HCL Notes

HCL Notes
Company type	Proprietary software
Industry	Software, Collaboration software
Predecessor	Lotus Notes, IBM Notes
Founded	1989
Founder	Lotus Development Corporation
Headquarters	Global (marketed by HCLTech)
Products	Collaboration software suite including HCL Notes client, HCL Domino server, HCL Domino Designer, HCL Verse, HCL Notes Traveler, HCL iNotes
Owner	HCLTech

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article HCL Notes, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 2025

HCL Notes, previously known as Lotus Notes and IBM Notes, is a proprietary collaboration software suite available for Unix (AIX), IBM i, Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms, and is marketed by HCLTech. The client-side program is referred to as Notes, whereas the server-side software is called HCL Domino.

This platform offers a range of business collaboration functionalities such as email, calendar management, task lists, contact databases, discussion boards, file sharing capabilities, website hosting, instant messaging, blogging tools, document repositories, user directory services, and customizable applications. It seamlessly integrates with other HCL Domino databases and applications. It is important to note that IBM Notes 9 Social Edition discontinued support for integration with IBM Lotus Symphony office suite that was included in earlier releases.

The software was initially created by Lotus Development Corporation in 1989. After Lotus was acquired by IBM in 1995, it became part of IBM’s Lotus Development division. On December 6, 2018, IBM announced the divestiture of multiple software products—including Notes and Domino—to HCLSoftware for $1.8 billion. This transaction was completed by July 2019, granting HCL full ownership of the product portfolio.

History

The conceptual foundation of Lotus Notes traces back to PLATO Notes, developed by David R. Woolley at the University of Illinois in 1973. PLATO Notes facilitated user-generated discussion groups and played a significant role in forming one of the earliest online communities on the PLATO system. Ray Ozzie had exposure to PLATO during his university years. With the rise of PC networking, Ozzie collaborated with Lotus Development founder Mitch Kapor to establish Iris Associates in 1984. Iris focused on creating products that merged PC technology with collaborative features inspired by PLATO; Iris and Ozzie managed product development while Lotus oversaw sales and marketing.

Following extensive beta testing, Lotus Notes was officially released in December 1989 after being rumored as vaporware. Despite initial uncertainty about marketing strategies—given Lotus's traditional focus on retail markets versus Notes’ corporate target audience—the product achieved significant sales success. Notably, Price Waterhouse purchased 10,000 licenses before launch, constituting one of the largest single PC software deals at that time. After the successful launch of Notes Release 3 in 1994, Lotus acquired Iris Associates.

In 1995, IBM acquired Lotus for $3.2 billion primarily to gain control over Notes, which had become widely adopted by major corporations with tens of thousands of users. In 2008, IBM introduced XPages technology based on Jakarta Faces, allowing Domino applications to better accommodate browser clients; however, this required complete redesigns of user interfaces and business logic. Prior to this innovation, Domino applications demanded significant web modifications to function fully within browsers. The IBM Domino 9 Social Edition featured the Notes Browser Plugin, enabling Notes applications to operate inside a browser tab through a simplified desktop client interface.

Branding

Prior to version 4.5, both client and server components were marketed under the Lotus Notes name. In 1996, Lotus launched an HTTP server extension for Notes version 4 called "Domino," which allowed live rendering of Notes documents as web pages. Later that year, Domino was incorporated into Notes 4.5; the server product was renamed "Domino," while the client application continued under the "Lotus Notes" brand.

In November 2012, IBM announced it would retire the Lotus brand entirely and use only IBM branding for products including Notes and Domino. The latest versions of both client and server software were released by IBM on October 9, 2018.

Starting in 2019, Domino and Notes were transitioned into enterprise software offerings managed by HCLSoftware.

Design

HCL Domino functions as a client-server cross-platform software runtime platform delivering services such as email, calendar management, instant messaging, voice and video conferencing, forums, blogs, and an organizational directory. Enterprises utilize Domino Designer along with other development tools to build cohesive applications like workflow automation and document management systems.

The Domino product lineup comprises:

HCL Notes client (based on Eclipse since version 8), available in:
- Rich client format
- Web client (known as HCL iNotes)
- Mobile email client (HCL Notes Traveler)
HCL Verse client:
- Web-based email (Verse on Premises)
- Mobile email apps (Verse Mobile for iOS and Android)
HCL Domino server
HCL Domino Administration Client
HCL Domino Designer (an Eclipse-based IDE) for crafting client-server applications within the Notes environment

Domino is positioned against competitors such as Microsoft, Google, and Zimbra. Its application development features are frequently compared to those of Microsoft Sharepoint. The Domino database supports replication between clients and servers, allowing offline data access.

Serving both as a messaging platform and a business application framework, Domino permits access through Notes clients or web browsers. Since IBM Domino 9, the HCAA client has provided access to Domino applications including discussion forums and document repositories. Notes operates somewhat like a web browser by executing authorized applications.

Core functionalities of Domino include:

Retrieving, storing, and displaying information via user interfaces
Implementing security policies
Synchronizing data across multiple servers to facilitate collaboration

The primary storage format used is the "Notes Storage Facility" (.nsf), which holds both application designs and their data. Additionally, Domino can connect with relational databases through HCL Enterprise Integrator for Domino, ODBC, or XPages.

Email and calendar functions exist as applications within the runtime environment; these can be customized or replaced by developers. HCL has made base templates available as open source.

Development of Domino applications employs:

Java – either directly or through XPages
LotusScript – a language similar to Visual Basic (classic)
JavaScript – via the Domino AppDev Pack

The client supports both a formula language and JavaScript. Applications may run inside the Notes runtime or be delivered via a web server for browser use; however, distinct interfaces are necessary unless utilizing XPages.

Use

Notes fulfills various enterprise roles including email handling, calendaring, personal information management (PIM), instant messaging, and web browsing. It integrates seamlessly with both local and server-hosted applications and data sources.

As an email client, Notes accommodates IMAP and POP protocols for compatibility with non-Domino mail servers and can retrieve address book entries from any LDAP directory service, including Microsoft Active Directory. It features an embedded web browser but can be configured to launch alternative browsers through Domino Developer tools.

Significant functionalities include shared calendars, SMTP/MIME email support, NNTP news access, and automatic HTML conversion managed by the Domino HTTP task. Integration with Sametime instant messaging provides real-time presence indicators and multi-user chat capabilities, available free since Release 6.5.

Beginning with version 7, Notes supports Web services interfaces while Domino functions as a web server serving HTML content. User authentication relies on the Domino user directory in conjunction with external systems such as Microsoft Active Directory.

Domino Designer serves as the design client enabling creation of database applications featuring customizable forms and views for data input and presentation. Beyond conventional groupware capabilities—email, calendaring, shared document management—HCL Notes and Domino support workflow applications that manage approval chains and data routing processes.

Server clustering was introduced in Release 5 to offer geographic redundancy aimed at improving business continuity.

Notes System Diagnostic (NSD) gathers operational information from Notes clients or Domino servers to aid in system administration.

IBM launched IBM Domino v10.0 alongside IBM Notes 10.0 on October 10, 2018; subsequently, HCL released HCL Domino v11 and HCL Notes v11 in December 2019.

Client/server

Notes and Domino function within a client/server database framework: Domino serves as the server application, while Notes operates as the client interface. Domino is compatible with Windows, Unix, AIX, and IBM midrange platforms, supporting scalability up to tens of thousands of users per individual server. Each server release corresponds with the compatible operating systems to guarantee seamless integration.

Domino provides detailed security mechanisms, including permissions that can be set at the field level and up to ten adjustable parameters at the database level. Users have the ability to share personal calendars and emails with varied permission tiers such as reader, editor, or manager. Security management is independent of the underlying server OS or Active Directory but can optionally be linked to Active Directory credentials via Notes client settings.

Data replication

The initial version of Lotus Notes introduced a versatile replication system, setting it apart from earlier technologies like Usenet. Both Domino servers and Notes clients recognize NSF files through Replica IDs and synchronize by exchanging data, metadata, and application logic bidirectionally. Replication can be tailored to include or exclude certain metadata elements and occurs either between servers or between clients and servers over networks or direct modem links. It can operate on scheduled intervals, in near-real-time within server clusters, or be initiated manually.

Local replicas stored on HCL Notes clients allow users to fully access Notes and Domino databases offline, with synchronization of updates occurring once reconnected. These replicas also help minimize network latency during online sessions. Replication may be set to run automatically or manually. From Notes 6 onward, local replicas maintain all application-level security features; earlier iterations did not consistently encrypt NSF files, posing risks for sensitive data on laptops or unsecured environments. Newer versions default to encrypting local replicas upon creation.

Security

Lotus Notes was a pioneer in adopting public key cryptography for authenticating client-server and server-server communications as well as encrypting data. Prior to 2000, U.S. export restrictions limited encryption key sizes to 40 bits. In 1997, Lotus reached an agreement with the NSA permitting export of a version using 64-bit keys, although 24 bits were escrowed by the NSA—a controversial compromise referred to by some as a backdoor. Due to objections from certain governments, Lotus continued distributing a 40-bit encryption export variant in those regions.

The Notes and Domino platforms utilize a code-signing infrastructure that governs the security context and execution permissions of custom code. Notes 5 introduced an execution control list (ECL) on the client side that authorizes or blocks code based on digital signatures, preventing execution of untrusted programs. With Notes/Domino 6, ECL management was centralized through policy administration. Since version 4.5, configured ECLs prevent external code execution to reduce virus spread risks. Administrators centrally control whether mailbox users may override ECL restrictions.

Database security

User access rights to databases are managed through access control lists (ACLs), where only users with Manager privileges can create or alter these lists. The Manager defines default ACL entries when establishing a database. Access permissions can be assigned not only to individual user IDs but also delegated to roles within the system.

Programming

Notes and Domino represent a distributed, document-centric NoSQL database and messaging platform that operates across multiple operating systems. It also includes a rapid application development environment featuring built-in applications such as email and calendar. This combination sets it apart from competitors like Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise, which focus specifically on mail and calendaring functions with extensibility through APIs.

Domino databases are created using Domino Designer, a tool exclusively available on Microsoft Windows, whereas standard client applications are compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. One notable capability is the support for multiple replicas of the same database across diverse servers and platforms, all sharing an identical storage structure. Replication technology advanced from document-level to field-level granularity starting with Notes 4 in 1996.

A Notes database is saved as a Notes Storage Facility (.nsf) file that contains "notes," each identified by a UniqueID consistent across all replicas. Every replica possesses its own UniqueID to differentiate it within clusters or domains of servers. Notes include timestamps for creation and modification, along with one or more Items.

Design notes—created through Domino Designer—define graphical user interface layouts, formulas, and scripts, distinguishing them from document notes that store user-generated data, which can be created or altered via various clients or programmatic methods. Although document notes may have parent-child associations, Notes is neither a classic hierarchical database nor fully adherent to the relational paradigm, despite the availability of an SQL driver offering some relational-like functionality. The system does not support atomic transactions and provides only basic file locking, but it excels in handling complex content and robust indexing suited for automating workflows traditionally managed on paper.

Each Item within a note holds content identified by a name, type (such as Number, Text, Date-Time, or Rich Text), and flags indicating characteristics like security settings. In design notes, Items define programmable components including form layouts stored as rich text within Body items—this approach enables design replication alongside data to facilitate straightforward application updates. Document note Items contain user or computed data; a special "Form" Item links documents to their corresponding form design notes to integrate content with graphical interface elements and code for presentation and editing purposes. This loosely coupled binding enhances adaptability but may pose challenges for developers accustomed to strict schema-based systems.

Application development utilizes several programming languages: Formula and LotusScript—resembling Visual Basic but enriched with Notes-specific classes—are the original tools; Java was introduced in Release 4.5 and expanded further in Release 5 alongside JavaScript. LotusScript remains the primary language for client-side applications, whereas Java and JavaScript are predominantly used for server-side logic, browser-based apps, and client emulation. Since Release 8.5, XPages integration allows native execution of Java and JavaScript within IBM Notes.

With Version 6, the Domino XML Language (DXL) was introduced to provide XML representations of all data and design components, enabling manipulation through any XML-compatible tools.

HCL supplies external software development kits in C, C++, and Java to facilitate integration with Domino databases and automate tasks. The C toolkit is the most mature; the C++ toolkit offers an object-oriented approach but covers fewer features; while the Java toolkit supports fundamental application requirements.

Database

IBM Notes incorporates a database management system centered on documents, setting it apart from relational or object-oriented databases. As a document-oriented database, Notes accommodates multi-valued fields, eliminates the need for a predefined schema, includes native document-level access controls, and supports rich text storage. From IBM Domino versions 7 through 8.5.x, there is the option to utilize IBM Db2 as an alternative backend through NSFDB2; however, this functionality is currently maintained without plans for further enhancements. Tools such as DECS, LEI, JDBCSql for Domino, or NotesSQL enable mapping of IBM Notes databases to relational database structures.

Configuration

Configurations for HCL Domino servers and clients reside within their respective databases (*.nsf) rather than being stored in the Windows Registry. Additional configuration parameters, mainly startup-related options, are kept in the notes.ini file, which offers more than 2000 adjustable settings.

Use as an email client

Within many large enterprises, Notes is extensively utilized as an email client. When connected to HCL Domino servers, the Notes client generally provides functionalities including email access, calendaring, document handling, and workflow management applications. Since Notes operates as a runtime environment, system administrators have the flexibility to create or customize email and calendar applications beyond the standard HCL-provided features.

Domino servers also support POP3 and IMAP protocols and facilitate native Microsoft Outlook connectivity via HCL Mail Support for Microsoft Outlook. Furthermore, HCL offers iNotes (previously known as Domino Web Access), which delivers web-based email and calendar services compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox. The platform incorporates spam filtering solutions like IBM Lotus Protector and includes a server-side rules engine that enables users to define mail processing criteria.

Comparison with other email clients

Originally designed as a collaborative application platform, Notes integrates email alongside multiple other applications within the Notes client, which is compatible across various operating systems including Windows, OS/2, classic Mac OS, SCO Open Desktop UNIX, and Linux. This broad platform support and commitment to backward compatibility have resulted in a user interface distinct from typical Windows-only email clients. Notable differences include:

Formatting dialog boxes for text and hyperlinks remain open after adjustments, allowing continuous editing without needing to reopen them—contrasting with most Windows applications.
Dialog windows dynamically adapt based on the type of selected text (for example, hyperlink properties).
Tables can be formatted as tabbed interfaces within forms or emails, enabling tab-style navigation akin to web browsers.
Inserting links to Notes applications, views, or documents directly into Notes content is straightforward.
Deleting a document removes it from every folder since folders contain references to the same backend document; selecting "Remove from Folder" deletes it only from that particular folder.
The All Documents and Sent views differ from folders because mail cannot be dragged out (only copied) since these views index documents by attributes rather than user actions. Removing items from All Documents requires deletion.

Earlier editions (Notes 7 and prior) exhibited additional distinctions such as:

The use of "New Memo" instead of "New Mail" or "New Message" for composing emails (Notes 8 switched to "New Message").
Multiple item selection was done via mouse dragging rather than Shift+click (Notes 8 adopted conventional keypress methods).
Searches demanded explicit Boolean operators like "delete AND folder," whereas phrase or OR searches were not supported; Notes 8 updated search functionality to more familiar standards.

Lotus Notes 8.0 (released in 2007) introduced a dedicated user experience team and shifted the client interface onto the open source Eclipse Framework. This transition facilitated improved application development through Eclipse plug-ins. The release featured a redesigned email interface consistent with Eclipse’s platform design, enabling quicker cross-platform deployment via Java. Initial versions experienced slower startup times and interaction delays, which were addressed in Lotus Notes 8.5 alongside improvements in average PC performance.

IBM Notes 9 continued modernizing the interface to reflect current commercial software and web application design trends. Despite these enhancements, the software still does not include auto-correct functionality or automatic caps lock reversal.

Domino also transitioned to the Eclipse platform, providing advanced development environments such as XPages.

For users operating on lower-specification computers, the legacy interface remains accessible but lacks many of the new features and reverts to an email user interface similar to that found in Notes 7.x.

This progression in user experience builds upon improvements introduced in Notes 6.5 (2003), which addressed earlier limitations in email clients by adding features such as:

drag-and-drop folder organization
replication of unread message indicators across servers
follow-up flags
reply and forward markers
attachment editing with changes saved back into emails

Reception

Previous iterations of Lotus Notes were often criticized for having a user interface that many found confusing and lacking intuitiveness, with notable dissatisfaction regarding the usability of the client software, as reported by sources such as The Guardian in 2006. Despite these critiques, adoption rates remained largely unaffected, likely because decisions to deploy enterprise software are typically made by individuals who do not directly use the applications.

The product also faced scrutiny for inconsistent adherence to user interface conventions, particularly in deviating from standard operating system guidelines. For instance, prior to version 8.0, pressing F5—a key commonly associated with refreshing content on Windows systems—would instead freeze the screen within Notes. This issue was resolved starting with release 8.0. Additionally, proportional scrollbars, which assist users in assessing document length visually, were only introduced in Notes 8.

Subsequent releases addressed further usability concerns; an example being the out-of-office agent, which initially required users to enable and disable it manually but became automated beginning with Release 8.5.

In contrast to many email clients, IBM Notes restricts individual users from managing return receipt preferences directly, as these settings are controlled at the server level to uphold organizational policies. This limitation has prompted users to develop unofficial workarounds shared online. To better accommodate user needs, IBM introduced server-side configuration options for return receipt handling in IBM Notes 9.0 and IBM iNotes 9.0.

Another noted issue is that when Notes encounters a crash, certain processes may continue running in the background, preventing the application from restarting until those processes are manually terminated.

Related IBM Lotus products

Throughout its three-decade history, Lotus Development Corporation and IBM have created a variety of software solutions that either stem from or integrate closely with IBM Notes. The most prominent among these is the IBM Lotus Domino server platform, initially known as the Lotus Notes Server before being renamed with version 4.5. Domino also serves as the foundation for other products including IBM Lotus Quickr for document collaboration, IBM Sametime for instant messaging and web conferencing, and beginning with Release 8.5, IBM Connections.

Early versions of IBM Notes focused heavily on client-side integration with IBM Lotus SmartSuite. However, as Microsoft Office gained dominance in office productivity suites, integration efforts shifted accordingly. The release of version 8.0 in 2007—built on the Eclipse platform—marked a renewed emphasis on integration with IBM’s OpenOffice.org-derived suite IBM Lotus Symphony. Another related product is IBM Lotus Expeditor, which provides a framework for building Eclipse-based applications.

Additional IBM offerings include the now-discontinued client-side IBM Lotus Easysync Pro and the complimentary server-side IBM Notes Traveler, which facilitates synchronization of mail, calendars, and contacts. Furthermore, IBM introduced two IBM Lotus Protector products aimed at enhancing mail security and encryption capabilities within the IBM Notes environment.

Related software from other vendors

The extensive market presence of Notes and Domino has cultivated a diverse ecosystem of third-party applications broadly categorized into four segments:

Notes and Domino applications: These are software packages delivered as Notes databases or NTF templates that capitalize on Notes’ collaboration, workflow automation, and messaging features to support business functions such as customer relationship management (CRM), human resources (HR), and project management. Many also provide browser-based interfaces alongside traditional Notes clients. Development typically involves using Notes formula language, LotusScript, Java, and JavaScript.

Notes and Domino add-ons, tools, and extensions: These are executable programs written in languages like C or C++ that integrate with the Notes/Domino platform on either client or server sides. Configuration and reporting functionalities often utilize Notes databases. Since the introduction of the Eclipse-based Notes 8 Standard client, client-side add-ons have expanded to include Eclipse plug-ins and XML widgets. These extensions enhance core capabilities by offering features such as spam filtering, antivirus protection, server management utilities, messaging and storage optimization tools, policy enforcement mechanisms, data synchronization solutions, and developer support utilities.

Notes and Domino-aware add-ins and agents: These executables extend general networked software products by enabling interaction with Notes/Domino data stores. This category encompasses backup utilities, anti-spam and antivirus applications, e-discovery and archiving systems, as well as integrations with third-party platforms like Cisco’s WebEx conferencing service or Salesforce.com CRM solutions.

Release history

Version	Release Date	Notes
1	December 1989
1.1	1990
2	1991
3	May 1993	Introduced support for hierarchical naming and enabled button positioning on Forms.
4	January 1996	Discontinued support for Netware servers.
4.1
4.5	December 1996	Server renamed to "Domino"; native HTTP and POP3 servers added; Calendaring & Scheduling features introduced; Java support included; SMTP MTA present but not enabled by default.
4.6		Added IMAP protocol support; OS/2 and Unix clients were dropped; no Mac client released in this version.
5	1999	SMTP integrated directly into mail routing task enhancing performance; significant HTTP server upgrades; revamped Notes client interface; expanded Java capabilities.
5.0.8		Launched new webmail interface named iNotes (later known as Domino Web Access).
6	September 2002	Introduced Domino Web Access support; OS/2 server support discontinued.
6.0.1	February 2003
6.0.2 (Japan Only)	June 2003
6.5 / 6.0.3	September 2003	Lotus SameTime Instant Messaging integrated into Notes client (Windows platform only).
6.5.1	January 2004	First coordinated release with Lotus extended products including Sametime, QuickPlace, and Domino Document Manager.
6.0.4	June 2004	Added support for 1024-bit RSA and 128-bit RC2 encryption keys.
6.5.4 / 6.0.5	March 2005
5.x	September 30, 2005	Official end of support for Lotus Notes version 5.x.
6.5.5	December 2005
6.5.6	March 2006	Final maintenance release for the 6.5.x branch.
7	August 2005	Introduced IBM Db2 database storage capabilities.
7.0.1	July 2006	Native Linux client certified for Red Hat Enterprise Linux launched.
7.0.2	September 2006	Added blog template, RSS feed, iCal compatibility, SAP integration, and "Nomad" USB portable Notes client.
7.0.3	October 2007	Supported server platforms: Windows, Linux (Red Hat, SuSE x86 and zSeries), i5OS, z/OS, Solaris. Client platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux/x86 (Red Hat & SuSE). Domino servers capable of converting databases to HTML for browser access.
7.0.4	April 2009	Support concluded April 30, 2011.
8	August 2007	Server platforms: Windows, Linux, Solaris, AIX. Client platforms: Linux and Windows XP/Vista (English). First release based on IBM Workplace technology utilizing Eclipse Rich Client Platform.
8.0.1	February 2008	Introduced support for Widgets and Google Gadgets.
8.0.2	August 2008	Integrated Microsoft Office 2007 document viewers and delivered performance enhancements.
8.5	December 2008	Launched ID Vault, roaming capabilities, XPages technology, DAOS (disk savings up to 60%), Eclipse-based Domino Designer ported; supported Windows Server 2008.
8.5.1	October 12, 2009	Performance improvements and UI refinements; enhanced XPages application language and stabilized Eclipse-based Designer.
8.5.1 FP1	December 12, 2009	Added compatibility with Windows 7 and Mac Snow Leopard.
8.5.1 FP2	March 26, 2010	Bug fixes applied.
8.5.1 FP3	May 31,2010	Resolved bugs.
8.5.1 FP4	August4,2010	Security patches addressing vulnerabilities in keyview attachment viewer and Dojo components.
8.5.1 FPS	October19,2010
8.5.2	August10,2010	Focused on system reliability; expanded XPages and extensibility API for OSGi plugins.
8.5.2 FP1	December17,2010	Bug fixes implemented.
8.5.2 FP2	March25,2011	Bug fixes implemented.
8.5.2 FP3	July22,2011	Bug fixes implemented.
8.5.2 FP4	December2,2011
8.5.3	October4,2011	Reliability enhancements; added Equinox HTTP Service for lightweight servlets and Expeditor Web Container for OSGi-wrapped Java EE applications; foundation for Upgrade Pack including open source XPages Extension Library integrated as core with IBM support.
8.5.3 FP1	March23,2012	Bug fixes applied.
8.5.3 FP2	July13,2012	Bug fixes applied.
8.5.3 FP3	November26,2012	Bug fixes applied.
8.5.3 FP4	April16,2013	Bug fixes applied.
8.5.3 FP5	August8,2013	Bug fixes applied.
8.5.3 FP6	December9,2013 Last scheduled Fix Pack for version 8; development focus shifted to version 9 stream.
'9'	'March21,2013'	'The "9 Social Edition" delivered a refreshed GUI with embedded application experiences and near parity with iNotes rich client features; IBM separated release streams into 8.x and 9.x versions; XPages Extension Library became part of the core product.'
'9\.0\.1'	'October29,2013'	'Emphasized reliability improvements and updates to the XPages Extension Library.'
'9\.0\.1 FP1'	'April16,2014'	'Bug fixes released.'
'9\.0\.1 FP2'	'August20,2014'	'Bug fixes released.'
'9\.0\.1 FP3'	'January21,2015'	'Bug fixes released.'
'9\.0\.1 FP4'	'June17,2015'	'Bug fixes released.'
'9\.0\.1 FP5'	'November30,2015'	'Bug fixes released.'
'9\.0\.1 FP6'	'May13,2016'	'Fixes along with security enhancements.'
'9\.0\.1 FP7'	'September13,2016'	'Fixes along with security enhancements.'
'9\.0\.1 FP8'	'March7,2017'	'Fixes plus new functionalities: NIFNSF support for Windows Server 2016 & ADFS 3 .0.'
'9\.0\.1 FP9'	'August18,2017'	'Fixes plus features including inline view indexing and JVM upgrade.'
'9\.0\.1 FP10'	'January31,2018'	'Major feature enhancements: JVM upgraded to Java 8 in Designer; Eclipse platform updated to 4 .6 .2; embedded Sametime upgraded to 9 .0 .1; GSKit libraries updated; Japanese UI refreshed; add-on installer introduced for Notes CCM.'
'10\.0'	'October10,2018'	'Key features: improved database cluster replication resilience; new Domino Query Language (DQL); performance monitoring interface compatible with NewRelic; expanded database/folder size limits beyond 64GB; enhanced team calendar/delegation in Notes; REST API calls with JSON parsing in LotusScript; CentOS OS supported; Docker container script examples provided.'
'10\.0\.1'	'December18,2018'	'Launched Domino AppDev Pack 1 .0 featuring Node.js development tools including OAuth preview service; Verse on Premises 1 .0 .6; MacOS Mojave Notes client introduced; panagenda MarvelClient Essentials remote management tool included; new Community Server and Client packages available for non-production use.'
'10\.0\.1 FP1'	'March30,2019'	'Primarily bug fixes.'
'10\.0\.1 FP2'	'May29,2019'	'Introduced cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) configuration options for Domino web servers.'
'10\.0\.1 FP3'	'September9,2019'	'Primarily bug fixes.'
'10\.0\.1 FP4'	'February5,2020'	'Primarily bug fixes.'
'10\.0\.1 FP5'	'May20,2020'	'Primarily bug fixes.'
'10\.0\.1 FP6'	'September28,2020'	'Primarily bug fixes.'
'10\.0\.1 FP7'	'July14,2021'	'Primarily bug fixes.'
'10\.0\.1 FP8'	'June17,2022'	'Primarily bug fixes.'
"11 .0"	"December12 ,2019"	"Rebranded from IBM to HCL Notes and Domino product suite."
"11 .0 .1"	"April19 ,2020"	"Integrated SwiftFile assistant into HCL Notes; introduced optional local database encryption using AES-128."
"11 .0 .1 FP1"	"August3 ,2020"	"Primarily bug fixes."
"11 .0 .1 FP2"	"November17 ,2020"	"Primarily bug fixes."
"11 .0 .1 FP3"	"April9 ,2021"	"Primarily bug fixes."
"11 .0 .1 FP4"	"October8 ,2021"	"Primarily bug fixes."
"11 .0 .1 FP5"	"March11 ,2022"	"Fix release addressing over seventy issues."
"11 .0 .1 FP6"	"September9 ,2022"	"Fix release resolving over one hundred twenty issues."
"12 .0"	"June7 ,2021"	"Released cloud-native deployment options featuring flexible backup/security including Let's Encrypt integration; Nomad Web enables desktop upgrades through browsers; introduced Domino Volt low-code application builder."
"12 .0 .1"	"December14 ,2021"	"Added DKIM outbound mail signing capability; mail routing enhanced to support Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs); native 64-bit Windows Notes client introduced."
"12 .0 .2"	"November17 ,2022"	"Improved one-touch setup and container images; policy updates implemented; SMTP servers can enforce SPF/DKIM to reduce spam; supports federated identity login via OpenID Connect JWTs; default database encryption upgraded to AES-128 with optional AES-256 available; SELinux enforcing mode supported during installation; Domino Restyle UI improvements."
"12 .0 .2 FP1"	"April17 ,2023"	"Fix pack resolving approximately seventy known issues."
"12 .0 .2 FP2"	"August1 ,2023"	"Fix pack addressing roughly sixty-two known issues."
"14 .0"	"December7 ,2023"	"Release of Notes/Domino version 14."

21st century

On September 12, 2007, IBM contributed segments of the IBM Notes and Domino source code to OpenOffice.org and has consistently provided code contributions to OpenNTF.org since 2008.

Contrary to forecasts of decline, such as the 1998 Forbes article titled "The decline and fall of Lotus," the Lotus Notes user base expanded from an estimated 42 million seats in 1998 to roughly 140 million cumulative licenses sold by 2008. Following the discontinuation of IBM Workplace in 2006, rumors about the termination of Notes ceased. Two years later, IBM launched iNotes for the iPhone platform.

IBM also supplied code enabling the integration of OpenOffice.org into Notes 8 and distributed its customized version of OpenOffice.org under the name IBM Lotus Symphony, offered free of charge.

The release of IBM Notes and Domino 9 Social Edition occurred on March 21, 2013, introducing a substantially redesigned user interface, near feature parity between IBM Notes and iNotes, a new IBM Notes Browser Plugin, expanded XPages controls within Domino, an updated Domino Designer interface, support for To Do tasks on Android devices, and improved server capabilities.

In late 2016, IBM announced it would not issue a Notes 9.0.2 update but pledged continued support for version 9.0.1 through at least 2021. During this period, internal users transitioned to the IBM Verse client.

On October 25, 2017, IBM disclosed plans for Domino V10 scheduled for release in 2018, developed collaboratively with HCLTech. The development and support teams moved to HCL, while marketing and sales functions remained under IBM’s leadership with shared responsibility for product strategy. IBM confirmed there was no official plan to end product support.

IBM announced IBM Domino 10.0 and IBM Notes 10.0 on October 9, 2018, at an event in Frankfurt, with downloads made available starting October 10, 2018.

References