Installation of JPython is simple. There are just two other things that you'll need:

• If you want to run it as a command-line, make sure you have a Java SDK (software development kit) or JRE (Java run-time environment) installed on your PC. It's simpler than using the JVMs inside the Notes client or Web browsers;

• Ensure that the CLASSPATH includes the relevant Domino Java packages (Notes.jar if it's running on the same machine as a Notes client or Domino server and NCSO.jar if connecting to a remote Domino server).

Figure D displays a brief command line local Notes session (running in the Sun Java SDK 1.2.2 under Windows 98).

FIGURE D


Here you see Notes from Python from Java. Roll over picture for a larger image.

JPython has two main strengths. For one thing, it can be used as a simplified way of writing applets that can do everything Java applets can do, but with Python's easier coding. Python code is compiled to Java bytecodes, so performance is maintained. Secondly, it can be used as a great way of learning and playing around with the Domino Java classes. After all, it's a lot quicker simply to test out a Java class at the command line than to write a Java agent or application and then compile and run it.

Documentation for the Java classes is included in the R5 developer's help database and in the Lotus Toolkit for Java/CORBA available from the Developer's site at http://www.lotus.com.

Using C++ API
Going beyond the Java and COM classes is beyond the scope of this article, but here are some pointers for why you'd want to do it and how it can be achieved.

There are two main reasons to use the API (application programming interface). For one thing, COM classes are limited to Win32 platforms. For another, Lotus only has a limited amount of Notes functionality via LotusScript classes, COM classes, or Java classes. Rich text fields are one major area of limitation, but there are many others, such as read/write access to the database design elements. The C++ API gives access to practically everything, from design elements to the server console.

Converting the C++ API to another language is a big undertaking. Fortunately, there's some help for anyone who wishes to do so in a project called SWIG, which produces a utility to generate Python classes automatically (or optionally with some manual intervention) from C++ class definitions. It's still non-trivial to start using C++ classes via Python, but SWIG can make this sort of process a great deal easier, and the rewards--the ease of use of Python combined with the power of the Notes C++ API--may make this a worthwhile option for you.