The Lotus Education Lab was definitely a highlight. There were multiple workstations that allowed you to take practice exams for future certification or walk through several BCT (computer based training) modules, as well as the aforementioned XML Primer. You could also check out a variety of Lotus courseware books. If you couldn't fill your brain there, you weren't trying. As a "knowledge vulture" (coined-term alert…), I feasted on the knowledge contained within.

In order to get to the lab, you had to cross through the vendor showcase, shown in Figure E. This is an area where vendors are able to showcase their wares, talk to you about their products, and scan your badge to collect information that will keep you on mailing lists until you're ninety.

FIGURE E

Lotus business partners and vendors show off their wares. Click picture for a larger image.

Many people gladly gave away their information for the various trinkets and baubles the vendors had to give away. Stress balls, stuffed animals, hats, and propeller beanies were all to be had. My shoulder hurt under the advanced weight. Although it was the giveaways that brought people there, it was the great products that kept people milling around.

12:30 PM, Saturday, June 24
This morning went rather well, despite the hangover induced by Friday evening's Lotus party. Lotus had not only supplied vast quantities of the finest libations, they also facilitated our dabbling in the art of Tarot card reading. A fine time was had indeed.

There were only a few remaining sessions left for Saturday morning, and then came one of the most popular of trade show closing ceremonies. Oh yes, I could only be talking about "Ask the Developers." This is a forum where many of the actual product developers answer random questions from the audience. It gives the "Joe Average" attendees a chance to get answers straight from the proverbial horse's mouth. The forum, not the horse, is pictured in Figure F.

FIGURE F

Lotus developers take the stage to answer our questions. Click picture for a larger image.

This is one thing that always makes Lotus events stand out. Few other software vendors in the world gives you as much access to the core developers of their product. You could visit the Iris lab and talk about specific problems, you could corner developers in the hall, and you could bump into them in the vendor showcase. Everyone always has time for you and is always willing to listen. This is a great strength of Lotus, and you, as a developer, owe it to yourself to make it to one of these events. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

6:30 PM, Sunday, June 25
As I sit here waiting for my delayed flight, I guess it means my mission is over. I turn this information over to DominoPower in hopes they will utilize it for good instead of evil. In this day and age there are many conferences on which you could spend your hard-earned money. If you want straight Lotus talk, good in-depth technical sessions, and one of the best experiences of a true Notes community, Lotus DevCon is a wonderful choice.

John Roling is an R4 PCLP and R5 CLP in Application Development. When not infiltrating technical conferences, he enjoys his Keeshond dogs, his ferrets, the Miami Dolphins, and hardcore computer gaming. You can reach him at www.roling.com.