Claris FileMaker Reviews

Summary: I've used this since version 1.0. It's become a unique product. It's not as powerful as a custom app with framework; however, it's the best solution creator I've ever seen. It started out as just an office database app; with a lot of nicely designed features over everybody else and surprisingly good performance. Superior to MS Access. Then it grew into a replacement for the poor quality VB Apps built around MS Access; eventually it replaced probably any need for MS Access and without hardly any programming required; or far less and more accessible.
If you want a custom database app that runs on most things and can even do OK on the web-- this is your turn key solution.

Positive: It's a desktop database app that evolved over decades conservatively without jamming in thoughtless features. You can prototype a fair amount but if you limit yourself to their tools, you'll have the fastest rapid solution creation of anything else out there.

This is probably good for a version 1 of many database related apps - even if you have grand plans, you never really know the whole picture until using it and this is probably the best place to begin. Make your custom app from scratch someday but if you want rapid changes and results this is the thing to use. Change around your table structure without hardly any labor or mistakes; unlike SQL.

Negative: It can take many years before they make a useful change you wish they would implement. There are plug-ins and the ability to make standalone apps but the plug-in system is a last resort in my opinion. MOST your needs are built-in if you start to need extensions then you should move to making an app... but then when you realize the TIME it'll take you to recreate it... you end up staying.

They push for subscriptions like everybody; but they will sell you an expensive perpetual license still; which I prefer and worry someday they may stop... migrating between large leaps in versions is always painless (like MS products.)

Summary: This is a solid tool from a great company, and is amazing for automating workflow. The server is stable, the interface is simple, and there is plenty of power.

Positive: It's an extremely powerful platform, and it walks the line perfectly between a simple tool that's easy to start with, and a full-fledged development environment where the sky is the limit.

Negative: The only limitation I've found so far is that an application will scale to about 1,000 concurrent users, but that hasn't presented any kind of problem for me.