FileMaker DevCast: Everything Claris FileMaker

Hosted by Portage Bay Solutions

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The FileMaker Developer podcast, sponsored by Portage Bay Solutions, is the ultimate destination for developers looking to streamline their development process and rapidly deploy their solutions. Join our expert hosts as they delve into the latest techniques and tools for using Claris FileMaker’s low code platform to create custom, business-critical solutions with ease. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just getting started, this podcast will provide valuable insights and inspiration to help you take your development skills to the next level. // Listen to the DevCast // PortageBay.com

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31 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 3139 min

Episode 31: What We’ve Been Building: Web App Edition

In their spare time, John, Xandon, and Jacob have been creating personal web apps. John is creating a healthcare referral portal that easily and efficiently collects and processes referral submissions. Xandon is prepping for his kid's college days by having all the info they need, like planning, admissions, and athletic recruiting in one space. Jacob is making a homeschool learning platform for his daughter that helps him design personalized education plans for special-needs students.They share the ups and downs of their processes and lessons they've learned about full-stack development, SaaS products, subscriptions, AI-assisted coding, and turning personal challenges into practical software solutions.

May 26, 2026Episode 3034 min

Episode 30: Using ExecuteSQL: A Cautionary Tale

One little ExecuteSQL query can’t hurt… right? In this episode, the team unpacks the FileMaker performance issues hiding inside real-world solutions. Runaway SQL calls, invisible object calculations, and AI-generated code that looked smart until it brought everything to a crawl. They discuss debugging wins, optimization tips, and the kinds of “how did this even happen?” moments that every developer eventually runs into.

April 22, 2026Episode 2940 min

Episode 29: Claude Cowork, AI Linguistics, and 3D Printing

Welcome to an inside look at how our devs are testing out where AI can help versus hinder every day work conundrums. Our team's focus in this meeting is Claude Cowork, a tool designed to track everything within a specified local folder.As for team demonstrations and discussions, Xandon uses a plugin that parses FileMaker XML to generate web-based code reviews and actionable recommendations. Nick showcases a clever approach to token efficiency, using Python scripts to convert verbose XML data into a concise format that LLMs like Claude and Gemini can process with greater accuracy.Beyond development, the team shares their real-world applications of AI assistants, like John generating precise 3D printing step files based on scanned images and measurements.

February 5, 2026Episode 281 hr 3 min

Episode 28: Comparing Tools: FMPerception, BaseElements, 2empowerFM

The Portage Bay team sits down for a conversation about the tools and workflows that support their day-to-day work. Their discussion offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the devs approach problem-solving, collaboration, and efficiency as they kick off the year.The team dives into the systems and tools they use regularly, like FM Perception, Base Elements, and 2Empower which support code navigation, debugging, and understanding complex data flows. While each developer brings their own preferences and opinions on which systems work best, these different approaches help the team collaborate to effectively and consistently deliver well-built, reliable software.

December 15, 2025Episode 2758 min

Episode 27: Meet HAM - Another Option for FileMaker Permissions (with Charles Delfs)

We had the pleasure of hearing Charles Delfs break down HAM (Headless Authorization Module) as he showed us how this system transforms the way you manage roles, permissions, and feature access in FileMaker. Inheritance, overrides, and data-driven rules can replace brittle security setups and open use cases like feature flags, SaaS plans, and time-based access.

November 3, 2025Episode 2648 min

Episode 26: Click, Build, Deploy: FM BetterForms Updates Unwrapped

We’re diving into the latest updates to FM Better Forms and taking a closer look at one of our own client’s web apps built on the platform. We share what’s new in Better Forms and how we’ve used it to build modern, real-world web apps that bridge the gap between low-code speed and polished web performance while combating challenges like caching.

September 19, 2025Episode 2551 min

Episode 25: Reports, Pickers, and JSON: The Value of Virtual Lists

Virtual lists are one of the most powerful and flexible techniques in FileMaker, giving developers the ability to generate custom reports, create dynamic pickers, and display complex data without storing it in fields.The team breaks down the essentials, like how global variables and JSON arrays feed into unstored calculations, how scripts can define headers and build arrays with SQL or looping, and why this approach is so effective for reporting and beyond.We also look at advanced use cases, from scaling large data sets and handling character limits to applying conditional formatting, integrating with WebViewer for interactive tables, and exploring Kevin Frank’s MD5-hashed window method for running multiple virtual lists at once.

July 14, 2025Episode 2436 min

Episode 24: API Integrations: The Good, the Buggy, and the Workarounds

Join our development team as we share real-world insights from recent API integration projects—including SharePoint, Shopify, QuickBooks, and Claris Connect. From handling authentication quirks to leveraging tools like Postman and n8n, this DevCast dives into the decisions, roadblocks, and solutions behind the systems we build. Whether you're navigating OAuth, working with REST vs. GraphQL, or exploring Claris Connect and workflow automation, there’s something here for every FileMaker pro and API tinkerer.

May 13, 2025Episode 2348 min

Episode 23: Smarter Automation with n8n and FileMaker

In this episode of FileMaker DevCast, we dive into n8n—a flexible, low-code workflow automation platform that gives you total control over how your systems talk to each other.We explore how n8n stacks up against tools like Zapier and Claris Connect, and walk through live examples of connecting Google Forms, FileMaker, email services, and even local AI agents. Learn how to build scalable, resilient automations—hosted on your own infrastructure or in the cloud—that will save you time.You’ll hear about:Real-world n8n workflows with Google Sheets and FileMakerThe power of "nodes" vs "zaps" and "connectors"Triggering flows with webhooks, timers, or file changesUsing n8n with LLMs and vector stores for RAG-based AIThe pros and trade-offs of local vs SaaS hostingWhether you're automating internal tools or building next-gen AI workflows, this episode will show you new ways to think about integration.

March 28, 2025Episode 2248 min

Episode 22: Our Takeaways from Claris Engage 2025

Joe, John, and Xandon were able to attend Claris Engage this week, at the Apple campus in Austin. They recorded a DevCast session while still in the capital of Texas, to recap some of their observations and experiences about the latest news and trends in the FileMaker ecosystem. Dan Smiley joined as our ever-illustrious host, along with a few more of our Portage Bay staff - Mike Ross, and our newest developers, Evan and Jillian. AI remains a prominent topic both at the conference and in our discussion, along with thoughts about LLMs, DevOps, Claris Studio, the Apple campus, and cheese.Jump on in and listen to more of the details.#Claris #FileMaker #DevCast #PortageBay #podcast #devs