IBM Lotus Expeditor
| Company type | Software platform |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founder | IBM Lotus Software division |
| Products | Managed client applications platform, Lotus Expeditor Client for Desktop, Lotus Expeditor Client for Devices, Lotus Expeditor Server |
| Parent | IBM |
IBM Lotus Expeditor is a software platform crafted by IBM's Lotus Software division, designed to create, integrate, and deploy "managed client applications." These applications are remotely installed, configured, and administered on desktop environments, allowing developers to combine the advantages of local client functionality with the simplicity of web-style maintenance.
Description
Lotus Expeditor is composed of multiple elements:
- The Lotus Expeditor Client for Desktop executes client applications across Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems. It utilizes a blend of OSGi, Java EE, and the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) running on a Java virtual machine.
- The Lotus Expeditor Client for Devices is aimed at Microsoft Windows Mobile platforms and the Nokia E90 Communicator, employing the Eclipse embedded Rich Client Platform (eRCP) on a Java ME virtual machine.
- The Lotus Expeditor Server is responsible for deploying, configuring, and managing applications that operate on Expeditor Clients. It is built on top of the IBM DB2 database and the Java EE-based IBM WebSphere Application Server. Although not mandatory for standalone client application operation, this server offers functions such as data synchronization, transactional messaging, and automated remote application management.
Developers utilize the Lotus Expeditor Toolkit within the Eclipse integrated development environment to build Expeditor applications and tailor runtime environments.
IBM incorporates Expeditor technology into prominent offerings such as Notes (starting from version 8), Sametime (from version 7.5 onward), and Symphony.
History
Lotus Expeditor traces its roots back to IBM's Pervasive Computing (PvC) program focused on ubiquitous computing solutions. The initial PvC Device Architecture was publicly introduced in 2001 and served as the foundation for embedded software deployed in automotive telematics, industrial automation systems, gateways, screenphones, and handheld gadgets.
In 2003, the core OSGi Service Platform from PvC was restructured into the Eclipse runtime incubator project known as Equinox, which led to the launch of Eclipse 3.0 in 2004 featuring a modular Rich Client Platform (RCP).
The year 2004 saw IBM unveil Workplace Client Technology (WCT), aimed at managed desktop client applications based on PvC Device Architecture and RCP frameworks. WCT included document editors compatible with OpenDocument standards. That same year, IBM renamed PvC Device Architecture to Workplace Client Technology Micro Edition (WCTME) while rebranding the original WCT as Workplace Client Technology Rich Client Edition (WCTRE).
IBM further introduced WCTME-Enterprise Offering (WCTME-EO), a streamlined platform concentrating on line-of-business application integration without document editing capabilities. Over the following years:
- WCT Rich Edition transitioned into Workplace Managed Client.
- WCTME-EO briefly carried the name Workplace Managed Client for WebSphere before its release as WebSphere Everyplace Deployment for Windows and Linux—a suite encompassing both client and server technologies.
By 2006, IBM shifted its branding focus from Workplace to Lotus and WebSphere, establishing the Expeditor brand under Lotus:
- WebSphere Everyplace Deployment was renamed Lotus Expeditor.
- The Windows/Linux client became known as Lotus Expeditor Client for Desktop.
- WCTME evolved into Lotus Expeditor Client for Devices.
- Server components responsible for application management were rebranded as Lotus Expeditor Server.
- Technologies originating from Workplace Managed Client—including document editors—were integrated into Lotus Notes 8 and Lotus Symphony.