This is exactly what IBM Connections needs

[This is a bit rough, but I wanted to get it out there]

Or does it….

Let’s face it, we all love the app dev capabilities of IBM’s (Lotus) Notes. We are able to design, build and deploy apps of all kinds for enterprise users in organizations. In fact, the users we develop these apps for absolutely love them as they help make the job that they do easier. Tie this together with email, instant messaging and IBM Connections services and you create collaborative “system” that people use to get their work done.

There was a point in time in the history of IBM Notes when line-of-business users (LOB) were able to create “utility” apps. Utility apps apps helped LOB people to better serve  their customers. It was a wonderful environment where staff could be empowered to create, with very little programming knowledge these apps.

Now enter the world of IBM Connections. IBM Connections like IBM Notes is a place where people go to get work done to serve their customers. One currently noticeable difference is the way in which IBM Connections lacks the ability to create utility apps. There is no way to currently do this. There are some great developer toolkits available, however these are focussed at pure-play developers.

Now take a look at this video and see how Microsoft Sharepoint users can create utility apps.

I really want to see IBM Connections develop into the portal-of-portals for people to go to and do their work. Currently, it’s another application “destination” rather than the “primary” Lotus Notes like place to go and do their work.

Would you like to see IBM Connections have some capabilities to have users create “utility” apps? If not for utility apps, full fledged apps – an app dev platform.

Interested in taking your PHP/SQL to the next level?

During the Spring Quarter at Clark College, I will be teaching “PHP with SQL II”. This class is a continuation of “PHP with SQL I” . Several people from the Clark County community have asked me if this course can be taken for those wanting to improve their PHP and MySQL chops. My answer is a resounding – YES! I would love to see you in this class. Now, there are only a few seats left and I would suggest signing up sooner rather than later.

In order to be successful in the class you will need to have a firm grasp on HTML/CSS/PHP and MySQL. Interested? Contact me using the info to the right of this post.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regarding the Future of the IBM Notes Client – Here It Is

 

Niklas Heidloff awarded the Penumbra Prism Award for 2014

Niklas Heidloff
Photo by Paul Hudson

I learned via Facebook and Twitter that Niklas Heidloff was named the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Penumbra Prism Award. Please join me in congratulating one of my dear friends and colleagues – Niklas Heidloff.

Boy Baukema: 4 HTTP Security Headers You Should Always be Using

While growing a solution works very well for discovering what works and what doesn’t, it hardly leads to a consistent and easy to apply programming model. This is especially true for security: where ideally the simplest thing that works is also the most secure, it is far too easy to introduce vulnerabilities like XSSCSRF or Clickjacking.

Because HTTP is an extensible protocol browsers have pioneered some useful headers to prevent or increase the difficulty of exploiting these vulnerabilities. Knowing what they are and when to apply them can help you increase the security of your system.

[Hat tip to Thomas Gumz  for sharing this]

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