical editors for the latest XPages development book from IBM Press: XPages Extension Library: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Next Generation of XPages Components... so I might be a little biased. As such, I'm not going to "review" this book, as much as I'm going to discuss it -- using my typical review format -- and let you make your own decision. For what it's worth (spoiler alert!), I'd absolutely recommend this book. It's an invaluable resource for any developer using the IBM XPages development platform as of 8.5.3 Update Pack 1, or even previous versions with the OpenNTF.org Extension Library installed. I was paid to act as one of the technical editors on the book, and the majority of the feedback I provided to the authors resulted in updates to the book. Things like "great, but an example of this showing this would really help" or "this example is kinda out of context without the rest of the XPages XML markup showing exactly how they can do it".

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I looked at this book not as someone who has been developing in XPages prior to it's 2008 in-product release, I read the book as someone new to the Extension Library and somewhat familiar with XPages... and someone that would actually have to use these Controls to duplicate functionality for their Lotus Notes Client applications while extending (or in some cases, evolving) those applications to meet their user expectations of what enterprise-level web applications can do.

Hopefully that gives you an idea, at least, into my role in this book. Not all of my suggestions were taken -- as I'm certain not all of my suggestions were good -- but both the authors and the technical editors (of which I was one) did their best to create a product that not only showcased the capabilities of the technology, but also gave you something that you could actually use in your day-to-day application development efforts.

Again, spoiler alert, I think they succeeded. Again, I might be biased. But then I don't think you really care if I am biased, as long as I keep to the previous format... which I think gives you enough insight into the book to know whether it's something you'll want in your own arsenal.

... and with no further ado...

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A while back GBS and TLCC held a live presentation and Q&A for IBM XPages named X Series: Q&A with XPages eXperts. It was me [Chris Toohey], Paul Calhoun, Matt White, and Howard Greenberg all covering some awesome topics that worked for new XPages developers as well as those of us who have been almost exclusively using XPages for the past several years.

Today, that video was published to the official GBSKnows YouTube Channel:

Topics covered:

Presenter	Topic
Paul Calhoun	Configuring DDE for XPage development performance and functionality
Chris Toohey	Custom Controls & Themes
Matt White	A Look at Property Files and Resource Bundles
Howard Greenberg	What's New in 8.5.3 for XPages

I personally had a blast at what I hope is a continued initiative from GBS and TLCC. Take the rest of your Friday and give this 1 hour 30 minute video a view, and post a comment on what topics you'd like to see covered in upcoming sessions.

IBM Press is filling a much-needed gap that has been voiced by many Administrators and Developers working with IBM Collaborative Solutions (IBM Lotus Notes Domino) by publishing multiple books on XPages application development, deployment, and administration. The latest of these publications, XPages Portable Command Guide: A Compact Resource to XPages Application Development and the XSP Language, is designed to cover more of "the things you need to know when running XPage-based applications in production" vs. "here's how to develop an application with XPages".

IBM Press also hit various new media outlets to get the word out about this book, including podcasts, a Meet the Authors YouTube Video, and (of course) blogs.

XPages Portable Command Guide: Meet the Authors

Was all of this hard work to expose the latest IBM Press XPages imprint worth it? Let's find out!

(Click thru for the complete review and your change to win a copy...)