wissel.net :: Learning XPages

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This entry is my reference for the collection of learning materials around XPages and adjacent technologies. I get asked a lot and in the spirit of sharing I make my recommendations public. There are a number of technologies and skills touching XPages, so it looks like a long list, but you don't need them all to get started.

Fundamentals
This is stuff any developer needs to know, regardless of what platform you came from or you are going to.
1. An excellent refresher for computer science is Stanford Engineerin Everywhere course CS106A - Programming Methodology (you will love Carol and finally pledge to do proper decomposition). Check out the other courses too. They are all free
2. Read Beautiful Code: Leading Programmers Explain How They Think (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly)) (a bit hard to digest at times) and Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship
3. Prepare your day with a laugh at Geek and Poke
Getting started
1. In shameless self-promotion: Do the 27 exercises that Tim Clark and I wrote. The needed resourced are on the page for download. But promise not to use that layout for your applications
2. Head over to Declan's and do his 53 exercises. Pay special attention to the OneUI stuff
3. Continue to XPages.TV. There you watch more than 30 tutorials on XPages topics of various degrees
4. Consider to subscribe to Matt White's excellent service XPages 101. 68 lessons and access to a top expert behind IdeaJam is worth your money
5. Check out the TLCC offerings. There's a free starter class
6. Learn tips and tricks on NotesIn9 and check out The XPages Cheatsheet app
Core XPages
Now that you know the basics, you can move from learning about to learning with. This is where you switch from tutorial to examples and articles.
1. Stop 1 is the Notes Domino Application Development Wiki, which IBM's official XPages documentation
2. On XPages.info you will find tons of examples, ready applications and the famous Extension library. Take a close look at the contributed free custom controls. (Re)use them, don't reinvent wheels!
3. A treasure trove of information is the XPages Wiki (you can log in there and contribute)
4. Find reusable code snippets (and contribute back) in the XSnippets container of OpenNTF
5. Read a book: Mastering XPages: A Step-by-Step Guide to XPages Application Development and the XSP Language
6. Once you go deeper - read this: XPages Extension Library: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Next Generation of XPages Components
7. And keep this one handy: XPages Portable Command Guide: A Compact Resource to XPages Application Development and the XSP Language
JavaScript
A big part of writing good XPages applications is writing good JavaScript. The upside: regardless what platform you might use in future, JavaScript is here to stay!
1. I found Eloquent JavaScript an invaluable resource to understand JavaScript
2. Equally valuable is the JavaScript Garden
3. Ensure quality of your code with JSHint
4. Excellent online reference on DocHub.io
5. Learn Dojo (it is easier than you think)
6. w3schools JS introduction is easy to follow
7. n.n.
HTML / CSS
Knowing and understanding how HTML and CSS play together is essential. It is often neglected
1. Your visual framework will be the IBM OneUI. Make yourself familiar
2. Of course some designer or exec will dislike it and demand a homebrew. Send him to CSS Zengarden to see how CSS can alter a page without altering the structure. The OneUI is about structure more than colors. Let the designer alter anything in the OneUI css inside the curly brackets (learn about Theme customization)
3. Learn HTML at w3 schools (comes in HTML5 flavour too)
4. n.n
Mobile
There is a lot of fine details, so make sure you cover the bases
1. Learn about the mobile controls in the Extension library
2. Familiarize yourself with Apache Callback (the artist formerly known as PhoneGap). XPages uses that "under the hood"
3. n.n
Java
There will be a point where you want to take a peek under the hood or write system wide components. Then it is time for Java
1. Read a book: Head First Java, 2nd Edition. It is funny like the whole series and gives you a head start.
2. Read online for free Bob's book on Domino with Java. When you are coming from a Domino/LotusScript background, the objects will be familiar and you can focus on the Java syntax
3. Download and install BlueJ. It allows you to interactively work with Java objects. A killer when exploring
4. Look at the source of the Extension library
5. When you are ready to dive deeper: read Thinking in Java
6. Check out the XSP Starter Kit
Classes & Certification
There are ready classes you can attend. Or reach out to people mentioned here to get your custom workshop.
- TLCC
  - ND85XPGS - Developing XPages using Domino Designer 8.5
  - ND85XPG2 - XPages Development 2 for Notes and Domino 8.5
  - ND85XJSC - JavaScript for XPages Development (8.5)
  - XP85MOBL - Mobile XPages Development for Domino 8.5
  Also check out their package deals and other R85 courses
- IBM
  offers 14 classes that are designed not only to learn XPages, but prepare you for for the exams IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5, IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5 and LOT-922: Developing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications: Advanced XPage Design (there are more)
  - D8L51 - Fundamentals of IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.1 Application Development
  - D8L53 - Developing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications: Intermediate XPage Design
  - D8L54 - Developing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications: Advanced XPage Design
  - D8L55 - Introduction to IBM Lotus Domino 8.5 XPages
  - D8L56 - Modernizing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications
  - D8P51 - Fundamentals of IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.1 Application Development (SPVC)
  - D8P53 - Developing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications: Intermediate XPage Design (SPVC)
  - D8P54 - Developing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications: Advanced XPage Design (SPVC)
  - D8P55 - Introduction to IBM Lotus Domino 8.5 Xpages (SPVC)
  - D8P56 - Modernizing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications (SPVC)
  - D8S44 - Developing XPages using Domino Designer 8.5
  - D8S61 - XPage Development 2 for Notes and Domino 8.5
  - D8S60 - XPages for Notes and Domino 8.5 Package
  - D8S46 - XPages and JavaScript for Domino 8.5 Package
- edcom
  If you like your instructors rather speaking German and Bavarian, attend a session in Munich or Cologne in Germany
  - ED8590: Einführung in die Entwicklung mit XPages unter Domino 8.5.x
  - ED8591: Entwicklung mit XPages unter Domino 8.5.x für Fortgeschrittene
  - IBMD8L53D: Developing IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Applications: Intermediate XPage Design
  While you are on it, check their whole course list, lots to learn there
Community
No man is an island and there are communities out there to help. This is what you should watch and participate in
1. Make sure you have signed up for a DeveloperWorks accounts, so you can update the Domino WIKI, participate in discussions and communicate with IBMers using Sametime
2. Register on BleedYellow. It gives you access to Blogs, Communities and Sametime
3. Become part of OpenNTF, if it is only for being able to rate and feedback on the content

This page will get updates over time
Update: Updated on Jan 8 2012 based on feedback so far

Comments

1 - Great summary.

Posted by Niklas Heidloff At 15:43:32 On 01/06/2012 | - Website - |

2 - Invaluable! Thank you! Emoticon

Posted by Michael Gollmick At 19:07:06 On 01/06/2012 | - Website - |

3 - And Notes in 9. Don't forget Notes in 9! From David Leedy....

{ Link }

Posted by Darren Duke At 19:28:02 On 01/06/2012 | - Website - |

4 - Are all of Declan's exercise links dead? None of them seem to work for me (404 error)...

Posted by Steve Mason At 19:37:49 On 01/06/2012 | - Website - |

5 - unfortunately the links on Declans page are not working.

This is caused by an error that I reported to IBM around ILUG 2010. An extra font tag is added to the link. This happens, when you cops links from one RT item to another. I was also bitten by this ... But IBM could not reproduce ( even the error occurs in the Domino Wiki )

Posted by Ulrich Krause At 00:13:07 On 01/07/2012 | - Website - |

6 - TLCC also has a mobile XPages course:
{ Link }

And, TLCC has a JavaScript for XPages Developers course too:
{ Link }

And our XPages courses are not just for getting started. We cover very advanced techniques like working with web services, Dojo, etc. in our XPages Development 2 course.

Thanks for putting together the list,

Howard

Posted by Howard Greenberg At 00:44:50 On 01/07/2012 | - Website - |

7 - The links to Declan's exercises can be accessed from the monthly archive on his site. Use this link for the first lot of exercises :-

{ Link }

Posted by Martin Perrie At 02:01:51 On 01/07/2012 | - Website - |

8 - Stephen, great presentation on JS at LS12!

For the resources on this page, can you add TLCC to the core XPages? We also have advanced XPages courses. And, we have a great JavaScript for XPages Development course too.

Finally, we have a new Mobile XPages course too.

Our courses are available from tlcc.com and for US folks, IBM.COM.

thanks,

Howard

Posted by Howard Greenberg At 07:49:47 On 01/20/2012 | - Website - |