25 August 2008
Who´s using Ext.nd?
Rich and I are about to release the next beta of Ext.nd which includes support for categorized views and several bug fixes (see the demo app on OpenNTF to see the categorized views in action). I know we have been a bit slow in releasing this release and for the most part, it was ready to be released in June. We have each been extremely busy this summer with work and family issues. We hope you understand and forgive us. But now, the wait is almost over. We'll be releasing the next beta very soon (planned for this week).
But I'm curious, how many of you are using Ext.nd and find it useful for your Domino Web development? What kind of enhancements would you like to see? Rich and I have already started the next beta with some new features that I think are simply amazing but tell us, what would you like to see us do? Would you like more work done on the JavaScript API to access the Domino objects? Or do you want us to give you more control of building your own custom UIs instead of using the locked in UI of the DominoUI class? Or would more example apps help?
So, let us know if you're using Ext.nd and what you like/dislike and want to see added to the framework. If you're not using Ext.nd let us know that as well so that everyone who stumbles to this blog post can hear of the other options available to Domino Web developers. We know that IBM has worked hard on including support for dojo in 8.x and then there is dojomino that Lance has headed up. Is there any other Domino focused frameworks in the works?
I've just started using it on an internal demo application here at work to see what it is all about. More control over the UI would be a nice thing. For example, I would love to be able to add a 'north' region to your standard UI so that I can easily include a menu or a banner...pretty much like you did in the demo app
Poking around in the demo, I also see you include support for various fields types. That is very cool as well.
And as a newbie, some examples are always nice of course; but for now the biggest thing would be more UI options.
Thanks,
Alan
OK, so in your demo app you don't exactly have a 'north' region in your layout, but it would still be a nice thing to manipulate the UI a bit more.
Thanks,
Alan
I use it allot lately, it has become my main platform to deliver applications, through a portal(EXT web desktop) that i created.
Using ajax with Domino agents was a little tricky at first, but now i seem to have that mastered. Allot better than @dblookup and refreshing the form.
Some things i would like to see is more examples of application ui's. My apps are kind of boring, column on the left side and tabs on the right.
Also alternating column colors,
and on the type ahead being able to show a single cat based on another field,
and a css tag to change the color of column totals.
I put most of my feature request in the extnd forum, thanks for all the work you do, i still think you are way ahead of what IBM is delivering and they should hire you guys to do this full time.
@Alan: well, we have good news for you then since more example apps and more UI capabilities is what we are currently focusing on.
@Mark: Ahh yes, I remember some of those feature requests. When you say "alternating column colors" did you really mean "alternating row colors"?
Dear Jack,
Thanks for the great job !
We have been using Ext.ND since Alpha 2 to develop intranet applications. It was big challenge to migrate from Alpha 2 to Beta 1 due to Ext 1.1->Ext 2.0 migration inside of Ext.ND. Configuration of applications to use Ext.ND Beta 1 became more clear and faster.
Anyway, using Ext.ND it is possible to provide almost the same level of usability as using Notes client and a user doesn't feel the difference. Also Notes web applications with Ext.ND look modern, so that help us to involve new users that was against Notes before.
We have big expectations for next Beta. Support of categorized views is big improvement. However it would be great to have some view enhancements:
- rendering views using UI metadata from view columns (fonts, colors, etc.)
- export to Excel
- more control via CSS.
Actually, Ext.ND is web platform for Notes applications and there is no replacement for it at least for Domino 6.X, 7.X, 8.0.
Please go ahead with delivering cool web platform !
@4, yes, row columns, my bad
@6 rows stupid! Just rows, not columns,
Color Alternating Rows!!
Though come to think of it coloring a column would be cool to, makes ome numbers stand out next to other numbers, Hmmm
due to Dojo support of IBM and pricing license of Ext this framework has no future in my organisation...
@Sergey: I agree, using the meta data from views (fonts, colors, etc.) is what we want to ultimately do so it's planned
@Mark: no problem. We do have plans for alternating row colors and I like the idea as well of setting the color of columns. I'll see what we can do.
@Patrick: No problem. I love the fact that IBM is really working hard to make sure that developers can plug in ANY framework. Their support for Dojo at the moment is still pretty minimal so if you want to start using Dojo now I would suggest looking into what Lance Spellman is doing with dojomino { Link } Good luck!
Speeking of views, vertical grid lines in views?
I like extending bits of your code for my applications. Does that count? :P
Seriously, though, you make great stuff, even if I started on my own framework a long time ago and have pretty much ran with that. I'd even love to donate some of my code if I knew what kinds of things you needed to complete up Ext.nd -- I've got piles and piles of it.
Dear Jack,
Thanks for the great job !
I am using the Ext.ND，I found it is diffcult to develop form ,especial field elements.I am looking forward good demo about these thing.