Hardly any software product can look back on such an eventful and long history as Notes/Domino. From an idea at an American university in the 1970s to the rise as the world's leading groupware platform to the acquisition by HCL Technologies – the history of Notes/Domino is a story of pioneering spirit, innovation, and perseverance.
This post traces the entire chronology – year by year, with the people involved, technical milestones, and numerous image sources for reference.
Note on images: For licensing reasons, no images are shown in this article. However, the text contains numerous links to historical photos, screenshots, and videos – simply click on the respective links to view the visual material directly from the original provider.
Table of Contents
A. The Prehistory: PLATO Notes (1973–1983)1973 – PLATO Notes at the University of Illinois1976 – PLATO Group NotesB. The Birth: Iris Associates (1984–1989)1984 – Ray Ozzie and the Founding of Iris Associates1985 – First Demonstration1988 – Lotus acquires Iris AssociatesC. Lotus Notes 1.0 – The Launch (1989)December 7, 1989 – Lotus Notes 1.0 is releasedD. The 1990s: Rapid Rise1990 – Lotus Notes 1.11991 – Lotus Notes 2.01993 – Lotus Notes 3.01994 – Lotus Notes 3.1 and 3.21995 – IBM acquires Lotus Development Corporation1995 – Lotus Notes 3.31996 – Lotus Notes 4.0 and the birth of "Domino"E. The 2000s: Web Integration and Enterprise Dominance1999 – Lotus Notes/Domino 5.02002 – Lotus Notes/Domino 6.02005 – Lotus Notes/Domino 7.02007 – Lotus Notes/Domino 8.02008 – Lotus Notes/Domino 8.5F. Brand Renamings (2012–2013)2012 – The End of the "Lotus" Brand2013 – IBM Notes/Domino 9.0 (Social Edition)G. The HCL Era Begins (2017–present)2017 – IBM and HCL Technologies become partners2018 – HCL Notes/Domino 10.0December 2018 – IBM sells Notes/Domino to HCLJuly 2019 – Acquisition completedDecember 2019 – HCL Notes/Domino 11.0H. The Modern Era: HCL Notes/Domino 12–14.5.1 (2021–2026)June 2021 – HCL Notes/Domino 12.0December 2023 – HCL Notes/Domino 14.0June 2025 – HCL Notes/Domino 14.5March 2026 – HCL Notes/Domino 14.5.1 (Notes/Domino 2026)I. Version Overview at a GlanceJ. Key Owners at a GlanceK. Further Resources and Image SourcesL. Conclusion
A. The Prehistory: PLATO Notes (1973–1983)
1973 – PLATO Notes at the University of Illinois
The roots of Notes go back to the CERL (Computer Education Research Laboratory) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There, David R. Woolley developed an application called PLATO Notes in 1973 – a simple message board system on the PLATO computer system.
PLATO Notes allowed users to tag messages with a unique user ID and a timestamp. The main purpose was bug documentation, but the system laid the foundation for later groupware concepts.
1976 – PLATO Group Notes
CERL released PLATO Group Notes, an extension with group discussion features – an early concept of what would later become known as "Collaboration Software".
Image sources for the PLATO era:
- PLATO Terminal (Photo, University of Illinois Archives): archives.library.illinois.edu – Student Using PLATO Terminal
- PLATO V Terminal Display (Photo, Computer History Museum): computerhistory.org – PLATO V Terminal
- PLATO System Overview with Photos: distributedmuseum.illinois.edu – PLATO
- PLATO Photo Gallery (University of Michigan): umsi580 – Photographs of PLATO
- Video: PLATO Computer System 1966 (YouTube): youtube.com – 1966 PLATO
- IEEE Spectrum – PLATO with Photos: spectrum.ieee.org – A Look Back at PLATO
- CHM Blog – PLATO (with many photos): computerhistory.org – PLATO: The Computer System That Was Decades Ahead of Its Time
B. The Birth: Iris Associates (1984–1989)
1984 – Ray Ozzie and the Founding of Iris Associates
On December 7, 1984, Ray Ozzie and Mitch Kapor (founder of Lotus Development Corporation) signed a contract that would permanently change the history of enterprise software.
Ozzie had worked on the PLATO system in the 1970s and later gained experience at Software Arts (VisiCalc) and Lotus Development. Together with Tim Halvorsen and Len Kawell – also PLATO and DEC veterans – he founded Iris Associates in Westford, Massachusetts.
Mitch Kapor funded the project with an initial investment of 1.2 million US dollars. Kapor later referred to this as the best investment of his life.
Key People:
- Ray Ozzie – Visionary, founder and CEO of Iris Associates, later Chief Software Architect at Microsoft
- Mitch Kapor – Founder of Lotus Development Corporation (known for Lotus 1-2-3)
- Tim Halvorsen – Co-founder of Iris Associates, co-architect of Notes
- Len Kawell – Co-founder of Iris Associates, co-architect of Notes
Image sources for the founders:
- Ray Ozzie – Portrait and Bio (Computer History Museum, 2021 Fellow): computerhistory.org – Raymond Ozzie
- Ray Ozzie – Photos and History (CHM Blog with childhood photo and more): computerhistory.org – Meet 2021 Fellow Ray Ozzie
- Ray Ozzie – detailed biography with photos (CHM Blog): computerhistory.org – Building the Future with Ray Ozzie
- Ray Ozzie – Oral History Video (90 min.): YouTube – Oral History of Ray Ozzie
- Ray Ozzie – CHM Fellow Awards Video: YouTube – 2021 CHM Fellow Awards, Ray Ozzie
- Ray Ozzie – Wikipedia (with photo): en.wikipedia.org – Ray Ozzie
- Ray Ozzie – University of Illinois (with portrait): grainger.illinois.edu – Raymond Ozzie
- Mitch Kapor – Portrait and Bio (Computer History Museum, 1996 Fellow): computerhistory.org – Mitchell Kapor
- Mitch Kapor – Wikipedia (with photo from 2005): en.wikipedia.org – Mitch Kapor
- Mitch Kapor – Kapor Center (with portrait): kaporcenter.org – Mitch Kapor
- Mitch Kapor – Stock Photos (Getty Images, 35 pictures): gettyimages.com – Mitch Kapor
1985 – First Demonstration
A first version of Notes is presented under the Windows operating system. Development continues internally at Iris Associates. The structure was unusual: Iris controlled product development, while Lotus took over sales and marketing.
1988 – Lotus acquires Iris Associates
After Mitch Kapor recognized the potential of Ozzie's work, Lotus Development Corporation acquired Iris Associates as a subsidiary. However, development work remained largely independent.
Fun Fact: Even before the release of version 1.0, the head of Price Waterhouse was so impressed by a pre-release demo that he ordered 10,000 copies of Lotus Notes – the largest single sale of a PC software product up to that point.
C. Lotus Notes 1.0 – The Launch (1989)
December 7, 1989 – Lotus Notes 1.0 is released
Exactly five years to the day after the contract signing between Kapor and Ozzie, Lotus Notes 1.0 was officially announced. The first version ran under DOS 3.1 and OS/2 and sold over 35,000 times.
Revolutionary features for 1989:
- RSA Public Key Encryption – the first commercially distributed product with RSA cryptography
- Digital signatures and authentication
- Dial-up functionality
- Access Control Lists (ACL)
- E-mail with return receipts
- Data import and export
Image sources for Lotus Notes 1.0:
- Screenshot Notes 1.0 (Original UI): notesworks4.us – History of Notes
- Video: The story of Notes since Release 1 (with historical screenshots): YouTube – The story of IBM Lotus Domino Notes since Release 1
- Screenshots of all early versions (1.0 to 6.5 with GIF images): angelfire.com – History of Lotus Notes
- Lotus Notes 1.0 with RSA Info (Facebook/Dokobit with picture): facebook.com – Dokobit: Lotus Notes 1.0
- Screenshots of various versions (1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0): stellarinfo.com – Complete History
- Lotus Notes Retail Packaging (Stock photo, Getty Images): gettyimages.com – Lotus Notes Packaging
- Lotus Notes R5 Retail Box (eBay listing with photo): ebay.com – Lotus Notes Release 5
D. The 1990s: Rapid Rise
1990 – Lotus Notes 1.1
A minor update with restructured code and portability layers that laid the foundation for future platform independence.
1991 – Lotus Notes 2.0
A Major Release with a focus on scalability. Iris Associates wanted to make Notes fit for up to 10,000 users to appeal to large enterprises. New features:
- Extended formula language (@Functions)
- Address lookup in mails
- Multiple name and address books
- Return receipts for memos
- Larger databases
Large organizations now began to deploy Lotus Notes comprehensively.
Image source Lotus Notes 2.0: stellarinfo.com – Complete History (with screenshot)
1993 – Lotus Notes 3.0
In May 1993, Release 3.0 was published (Build 114.3c – the 114th successful build!). At this point, over 2,000 companies and nearly 500,000 people were already using Lotus Notes.
Key innovations:
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, OS/2, Macintosh, Unix)
- Revised user interface
- First rewrite of the database system (NIF)
- Support for up to 200 concurrent users per server
- Introduction of hierarchical usernames (Release 3.0)
- Replication – a still unique concept for synchronizing data between servers and offline clients
The price was reduced to reach a larger market.
Image source Lotus Notes 3.0: angelfire.com – History of Lotus Notes (with original screenshot)
1994 – Lotus Notes 3.1 and 3.2
- February 1994: Notes 3.1
- October 1994: Notes 3.2
Continuous improvements in stability and performance. Lotus fully acquired control over Iris Associates this year.
1995 – IBM acquires Lotus Development Corporation
On June 5, 1995, IBM under CEO Lou Gerstner announced a hostile takeover bid for Lotus Development Corporation – initially for 60 US dollars per share. On June 11, the companies agreed on 64 US dollars per share, totaling 3.52 billion US dollars.
It was the largest software acquisition of all time at that point. IBM mainly wanted Lotus Notes – the leading groupware platform – and access to enterprise customers.
The deal was closed on July 6, 1995. Lotus became the Lotus Development Division within IBM.
Key people in the IBM acquisition:
- Lou Gerstner – IBM CEO (1993–2002), drove the acquisition
- John M. Thompson – IBM Senior VP, proposed the acquisition
- Jim Manzi – CEO of Lotus Development, ultimately accepted the increased offer
Image sources for the IBM acquisition and people:
- Lou Gerstner – Portrait 1995 (Wikimedia Commons, public domain): commons.wikimedia.org – Lou Gerstner IBM CEO 1995
- Lou Gerstner – IBM Biography (with portrait): ibm.com/history – Louis Gerstner
- Lou Gerstner – Stock Photos (Getty Images, 77 pictures): gettyimages.com – Lou Gerstner
- Jim Manzi – Wikipedia (CEO of Lotus): en.wikipedia.org – Jim Manzi
- Jim Manzi – Stock Photos (Getty Images, 31 pictures): gettyimages.com – Jim Manzi
- NY Times Article on the acquisition: nytimes.com – IBM wins Lotus
- LA Times Article: latimes.com – Lotus OKs Takeover
- Lotus 25th Anniversary Photos (Flickr): flickr.com – Lotus 25th
- Lotusphere 20th Anniversary Panel (Flickr): flickr.com – Notes 20th Anniversary
1995 – Lotus Notes 3.3
Still under the "Lotus" label, version 3.3 was released in February 1995.
1996 – Lotus Notes 4.0 and the birth of "Domino"
In January 1996, Lotus Notes 4.0 was released – a milestone with a completely revised user interface based on customer feedback. At the presentation at Lotusphere (the annual user conference), it received a standing ovation.
New features:
- Integration of Web technologies (InterNotes Web Publisher)
- LotusScript as a programming language
- Notes documents viewable as HTML pages in the browser
In December 1996, Lotus Notes 4.5 followed – and with it the renaming of the server:
The server is now called "Domino" – an independent brand.
New features in 4.5:
- Native HTTP server
- POP3 and SMTP/MIME support
- Calendar and scheduling
- Java support
- Mobile corporate address book
Image sources Lotus Notes 4.0 / 4.5:
- Screenshots Notes 4.0 and 4.5 (Original UI with GIF images): angelfire.com – History of Lotus Notes
- Vintage Domino Poster (1996): facebook.com – HCL Enthusiasts Group
- Lotusphere conference slogans and history (1993–2006): idonotes.com – Lotusphere conference slogans
- Lotusphere Presentations (SlideShare, Peter Presnell, 1993–2014): slideshare.net – Lotusphere
- Mark Cuban on Notes history (Blog Maverick, 2004): blogmaverick.com – A little bit of history, Lotus Notes
E. The 2000s: Web Integration and Enterprise Dominance
1999 – Lotus Notes/Domino 5.0
Release 5.0 was internally known as Build 160 – the 160th successful build since 1984. The release contained architectural elements that dated back to version 1.0.
Innovations:
- Completely new user interface with browser-like elements
- Enhanced web integration
- Support for numerous Internet protocols
- Available for Unix, Netware, Windows NT/95/98, and OS/2
Image source Notes 5.0: angelfire.com – History of Lotus Notes (with screenshot)
2002 – Lotus Notes/Domino 6.0
In September/October 2002, version 6.0 was released. IBM positioned the release as a response to increasing competition (especially Microsoft Exchange):
- Improved scalability and performance
- Reduced administration effort
- Enhanced calendar and scheduling functions
- First comprehensive Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) – a milestone in security
- Code reuse and faster development
IBM also reacted with lower prices to regain market share.
Version 6.5 (September 2003) brought tighter integration with other IBM/Lotus products like Domino Web Access (iNotes) and Sametime Instant Messaging.
Image source Notes 6.0: stellarinfo.com – Complete History (with screenshot)
2005 – Lotus Notes/Domino 7.0
Version 7.0 was released in August 2005 with the goal of further simplifying deployment and administration:
- DB2 integration for Domino applications
- Improved web integration
- Stronger encryption
- Performance optimizations in the server
- Available for Windows, macOS, Linux/x86
Image source Notes 7.0: stellarinfo.com – Complete History (with screenshot)
2007 – Lotus Notes/Domino 8.0
Version 8.0 was released in August 2007 and marked a fundamental shift:
- Eclipse-based client (IBM Lotus Expeditor)
- Open-source, Java-based platform
- Completely revised user interface
- New productivity tools
- Integration of IBM Lotus Symphony (Office suite)
- Widgets and Google Gadgets (in later minor releases)
2008 – Lotus Notes/Domino 8.5
Version 8.5 brought further significant innovations in December 2008:
- XPages technology – based on JavaServer Faces, enabling the development of modern web applications directly in Domino
- Enhanced Eclipse client integration
- Improved UI performance and stability
Image source Notes 8.0: stellarinfo.com – Complete History (with screenshot)
F. Brand Renamings (2012–2013)
2012 – The End of the "Lotus" Brand
IBM decided to discontinue the "Lotus" brand. All products were subsequently marketed under the "IBM" name.
2013 – IBM Notes/Domino 9.0 (Social Edition)
In March 2013, version 9.0 was released – the product was now officially called "IBM Notes" and "IBM Domino".
Innovations:
- Optimized client support (browser, native client, mobile devices)
- iOS, Android, BlackBerry 10, and Windows 8 support
- Improved iNotes integration
- Notes Traveler for mobile synchronization
- Removal of IBM Lotus Symphony integration
The quiet phase: After version 9.0, no significant major updates followed until 2017. IBM focused on Cloud, Watson (AI), Blockchain, and Security. Notes/Domino faded into the background. Many customers and partners were frustrated by the lack of progress.
G. The HCL Era Begins (2017–present)
2017 – IBM and HCL Technologies become partners
In December 2017, IBM announced a strategic partnership with the Indian IT service provider HCL Technologies:
- HCL took over the development and service of Notes, Domino, and Sametime
- Sales and marketing initially remained with IBM
- HCL received a revenue share
- Both companies jointly planned version 10
Many former IBM employees were taken over by HCL or newly hired. The mood in the community improved significantly.
2018 – HCL Notes/Domino 10.0
In October 2018, Notes/Domino 10.0 was released – the first release under significant HCL development. HCL proved that a fully-fledged new version was possible in less than a year.
Innovations:
- Domino Query Language (DQL)
- Improved cluster replication
- Performance monitoring interface
- REST API via HTTP interface
- CentOS support
- IBM Verse on Premises
- Sametime Chat
December 2018 – IBM sells Notes/Domino to HCL
On December 6, 2018, IBM announced it would sell a range of software products to HCL – including Notes & Domino, Connections, Sametime, Unica, BigFix, and others. The total deal amounted to 1.8 billion US dollars.
Key people in the HCL acquisition:
- Shiv Nadar – Founder and Chairman of HCL Technologies
- C. Vijayakumar – CEO of HCL Technologies
- Richard Jefts – General Manager, HCL Digital Solutions (later responsible for Notes/Domino)
- Andrew Manby – VP Product Management, HCL Digital Solutions
July 2019 – Acquisition completed
The acquisition was formally completed in July 2019. Notes/Domino was now fully housed within the HCL Software Division. The product was henceforth called HCL Notes and HCL Domino.
December 2019 – HCL Notes/Domino 11.0
On December 20, 2019 – exactly 30 years after the release of version 1.0 – version 11.0 was released:
- SwiftFile AI assistant for mail organization
- 128-bit AES encryption for local databases
- Improvements for administrators, business users, and developers
- Sametime 11 and Connections 6.5 also available
H. The Modern Era: HCL Notes/Domino 12–14.5.1 (2021–2026)
June 2021 – HCL Notes/Domino 12.0
Version 12.0 opened the platform to the cloud:
- HCL Nomad Web – Run Notes applications directly in the browser
- HCL Domino REST API (formerly "Keep")
- Active Directory integration for user management
- Cloud-native deployment options
- AutoInstall for simplified server installation
Subsequent releases 12.0.1 (December 2021) and 12.0.2 (December 2023) brought continuous improvements.
December 2023 – HCL Notes/Domino 14.0
With version 14.0, HCL continued the modernization consistently:
- Modernized REST API
- User management also for non-administrators
- Enhanced Domino Restyle for a more modern application look
- Significantly improved security features
- HCL Domino Leap for low-code development
June 2025 – HCL Notes/Domino 14.5
Version 14.5 brought significant innovations:
- Domino IQ – first AI-supported functions directly on the platform (local inference)
- AutoUpdate and advanced AutoInstall functionality
- Enhanced REST API
- Sametime Web Chat/PWA integration
- Improved security and modern authentication services
- iNotes was discontinued with this release (replaced by HCL Verse)
March 2026 – HCL Notes/Domino 14.5.1 (Notes/Domino 2026)
The latest version at the time of this article:
- Domino IQ with RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) – AI on your own data, without the cloud
- Completely modernized UI – new font Inter, revised Properties Panel, modernized controls
- OIDC authentication for the Notes Client
- New Windows Installer (installation in ~38 seconds)
- Integrated Sametime Web Chat with read receipts and reactions
- New system templates with a modern look & feel
I. Version Overview at a Glance
Version | Date | Owner / Highlights |
Lotus Notes 1.0 | Dec 1989 | Iris/Lotus – First version, RSA encryption, 35,000 sold copies |
Lotus Notes 1.1 | Aug 1990 | Iris/Lotus – Restructured code |
Lotus Notes 2.0 | 1991 | Iris/Lotus – Scalability for large enterprises |
Lotus Notes 3.0 | May 1993 | Iris/Lotus – Cross-platform, Replication, up to 200 users/server |
Lotus Notes 3.1 | Feb 1994 | Iris/Lotus |
Lotus Notes 3.2 | Oct 1994 | Iris/Lotus |
Lotus Notes 3.3 | Feb 1995 | Iris/Lotus |
Lotus Notes 4.0 | Jan 1996 | IBM/Lotus – New UI, LotusScript, Web integration |
Lotus Notes/Domino 4.5 | Dec 1996 | IBM/Lotus – Server becomes "Domino", HTTP, POP3, Calendar |
Lotus Notes/Domino 5.0 | 1999 | IBM/Lotus – Browser UI, Internet protocols |
Lotus Notes/Domino 6.0 | Sep 2002 | IBM/Lotus – PKI, improved scalability |
Lotus Notes/Domino 6.5 | Sep 2003 | IBM/Lotus – Sametime integration, iNotes |
Lotus Notes/Domino 7.0 | Aug 2005 | IBM/Lotus – DB2 integration, Linux support |
Lotus Notes/Domino 8.0 | Aug 2007 | IBM/Lotus – Eclipse client, Lotus Symphony |
Lotus Notes/Domino 8.5 | Dec 2008 | IBM/Lotus – XPages technology |
IBM Notes/Domino 9.0 | Mar 2013 | IBM – Renamed from "Lotus" to "IBM", Social Edition |
HCL Notes/Domino 10.0 | Oct 2018 | IBM/HCL – DQL, REST API, first HCL development release |
HCL Notes/Domino 11.0 | Dec 2019 | HCL – SwiftFile, AES-128, 30th anniversary |
HCL Notes/Domino 12.0 | Jun 2021 | HCL – Nomad Web, REST API, Active Directory |
HCL Notes/Domino 14.0 | Dec 2023 | HCL – Domino Restyle, modernized REST API |
HCL Notes/Domino 14.5 | Jun 2025 | HCL – Domino IQ (AI), AutoUpdate, Sametime PWA |
HCL Notes/Domino 14.5.1 | Mar 2026 | HCL – RAG, new UI, OIDC, new installer |
J. Key Owners at a Glance
Owner | Period | Significance |
Iris Associates | 1984–1988 | Founded by Ray Ozzie, Tim Halvorsen, Len Kawell. Development of Notes 1.0. |
Lotus Development Corporation | 1988–1995 | Acquisition of Iris, sales and marketing of Lotus Notes. Founder: Mitch Kapor. |
IBM | 1995–2019 | Acquisition of Lotus for 3.5 billion USD. Further development until version 9.0, then stagnation. |
HCL Technologies | 2017–present | First development partner (2017), then full owner (2019, 1.8 billion USD). Massive further development. |
K. Further Resources and Image Sources
For more historical pictures and details, I recommend the following sources:
- The History of Notes and Domino (IBM/NotesMail PDF): notesmail.com – History PDF – Comprehensive IBM documentation with many details
- History of Lotus Notes (Angelfire): angelfire.com – History of Lotus Notes – Original screenshots of all versions from 1.0 to 6.5
- History of Notes (NotesWorks4Us): notesworks4.us – History – Overview with screenshot Notes 1.0
- Complete History (Stellar): stellarinfo.com – Complete History – Screenshots of various versions
- Die Historie von Domino und Notes (Ehmig): ehmig.de – The History – German overview with version table
- History of Innovations (David Hablewitz): davidhablewitz.com – History of Innovations – Innovation history with a focus on security
- Wikipedia (German): de.wikipedia.org – HCL Notes
- Wikipedia (English): en.wikipedia.org – HCL Notes
- Ray Ozzie – Computer History Museum: computerhistory.org – Raymond Ozzie
- Mitch Kapor – Computer History Museum: computerhistory.org – Mitchell Kapor
- The History of Lotus Notes (SlideShare/Peter Presnell): slideshare.net – History of Lotus Notes
- 30 Jahre Lotus Notes (Heise Online/Volker Weber): heise.de – 30 Years of Lotus Notes
L. Conclusion
The history of Notes/Domino is one of the most remarkable success stories in the software industry. What began in 1973 as a simple message board at a university became the world's leading groupware platform, which in its prime was used by tens of thousands of companies and millions of users.
Despite all changes in ownership – from Iris Associates via Lotus and IBM to HCL – Notes/Domino has proven to be incredibly durable and adaptable. Under HCL, the platform has experienced a renaissance since 2017: with a modern UI, AI integration, cloud capabilities, and active ongoing development.
Or as the community says: #dominoforever 💛
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