Running Notes

There are a million questions, and a million ways to handle release management. I'm mostly curious about development for Lotus and Domino, and if you roll your own or use third party tools.

MTA: Full disclosure, this topic has interested me enough to present a webcast on some options...check out Consultant In Your Pocket for the information.

Posted by Kathy Brown At 10:14 AM Location Portsmouth, NH | Permalink | Comments (4)

I need to improve my defensive programming. This kind (the third bullet from Wikipedia): “Making the software behave in a predictable manner despite unexpected inputs or user actions.”

I use the tools that are available to me. I make fields that should receive numbers into number fields. I make required fields, well, required. I use field validation and translation. I don’t allow pasting or deleting in applications where users shouldn’t be pasting or deleting. I use drop down lists where possible and don’t “Allow Values Not in List” wherever possible. I use Julian Robichaux’s awesome OpenLog for error handling. The list goes on.

I test the applications. I test them myself first. I test them with actual users. I BEG them to try and do what they would normally do. I ask them (dare them) to try and break the application during testing.

And STILL those pesky users find ways to break the application *after* the final release.

I swear the UI could include a blank screen with a giant button in the middle that says “Click Here” and users will still say it doesn’t work because they clicked on the menu, and tried to select “Create” and do five other things besides hitting the giant button. . Maybe it’s my fault. I told this to Bob Balaban and he said the button should say “Click Here TO DO EVERYTHING”. :)

So my goal is to improve the ways in which I can program defensively. Yes, the onus is on me. I have to get better for a couple of reasons. 1) It is actually my job. 2) It makes my life easier (less complaints, less training, less calls).

On the other hand, complaining about users is a lot of fun. ;)

[Comments posted on my prior blog]

michael said...
big smile... thanks for this amusing post...

Posted by Kathy Brown At 3:09 PM Location Portsmouth, NH | Permalink | Comments (0)

Okay, so I’m a middle-bie. Not a newbie, but not an oldbie either. However, I’ve recently become acutely aware of how much I do not know.

There are times when I attend a Lotusphere session, or read someone’s blog and I feel like I could sit and read books, read code, take classes, develop, etc. for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for YEARS and still never feel up to par with these people.

I have good days, too, where I figure out some cool way to accomplish what I needed in LotusScript and I stand up and do a little dance at my desk, but today, I am just feeling overwhelmed. I don’t know Java. I don’t know Javascript. I don’t design websites, I’m not Web2.0-cool. I’ve looked at the 8.5 Designer and freaked out because it just looks so different from what I am used to. I don’t have a computer science degree and sometimes I think that fact can erode whatever confidence I may have had in myself.

I know this feeling will pass. I will take a few hours (days?) to get acclimated to the new Designer. I will someday learn Java and Javascript. I know I have to be patient. But right now, I just want to know it all, and know it all now, and feel comfortable and confident in what I know.

Anyone else ever feel that way? Anyone? (Feel free to lie and say yes to make me feel better).

[Following are the comments from the prior blog:]


Nate said...

I feel that way almost every day. We're all only apprentices at *something*. (For me right now, it's SWT component development.)

A suggestion on preparing yourself for the ultimate leap from Lotusscript to Java: it's MUCH easier if you start writing all your Lotusscript as custom classes. It'll take some getting used to, but it will make all the difference when you start working with Java.

Plus, it usually improves your Lotusscript code quite a bit.

March 4, 2009 10:10 AM


Kevin Pettitt said...

Kathy, chill . No CS degree here either. My first exposure to Notes was as a temp. No Java, minimal javascript. Why not? Two reasons: 1) I've always been able to find work solving problems using the "traditional" Notes languages, and 2) Prior to 8.5, learning these skills in the Domino context was a major PITA, and given #1 didn't seem worthwhile.

Why am I not too worried? One key reason is that the new DDE has a proper set of Java and Javascript editors that earlier versions lacked. Another reason is that the Javascript environment supports the use of @Functions *inside* the javascript code.

Like many people, I learn mostly from tearing apart existing applications to see how they were put together. With all the new Xpage and composite sample applications coming out, there will soon be plenty to learn from. As problems come up that can be solved using some of these new capabilities, I expect my learning to accelerate and I'll be paying much closer attention to those members of our community who have been pioneering the new stuff.

Just remember that folks like us who started on the "business side" have an advantage in that regard over folks that were programmers from the get go. Take heart in the fact that once you've gotten the hang of coding in general, picking up a new programming language is easy relative to developing a sense of how business works.

Feel better?
March 4, 2009 10:44 AM


Lotus Evangelist said...

Speaking for a non-developer who posted a few weeks back about my foray into development land, for a weekend,I can safely say you have the right idea.
One can't learn it all, but if you know what you want to learn that is half the battle.
There is no shortage of ways to learn, just time usually.
I know there is more out there for me to learn on the admin side and I spend the time I need to when I can.
As to being comfortable, do what you can, then google it or research it and if still stuck ping one of the happy coders on bleedyellow's ST server or post it to Twitter.
Someone always has an answer.
March 4, 2009 11:08 AM


Anonymous said...

Hello,

Acquiring a new skill takes time and repetition (practice). There are no lasting short cuts.

Java took me a while to 'learn'. Of any IT certification I'm most proud of the Java one, it was the hardest. It's got a few big concepts so you have to eat the elephant bit by bit don't try to do too much at a time. I'd recommend working toward the certification it will add structure to your studies and add to your CV. Once you have it under your belt use it regularly. Lotuscript is so deeply ingrained I can't forget it but I can forget Java so easily.

The lovely thing about this community is the many giants shoulders for you to stand on. Matt White, Julian Robichaux, Scott Good, Henry NewBerry, Bill, Steve "domi-no yes maybe". Go, abuse their good nature.

My current project is to learn Objective C and do some useful iPod Touch/iPhone Development. It's a bit like Java but no so. Another client to learn too (xCode). I'm getting by with chocolate and decaff coffee.

This is all supposed to be fun isn't it and if it's fun it's easier to learn. I hope it all becomes fun again soon.

Jason Hook

March 4, 2009 11:25 AM


Kathy said...

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Jason - it is still fun. That is part of the problem, I really love what I do, so I want to be really good at it! :)

I am the lone developer where I work, so it's nice to reach out and hear from others. Especially from people whose sessions I've attended!

Thanks again, it really does help!

March 4, 2009 11:33 AM


Steven Kennett said...

I don't know anywhere near as much as I would like, part of the reason I think that is because I spend time reading the blogs of the experts who do seem to know it all.
BUT, the difference is these guys have been owrking with Notes since R1 or R2 and have many years of experience. I bet you'll also find that they spend many an hour in their own time playing with this and that.
I don't do that I have 3 young children to look after, so one has to accept that to become that good will take time and experience.

March 4, 2009 2:07 PM

Anonymous said...

Hi, Kathy my name is Kenio i'm from Brazil.I have 10 years of experience with Domino and a lot of certifications, but...every change comes with feelings like yours.
Keep learning
March 4, 2009 6:43 PM

Mr Ports said...

Hi Kathy,

I have been working for Lotus for the last 14 or so years (if you do the maths that is just days after we were aquired by IBM). Support, Competitive, Advocate, Tech Sales - the sort of stuff. The day I don't feel overwhelmed is the day that I leave. I love that new technologies and paradims arrive all the time. That every time I think I can relax in my comfort zone a curve ball comes out of development. And reading the tone of your post - I think you might really like that too

Good Work Fella Ports

http://www.mrports.com/

March 4, 2009 7:08 PM


Rich said...

I have been working with notes for nearly five years and it can be a bit overwhelming at times. I think notes only started to click with me after two years and then it wasn't so bad. I still consider myself to be a notes newbie! There are a lot of incredibly good developers out there who are happy to share their knowledge.

March 4, 2009 7:58 PM


Kathy said...

WOW! Thanks everyone! The Lotus community is the best! :)

March 4, 2009 8:52 PM


Lady Sterling said...

Girl, I thought I wrote this post! I feel the same way both overwhelmed but also like I am eating the elephant bite by bite. I have been doing development since V3 but am still a "middle-bie" - I've just never needed to do the sleek up to the minute cool development, although I would love to. You are on the right track and so am I. Fortunately, we are in an awesome community that is worth its weight in gold. March 9, 2009 11:47 AM

Posted by Kathy Brown At 8:38 PM Location Portsmouth, NH | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Kathy Brown At 4:57 PM Location Portsmouth, NH | Permalink | Comments (0)