'Lotus Notes: what the hell is it?' Lotus Notes at 20, and what tomorrow may bring...

12/07/2009 09:16 AM by Chris Toohey

From 1.0 to 2002:

And today:

Dear Lotus Notes,

I have been working with the Lotus product portfolio since ~1998, have been developing since ~1999, and started working as a full-time developer (not an admin who knows development) since 2001.

I was lucky enough to learn from some of the best and brightest in the business at the start of my career. I was lucky that I had the notes.net forums to lean up while I cut my teeth.

I am lucky to be a part of this community.

I am lucky to be able to give back to those new to the platform and learn from those established subject matter experts. I am lucky that I have a forum that allows me to put my zany ideas out there - get feedback from you guys - and improve myself.

I have become friends with some of the most brilliant people in the world; people that not only take a particular technology and extend its functionality, but people that are able to think so far ahead of where I am today that they make me evolve my own thinking.

I've been superhuman.

I bleed yellow.

And, most important, I look forward to what I'll be tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Lotus Notes, and I look forward to the next 20 years of collaboration, community, and evolution!