Alexei Folger August 4, 2021
Long time FileMaker expert Alexei Folger joins our crew at Fireside FileMaker for one of the most entertaining and informative interviews we've had this year.
If you aren't familiar with the name, Alexei has been in the FileMaker market for over three decades, starting out at the famed MIT Users Group, working in various capacities at Claris as a technical support agent
and Systems Engineer and continuing her support of the FileMaker platform at Apple, Beezwax and finally as president of her own company. To say Alexei has a vast knowledge of FileMaker is an understatement.
As Michael would say, join us for a fascinating conversation with Alexei about so many topics, they can't be summarized here!
FileMaker's Evangelist July 8, 2021
We were honored to be joined by Claris employee Andy LeCates who has been a leading light in the FileMaker community for several decades and has a wealth of experience both in developing professional FileMaker solutions and
in promoting FileMaker. Andy is a superb presenter who has presented at almost every FileMaker developer conference. As the Director of Evangelism at Claris, you'll be amazed at Andy's insight into the FileMaker market.
A Shockey to the System June 9, 2021
Our special guest today is Bob Shockey, one of the FileMaker community's best known developers. Bob came to talk about Process Driven Design but, as usual, we went off in tangents for a fascinating two hour conversation with somebody who has an enormous depth of experience and knowledge.
Learn Something Every Day May 5, 2021
Including our regualr guest, Marc Larochelle, all 3 of us have extensive experience in the FileMaker training market including teaching classes, creating videos, writing books, speaking at conferences and much more. Whether you are a student or a budding trainer, this fascinating discussion about all things training will help you become a better trainer or student. Come listen as we discuss so many different aspects of training, it's impossible to list them all here.
A Knight in Shining Armor April 7, 2021
David Knight is one of the FileMaker community's best known developers, running a successful consulting firm, speaking at DevCon and holding a board member position at the Chamber of Commerce in Burbank. Listen as we explore how David started his business from scratch and ended up as one of the most successful FileMaker development firms in the world. You might be surprised how he started his career in the FileMaker market and how it could spur you to think outside the box like David. And, did we forget to mention he helps manage the largest FileMaker developers group in the world? There's so much to summarize from this chat so let's just let the PodCast do the talking.
A Conversation with Brad Freitag March 3, 2021
We were very honored to have Brad Freitag join us for, our 41st episode and, an absolutely fascinating conversation which gives all FileMaker developers the opportunity to hear Brad discuss his vision for Claris and his absolute committment to the developer community; something I don't believe any of us have heard before.
This is a podcast that should be listened to by everybody who cares about FileMaker and wants to know what is in store for the future. It is also a great way to get to know the man behind the sea changes that we are all experiencing on, almost, a daily basis. it to him. Please email your comments to info@firesidefilemaker.com. Thank you.
Can you Hear me Running - Faster? February 10, 2021
Our guest today is Nick Lightbody from the UK, who you may not be familiar with but, behind the scenes, Nick has had and continues to have enormous influence on the work we do, because he is intently focused on getting FileMaker to perform better and faster. In Nick's words
"Performance is the most underdiscussed subject and yet it is the object of most complaints."
In this fascinating discussion, Nick talks about the work he does and its implications, and it will give all of us some really powerful strategies for having our solutions work better, plus insights on things that we should all be aware of. We think you'll be particularly intrigued by Nick's thoughts and usage of repeating fields for very high performance solutions.
Walking in Carlton's Shoes January 27, 2021
In this episode, we are visited by the one and only Richard Carlton from RC consulting Inc. Richard Carlton is a long time veteran of the FileMaker Community. With his 28 years of experience, he has built a team of 32 FileMaker developers and supporting staff throughout North America. Richard is best known for his video courses on the FileMaker Platform, developing “FM Starting Point” Business Software (free to everyone). RCC is involved with every facet of the FileMaker platform including: training, development of custom apps, and large scale deployments with organizations. So, needless to say, Richard has a treasure trove of experience that he shares that with us in a refreshing and candid way. Our conversation includes a wide range of topics including Claris and their future direction, what it's like training new FileMaker developers, the opportunities of a live daily broadcaster, as well as many other stories of life in Richard's shoes.
Punishing Performance January 6, 2021
In this PodCast, we highlight yet another hero in the FileMaker market, Wim Decorte of Soliant Consulting. As long as there has been FileMaker, it seems like Wim has been there helping people on the message boards, writing white papers and presenting at Claris DevCon/Engage. He even created an open source FileMaker product, called the Punisher, aimed at testing a FileMaker solution over the network. We'll discuss the Punisher and where you can get it, as well as optimizing performance on FileMaker Server, FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Go. Specific subjects include FileMaker Server logs, Linux, AWS, backups, 3rd party software, hardware, WebDirect and security. Come join us for this lively conversation with one of the smartest developers in the FileMaker market!
Going Vertical December 2, 2020
Developing a vertical market FileMaker solution is something that many developers have wanted to do but few do it because they don't have the depth of knowledge as to how to go about it. In this fascinating conversation Michael Rocharde & Marc Larochelle, both of whom have developed successful vertical market solutions, talk with John Mark Osborne about all the different things that have to be taken into account. Using case studies we disect the different methods of deployment, how you find a niche market to develop for, the importance of strategic partnerships, protecting your solution and much, much more. At the end of it you will know, without a shadow of a doubt, whether you want to enter this potential very lucrative but inherently risky arena. Buckle up.
Analyze This! November 11, 2020
In this episode, we are joined by a very special guest, Nick Orr from Goya, in Australia (https://goya.com.au). Nick is the creator of BaseElements, a FileMaker analysis tool which has been around since 2006 and which is one of the preeminent analysis tools for FileMaker developers. We're also joined by our regular guest Marc Larochelle from Productive Computing (https://www.ProductiveComputing.com). Marc has created a dedicated course for BaseElements available at Productive Computing University (https://www.ProductiveComputingUniversity.com) and brings his personal experience and expertise with this tool into the mix. Yes, we are talking a lot about BaseElements itself, but the conversation is far reaching and fascinating.
We believe that every FileMaker developer should be using an analysis tool whether it be BaseElements (www.baseelements.com.au) or Inspector Pro from Beeswax (https://www.beezwax.net/products/inspector-pro) or FMPerception (www.geistinteractive.com). These tools will help your development and allow you to find errors and unused elements in your code that would otherwise be easily overlooked. They are well worth the price of admission.
UI vs UX October 21, 2020
Every once in a while, we find ourselves with a guest who brings a totally unexpected and fascinating viewpoint. These are the episodes that go way beyond the 'you should listen' and reach ‘you must listen'. Today's podcast is one of those episodes. We are joined by Darrin Southern, from CadenceUX in Melbourne, Australia, for an absolutely incredible conversation which starts with the somewhat 'new' concept of UX (the User Experience) and then veers off into some very intersting territory. Both John Mark and I learned a lot and you will also.
These are a Few of our Favorite Things - Part 2 September 30, 2020
In Part 1 of this podcast John Mark and I talked about the major and significant features of all FileMaker versions back to the very beginning or rather when Claris bought it from Nashoba. In Part 2, we start with FileMaker 9 and go all the way up to the current version, Version 19.
These are a Few of our Favorite Things September 9, 2020
In this two part podcast, John Mark and I go back deep into the past to discuss the most important and influential features released in each version of FileMaker. Many, if not most, of these fetures are still in use today but they have all paved the way for the deveopment powerhouse that FieMaker is today. Even though, nobody really needs to know when these features came about, we think you will find this episode more than a little interesting and, as always, we'd love to hear your comments.
Part 1 covers all the way up to FileMaker 9 and Part 2 covfers from 9 to the current version, FileMaker 19.
Were you Engaged? August 11, 2020
Last week, the 1st Claris Engage conference took place, virtually, over a 2 day period. John Mark and Michael plus our special guest Marc Larochelle (from Productive Computing) reminisce about previous DevCons and then, at 11 minutes in, we start to discuss the conference itself. (All of the sessions are available to watch at https://filemakersupport.force.com/en/s/engage#engage-content). Login and then click on Academy, fill in the simple questionnaire and then click on Engage On-Demand). Whether you were able to attend the biggest FileMaker event of the year or not, you can get the complete rundown from our perspective where we highlight what we believe are the most important take-aways applicable to any professional FileMaker developer. Please join us in the conversation!
Our last podcast had a very special guest (Darren Terry) discussing the calculation dependency tree. If you haven't listened to it yet (and almost 1000 people have), we strongly recommend that you take the time to do so. John Mark, Marc Larochelle and myself all learned a lot and found it one of the most fascinating conversations we've had in a long time.
The Calculation Dependency Tree July 22, 2020
We invited Darren Terry on our show to talk about the calculation dependency tree (what triggers calculations to fire). What we got was so much more than we expected. Darren's close ties with Claris engineers and dedication to the platform has given him insight into how FileMaker works under the hood. To put it simply, both of us were flabbergasted at how much he taught us about FileMaker. Come join us in this in this "can't miss" PodCast about the calculation engine and whatever else comes across Darren's big brain. (Our regular guest, Marc Larochelle had this to say "You can plant an entire garden while learning about dependency trees."
Original "Shaking the Dependency Tree" Article from FileMaker Hacks
FileMaker 19 - A Revolution in the Making May 25, 2020
John Mark Osborne and Michael Rocharde are proud to release a special 2 hour episode discussing the release of FileMaker 19 and what it means for Claris, the developer community and ultimately its customers.
At first glance, there doesn't appear to be all that much that is new. But, a closer look reveals a version that is about to revolutionize the way FileMaker solutions are developed.
With our regular guest, Marc Larochelle of Productive Computing, we discuss every aspect of the FileMaker 19 release.
Developer Tools Part 2 May 20, 2020
In Part 1, we discussed all of the tools within FileMaker itself. In Part 2, we discuss many of the external tools that are available to all developers to help their efforts. It's a fascinating discussion and we almost guarantee that you'll discover new tools that may well become essential to you and your work.
Developer Tools May 6, 2020
In this two part podcast, John Mark & I, are once again joined by Marc Larochelle (CEO of Productive Computing) for a discussion about the tools that are available to FileMaker developers at all levels. This part mostly covers the internal tools and options that are available inside of FileMaker and in Part 2, we'll be discussing some of the external (commercially available) tools that could enhance your development efforts. We hope you find the discussion interesting and enjoyable.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Part 2 April 22, 2020
This episode is a continuation of our examination of the 179 script steps in FileMaker 18. We talk about the ones you should know intimately, the ones that you need to be aware of and use occasionally and finally the ones that you should never, under any circumstances use. As always, we'd love to hear your comments so please email us at info@firesidefilemaker.com
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly April 2, 2020
In this episode, John Mark and I discuss all the 179 script steps in FileMaker 18. We tell you which ones you should know intimately and which ones you should avoid using. It's a lengthy topic and this is Part 1 of 2 parts;' the second part will be released on April 23.
A mea culpa from Michael Rocharde.
Apologies to all our listeners for the long delay between episodes; it's completely my fault but there are, of course, extenuating circumstance including a move to Spain (took almost 2 weeks to recover from the jet lag and exhaustion) and being placed in lockdown two days after arriving. We'll now be back on our normal schedule but releasing a new podcast every 3 weeks, instead of every 2).
A special thanks to all who wrote and asked when we were releasing a new episode.
Working with Client Solutions February 26, 2020
In this podcast we are once again joined by Marc Larochelle, President of Productive Computing, for a far-reaching, and absolutely fascinating, conversation about data migration, the Separation model (we get Marc's insights and opinion on this subject so its not just a rehash of stuff we've already talked about), live updates (working on a live copy of the database at the same time as other users are working on it), syncing and some different ways of implementing it, setting developer flags on new scripts for testing; having separate servers for development, testing and production, using a terminal server (remote machine) to perform tasks locally where it would take too long to do it over a WAN and finally performing scripts on servers.
You did what? February 12, 2020
Inexperienced developers often program FileMaker in a particular way because they saw someone else on a video, blog or other resource perform the same series of steps. It even happens because the developer simply follows the client's request. There isn't one set of programming for generalized solutions. It's up to you as a developer to think about the best way to solve a programming problem with all the tools at your disposal. In this podcast, we examine the pros and cons of Quickbooks integration, calendars, web enabling, the data separation model, live development, main menus, dashboards, reporting, progress bars, building solutions from scratch as opposed to using a starter solution, un-stored calculations, custom menus, backing up, organizing the relationship graph and testing scripts and calculations as you go.
Should you modularize? January 29, 2020
Modularization, generally, refers to scripting where you take a section, or sections, of one script and create a sub-script from that which is subsequently called (or invoked) from the original script. There are lots of reasons, and some significant benefits, as to why you might want to do this but there are also a number of gotchas and reasons why you might not want to. In this podcast we discuss the pros and cons of modularization so that you can make your own decisions as to whether it is right for you or for the solution you are working on.
Developing In-House January 15, 2020
You need to develop a solution for your business but you have little or no FileMaker expertise. Should you hire an expert or do you want to take the time to learn FileMaker? If the latter, do you have the time to learn it and is it a good use of your time? Many in-house developers drastically underestimate the amount of time it takes to learn FileMaker, let alone actually program a complex FileMaker solution. And don't forget about the time it will take away from running your business to produce the solution. In this Podcast, we'll explore both options and if you choose to do it yourself, discuss some of the available resources that you can use to learn FileMaker.
What if? January 1, 2020
"What if?" is, perhaps, the most important question that you will ever ask yourself. It's the starting point for all our FileMaker development! We ask ourselves this question all the time when faced with challenges. It's a philosophy for creating the best FileMaker solution possible. It enables you to create faster, better and simpler code that ultimately benefits your client with a more sophisticated FileMaker solution. Come join as we discuss how FileMaker is the best platform out there for trying out new concepts and getting immediate feedback.
Keeping It In Sync December 18, 2019
Today we talk to Jesse Barnum, President of 360Works and one of the best known people in the FileMaker community. We talk mainly about synchronization and their new product, MirrorSync6, but the conversation goes far beyond just that; plugins, FileMaker Cloud, Claris Connect and other subjects. You should find it fascinating listening; we certainly did.
Are You Secure? December 4, 2019
It's more than safe to say that Steven Blackwell knows more about, and has had more influence on, FileMaker security than anybody in the industry. His contributions are legendary and his knowledge is extraordinary. We are honored that Steven accepted our invitation to discuss the subject and we hope you will join us for a fascinating conversation discussing all things security.
Your Host Awaits November 13, 2019
With the release of Cloud 2.0, hosting a FileMaker solution has become more complex due to a myriad of choices. With our special guest Marc Larochelle, we'll go through the assortment of hosting options while comparing and contrasting them. By the end of our conversation, you should have a good idea what flavor of FileMaker hosting is best for your business.
Keeping Things in Context October 30, 2019
In FileMaker, context is everything but what does that mean? How do you know if you are in the correct context and what happens if you're not? Most programming errors are due to being out of context. In this podcast, we discuss everything related to context, using real world examples, so that developers fully understand this most important concept. We also talk about all of the different places where context is important, starting with the relationship graph. In the process, we discuss relationships, the differences between tables and table occurrences and explain anchor-buoy, perhaps the most commonly used method for managing the relationship graph.
A View from 30 Years of FileMaker Experience - Part 2 October 23, 2019
Marc Larochelle, CEO of Productive Computing, is a FileMaker veteran with almost three decades of experience. Part 2 of this exclusive interview continues where we left off and sheds a lot of light on the ever changing world of FileMaker.
A View from 30 Years of FileMaker Experience October 16, 2019
Marc Larochelle, CEO of Productive Computing, is a FileMaker veteran with almost three decades of experience. In this exclusive interview, we get his expert perspective on subjects like APIs, Cloud 2.0, hosting, AWS, plug-ins, the development process, Claris Connect and much more. Marc's keen insight into the FileMaker market will help you understand the complexities of this ever changing environment. With so much to talk about with an industry leader, we've broken it up into two parts with Part 2 being released next Wednesday (October 23rd). Please come join us around the campfire and enjoy our conversation with Marc.
The Ubiquitous Calculation Engine October 2, 2019
The calculation engine is everywhere in the FileMaker interface and for good reason. It adds additional functionality wherever it's employed. It enhances scripting, allows auto-entering related data, provides record level access, hides objects and so much more. To say the calculation engine is invaluable is an understatement. We'll discuss the ins and outs of the calculation engine in all the different areas where it is used so as to provide a big picture view of this crucial feature.
Is Certification Right For You? September 25, 2019
The FileMaker certification exam has been around since FileMaker 7 and is defined as a credential that demonstrates to clients, peers and management your FileMaker skill level. To this date, it's still the only real method for measuring that level. In this Podcast, we discuss the history of certification, what is required to pass it and generally everything you need to know to be successful. We also ponder whether the effort is worth it? What are the advantages and disadvantages of certification? Will certification translate into more business? Can you do just as well without it?
Developing the Interface September 18, 2019
FileMaker solutions can live and die by the interface alone. It's the first thing a user sees and can sway their opinion in the first few seconds of them seeing it for the first time. It's so important but many developers don't give it much thought. How do you develop an interface that clients want to use and which makes it easy for them to do their job? Do you use a standard theme or do you take the time and trouble to develop a custom theme that you can use over and over again? How do you size the screens? How much color should you use? How do you take into account that some of your users may be color blind? These and more points are considered to give you a well rounded look at interface design.
K.I.S.S. September 10, 2019
KISS stands for Keep it Simple, Stupid. It's a funny acronym but a very important concept to apply to the FileMaker development process. Too many developers over-engineer FileMaker solutions, charging clients more than is necessary. KISS is about elegance, about making it easier for someone new to take over a project without having to wade through complicated, modularized scripts that are almost impossible to debug. We live and breathe KISS and hope that, after listening to this podcast, you will too.
WIP your Business into Shape September 4, 2019
The Workplace Innovation Platform (WIP) is a newly defined technology category, by G2.com, for which FileMaker is the leader. There are 27 other software applications on the list and FileMaker was voted the best in the category. While the category itself is new, FileMaker has been WIP compliant for more than 30 years making it very hard for all of its competitors to catch up. Come find out what makes FileMaker uniquely qualified as a visual design and full-stack development application, collaborative, secure, integrative and supportive like no other WIP tool on the planet.
A Conversation with Claris - Part 2 August 28, 2019
This is Part 2 of a 2 part (90 minute) amazing conversation with Rick Kalman, Director of Product Management for FileMaker, and Robert Holsey, Senior Product Manager for FileMaker. Rick and Robert talk about, among other things, Claris Connect, the benefits of acquisition instead of strategic partnerships, save as XML, responsive layouts, Apple's influence, live database development, moving to a web first strategy and changes to the relationship graph. We are extremely grateful that they took so much of their time to talk with us candidly and openly.
Part 1 was released last Wednesday (8/21/19). Steven Blackwell tweeted that it was an 'Exceptionally significant PodCast' and that 'All #FileMaker developers should listen.' https://firesidefilemaker.podbean.com/e/a-conversation-with-claris-part-1/
A Conversation with Claris - Part 1 August 21, 2019
This is Part 1 of a 2 part (90 minute) fascinating conversation with Rick Kalman, Director of Product Management for FileMaker, and Robert Holsey, Senior Product Manager for FileMaker. If you aren't familiar with these two experienced Claris International employees, we consider them to be part of the backbone of the company. Rick and Robert share some incredible insights about what goes into releasing a new version, their vision for the future and their quest to make FileMaker the best tool on the planet. We are very honored that they took so much of their time to talk with us candidly and openly.
Welcome Back Claris August 14, 2019
At the FileMaker Developer Conference last week, FileMaker, Inc. announced they had changed their name to Claris International and purchased Stamplay. This is a bit of déjà vu for anyone who remembers MacWrite, MacPaint and Claris Corporation. It's a blast from the past that's been modernized. We'll share our thoughts on the announcement and even speculate as to what the future holds. Come join us for this exciting new era for FileMaker.
Understanding the Development Process August 7, 2019
What are all the steps in the development process? What are the things you must pay the most attention to? How do you make sure that the project doesn't go off the rails because you forgot something important? How do you manage expectations, both yours and the client? In this podcast, we discuss every aspect of the development process from that very first all important meeting (phone or otherwise) with the new client, all the way to deployment and beyond. We offer different strategies and ideas that you can easily implement to make sure that every project you do has the best chance of success, leaving nothing to chance.
How to Become a Professional FileMaker Developer July 29, 2019
Are you a budding developer who wants to start his own FileMaker business? In this podcast, we talk about what you need to know to become a professional developer as well as how to drum up business by mastering the key skills needed to promote yourself and your services. Technical know-how and business acumen are the key to opening and maintaining a successful FileMaker development firm of one or more people.
About Us July 22, 2019
We talk about our background and experience inside the world of FileMaker which we've spent a combined total of 6 decades working in, including how we got started and what we've been doing since then. We think it's important for you to know that we are both experts in the field of FileMaker and there is nothing that we like more than talking about it and sharing our knowledge.
“Michael and I have created FileMaker example files, written blogs, recorded videos, presented in public and even published books but we have never had the opportunity to record informal chats about FileMaker, much like you would with a FileMaker colleague. We are excited that this medium will allow us to explore FileMaker in a way we've never done before”, says John Mark Osborne.
FileMaker & Excel July 22, 2019
Too often, people abuse the capabilities of a spreadsheet when they should be using a database, like FileMaker. We're hoping that our discussion will help clients and developers alike choose the right tool for the right job. In this podcast, we'll cover subjects like multi-user sharing of information, security, limitations and much more. If you've ever wondered when to use a spreadsheet and when to use a database, this talk will answer your questions and help you to make the best decision.
The Data Separation Model July 22, 2019
In this episode, we talk about the data separation model, a semi-popular technique, used by a number of developers, where the interface is in a separate file from the data, allowing the interface file to be replaced at any time without having to import data into a new version. To say that neither of us are fans of the model would be an understatement, but we discuss what it is, why people use it, our thoughts on it and generally give it a fair shake. We also discuss the new data migration tool which automates the import of data from an old version to a new and how this has changed one of the key reasons for using the data separation model. At the end of it, you'll come to your own conclusions but we hope you'll find the subject matter interesting and the content thought-provoking.
Native FileMaker Functionality July 20, 2019
In this episode, we discuss FileMaker native technologies; what they are, when they should (or should not) be used and lots of other things that we believe you'll find interesting. Like everything else, there's a time and a place for external technologies but too often, these technologies are embraced by those who haven't taken the time to explore what can be done using traditional FileMaker methodologies. We are both FileMaker purists, with a couple lifetimes of experience developing FileMaker solutions, who believe in doing things the FileMaker way first, (often faster, simpler and always easier for somebody else to come in and debug or make changes), and only use other techniques/languages when it makes absolute sense.
