Where did LotusScript come from? It looks so much like Visual Basic that I wonder if this was orginally licensed from Microsoft? Is that right, or is this Lotus’ own brew?
Subject: Origin of LotusScript
The History of Notes and Domino
Notes and Domino began in the work of Ray Ozzie, Tim Halvorsen, and Len Kawell, first on PLATO Notes at the University of Illinois and later on DECNotes. Lotus founder Mitch Kapor saw the potential in Ozzie’s collaboration project and the rest is history.
Release 4.0 also offered:
* LotusScript, a programming language built into Lotus Notes
Or maybe Lotus Notes ViP
http://embedded.eecs.berkeley.edu/Alumni/fchan/research/notes.html
Lotus Notes ViP (Visual Programmer) is a visual programming environment specifically designed for Notes developers. It contains a complete set of tools within the programming environment, including a debugger, a script editor, and toolbox containing development objects. Its ability to visually prototype a GUI lends itself to rapid application development.
Notes ViP enhances Notes development functionality in a variety of key areas:
*Query and update of heterogeneous databases.
*Programmability through LotusScript.
*Reporting and charting
*Sophisticated GUI creation
A unique capability of Notes ViP is a rapid application development technology called Visual Linking. Visual Linking allows a developer to create applications by “sketching” or “drawing” the relationships between parts of the application. Each Visual Link encapsulates behaviors and events that speed the development of client/server applications.
Subject: RE: Origin of LotusScript
Hmmmmm…wasn’t there a LotusScript before there was Notes? Going waaaayyyy back, I have this vague recollection that LS was a cross-application language you could use in Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony.
Or do I have that backward and LS was part of Notes and offered connections into the other Lotus products?
After a few years, the memories begin to dim…
Subject: RE: Origin of LotusScript
I think you’re right about LS coming before Notes. Wasn’t it added to R4? That was back in '96 if memory serves. Still, am curious to know if this was technology that was licensed from MS, or if it was something they built in-house.
Subject: RE: Origin of LotusScript
It might have been Lotus Improv
Subject: Lotusscript first existed in Lotus Improv
It was not licensed from Microsoft, Microsoft did not license VBA until a few years later. LotusScript also offered more Object Oriented programming features than VB at the time it first shipped.
Subject: RE: Lotusscript first existed in Lotus Improv
Thanks for the answer Carl.