Best of all IBM designed the Workplace Designer 2.5 with what we see as the Notes Designer's strongest point: Rapid Application Development (RAD). With RAD the emphasis is on low cost and fast delivery.....and this Designer delivers. It is similar to the Notes Designer in that it removes the need to build and work with the database directly. You design your database table using XML through an interface and then map your fields on the form to the elements. The Designer manages the rest for you. New elements can be added right from the form designer allowing you to add new fields rapidly and on the fly. Plus the deployment of the component is simplified for the developer. All you need to do is click on "Deploy Component" and the tool does the rest. The component and data tables are now available on your Workplace server to be included in the templates of your design.

WD2.5 uses technologies that Domino developer are very comfortable with and skilled in. These are:

- JavaScript for the programming language

- HTML/CSS

- XML for data storage

The choice of JavaScript as the programming language has many advantages. First, it is familiar to most developers and easy to use. Secondly, it allows the developer to access Java classes directly. This combination is more powerful than at first glance. It opens up access beyond the workplace designer programming library to the Java Workplace API classes. This allows developers access to Workplace components such as Team Calendars, Document Manager, online Discussions, and the WCS Web Conferencing component. You can then incorporate these tools in your custom applications thus providing your users and customers with world class collaboration systems.

The Workplace Designer 2.5 will open up the Workplace platform for Domino developers. It includes sample applications such as: Project Manager, Discussion Database, and Contact List, which will help jump start your development efforts. There is a Redbook titled "IBM Workplace 2.5 Development with Workplace Designer" and is a must read for developers. It can be found here: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpapers/pdfs/redp4090.pdf.