Our Journey with Claris Studio and Connect
2 Dec 2024
After attending the recent EngageU conference in Malmö, Sweden, our perspective on Claris Studio and Connect has undergone a significant shift. Like many FileMaker developers, we've kept these platforms at arm's length, watching their evolution with a mix of curiosity and scepticism. However, after diving deep into the technical architecture and possibilities, we're convinced it's time to embrace these technologies fully.
Why the Change of Heart?
What changed our minds wasn't just the potential of the platforms, but the solid foundation behind them. The platform's technical foundation is impressive - MongoDB for scalability, Kubernetes for orchestration, and sophisticated AI capabilities including semantic search and vector embeddings. But what really matters isn't the technology stack - it's what these technologies enable for real-world business solutions.
The key revelation was seeing how Studio and Connect can complement our existing FileMaker solutions rather than replace them. We're particularly excited about:
AI integration capabilities
Real-time data handling
Modern web interfaces
Enterprise-grade scalability
Strong integration capabilities through Connect
Moving from Theory to Practice
We're putting our money where our mouth is. We've initiated two pilot projects that will push the boundaries of what's possible with these platforms:
Meeting management - to show off the power of AI in Studio
Trading alert system - to show off speed and responsiveness
Our pilot projects will leverage Claris's newly enhanced CRUD operations, removal of Data API limits, and advanced AI integration capabilities. The platform's support for multiple AI providers and self-hosted LLMs gives us the flexibility to choose the right tools for each use case.
Why Now?
The low-code space is crowded with startups, but Claris offers something unique - stability backed by Apple, combined with decades of experience in business process automation. While there are still some challenges to overcome (custom domains with SSL, for instance), the core architecture is solid and evolving rapidly.
Looking Forward
As early adopters, we're excited to help shape these platforms' future. We've joined the ETS (Early Testing System) program and are committed to providing feedback and sharing our experiences with the wider developer community.
For those still hesitating, remember: when you start with something new, those eureka moments come more frequently. Building on established platforms can be restrictive, but new technologies open up new possibilities.
The future of business process automation isn't just about building internal tools - it's about creating seamless experiences that span internal and external users, leveraging AI, and scaling effortlessly. Claris Studio and Connect are positioning themselves to be at the forefront of this evolution.
We'll be documenting our journey as we build these solutions, sharing both successes and challenges along the way. Stay tuned for more updates as we push the boundaries of what's possible with these platforms.
It's time to stop putting up shields and start building. The only way to shape the future is to be part of creating it.
About iSOS: We're a Claris Platinum Partner based in the UK, specialising in custom business solutions using FileMaker, web technologies, and now Claris Studio and Connect.
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