Attending Claris Engage 2025 in Austin was more than just a professional experience—it was an inspiring deep dive into the future of the Claris platform. From the moment I walked into the vibrant event space, it was clear this year’s Engage was focused on connection, innovation, and celebration.
Whether you’re a long-time FileMaker developer or new to the Claris ecosystem, this event had something for everyone. Here’s a recap of some of the major themes and moments that stood out to me—and why this year felt like a true turning point for the platform.
A Unified Platform Vision
One of the clearest messages from Claris leadership was their commitment to a unified development experience and to continue to be the leader in the SMB development platform market. FileMaker, Claris Studio, and Claris Connect are now tied together more seamlessly than ever under a single licensing structure.
This streamlining isn’t just a licensing shift—it reflects a vision where developers can more easily build, deploy, and manage solutions that span structured databases, modern web forms, workflow automation, and APIs. It also opens doors for teams to collaborate more efficiently across different tools and skill levels.
This evolution is especially relevant as low-code and pro-code development continue to converge. The platform is maturing to support both rapid prototyping and robust, scalable deployments—without compromise.
AI in Action: The Future is Now
A major highlight was the strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and its role in app development.
Multiple sessions showcased how AI can be integrated into Claris workflows, from generating insights to automating repetitive tasks. Claris Studio’s growing capabilities—particularly around structured data capture and visualization, offer exciting new opportunities for creating smart, responsive applications.
What’s clear is that AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s now a real, practical part of the Claris developer toolkit. For those of us experimenting with voice assistants, transcription tools, or predictive models, this felt like validation that we’re moving in the right direction.
Recognition and Milestones
One of the most meaningful moments for me personally was during the Claris Excellence Awards ceremony.
🏆 Direct Impact Solutions was honoured to receive the Humanitarian Award 🎉
for the development of a custom pro bono database for Heartbeat Denver Working Men’s Shelter, replacing outdated systems with an intuitive, efficient solution. By streamlining data management, this work enables shelter staff to provide faster, more effective support—technology making a real difference.
This recognition was a proud milestone, celebrating the hard work our team has put into pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with the Claris platform. Whether it’s through innovative client solutions, internal tools, or community contribution, it’s gratifying to see our efforts acknowledged on such a visible stage.
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Meaningful Connections
Of course, one of the biggest reasons we come to Engage is the community.
From the opening reception to hallway chats between sessions, there were countless opportunities to meet developers, consultants, and partners from around the world. Whether it was a casual conversation over tacos or a deep technical debate in a breakout session, the sense of camaraderie was strong.
These face-to-face moments reminded me why I value being part of this community so much. We’re not just solving technical problems—we’re helping organizations run smoother, serve better, and adapt faster.
Session Highlights and Takeaways
Some standout sessions for me included:
- Leveraging Local LLMs for Claris FileMaker Integration by Xandon Frogget – Learn how to integrate a local large language model (LLM) with Claris FileMaker to add powerful AI features—like intelligent search and content generation—while ensuring full data privacy and on-premises control.
- Best Practices for Using Semantic Search in Claris FileMaker Pro by Ian Jempson – Learn how to implement semantic search in FileMaker Pro using native tools, plug-ins, and NLP to create smarter, more intuitive data retrieval and user experiences.
- Troubleshoot like a Pro with Claris FileMaker Server by Wim Decorte – Learn how to analyze Claris FileMaker Server logs to identify performance bottlenecks, prioritize fixes, and improve the stability of your solutions.
- Solving Real-World Use Cases with Claris Studio, Claris Connect & Claris FileMaker by Marcelo Pineyro – Learn how to integrate Claris Studio, Claris Connect, and FileMaker to solve real-world use cases—sharing data between platforms, handling authentication, and managing errors—while offering best practices and architectural tips for seamless integration.
If you’re looking to deepen your Claris skills or stay ahead of platform changes, the session recordings (when released) are well worth a watch.
Final Thoughts
Claris Engage 2025 felt like a rallying point—one where the platform, the people, and the possibilities all aligned.
Between the product announcements, technical insights, personal connections, and the thrill of being recognized among peers, I left the event re-energized and full of ideas. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned back to my team and continue building smarter, more impactful solutions.
Whether you were in Austin or following from afar, I hope this gives you a sense of the energy and innovation that defined this year’s Engage.
See you next year!