If you haven't heard or read about it already there's a new download available from the XPages Extension Library project on OpenNTF, and it's something that is going to help\change the way you do your XPages application development.

What is the XPages Extension Library?

A set of advanced, optimized, controls and other XPages assets

• Provide a rich UI to web applications through a set of new Web 2.0 controls/behaviors
• Does not require new knowledge beyond core XPages

Integrates within Domino Designer
Works on both the client and the server, and provides Mobile support
Designed for performance from the ground-up
Fully implemented using the XPages extensibility API

• Code source is available
• Installs on top of Notes/Domino 8.5.2

Internally use by the next generation of templates

• Discussion database, Teamroom, Document Library...

What I like most about the XPages Extension Library is that it gives you an insight into the power of the XPages Extension API (ExtAPI) implementation in Notes Domino 852. It gives you a glimpse at how your everyday XPages development will look like in the future and how it fits in with your typical Notes app development.

The ExtAPI may not be for everyone. If you have zero Java development experience the up-skilling effort needed to take advantage of the ExtAPI may be considerable. However, if you belong to a Notes dev app team that has someone with that skill then a lot of doors open. These people can then develop advanced XPages controls and assets with the ExtAPI, contribute them to a library to be consumed and reused by the rest of the team in their XPages apps.

So what are you waiting for? Give it a go. Download and unzip it to a temp folder. Install the updateSite to your Domino Designer. Restart your Notes Client and Designer. Get the sample app that comes with the download, XPagesExt.nsf, open it in Designer, and launch the 'Core_Home' xpage. You can then preview this xpage in XPiNC to see the ExtLib in action.