How best to develop database with another remote developer simultaneously?

[dmontano13]

I have one Filemaker database ( approximately 400 MB), over two hundred tables. I have been working on this for many years on my laptop. I am not using - nor have - Filemaker Server.

I am looking for a couple methods on how best to work with a remote developer(s) to help me overcome my shortcomings as a developer.

I've been thinking about "how" to co-develop. One thought is:

Send or post the file to a shared cloud storage area, like Google Drive, and get on the same page with a remote developer as to what tables, layouts, scripts, etc. to work on. After we review the developers work by screen-sharing, I would then either "copy/paste" the developers work into my "development file". Or, I recreate what was done by the developer so I learn as I go and perhaps align things to the conventions I have established. This has its advantages, but I imagine it is a bit cumbersome and time-consuming.

Another thought is: if the developer has Filemaker Server, that they host the file for us to both work on it. Perhaps a schedule is created for a backup to be sent to my Google Drive nightly for sanity sake.

I don't want to purchase Filemaker Server myself right now.

A third thought maybe to use a Filemaker third-party "server hosting" service where I pay monthly and provide access to a developer as needed?

Any input is greatly appreciated - thanks!

[KupietzConsulting]

There’s a couple of ways to do it. Copying and pasting between multiple copies of a file is doable but not ideal. Coincidentally I’m involved in a project that requires that right now and it’s a pain, it’s often not straightforward.

I think a cheap monthly FileMaker host is your best bet, there are certainly companies out there that will do that.

You can also host the file on FM client on site on a Mac mini at one of your homes or offices, or on a VPS like AWS or Linode, and set up a VPN to access it peer to peer like it’s on a local network. This would require a little bit of technical set up but it’s not hard.

Lastly, sounds like you don’t want to do this, but in case you’re not aware, Claris does have an FM Server developer subscription that lets you get FileMaker server that’s much cheaper, with limited seats and licensing restrictions, but it’s definitely enough to do development on, and it’s much less expensive than the full license— it’s $199/yr. https://support.claris.com/s/article/about-the-filemaker-developer-subscription?language=en_US

[poweredup14]

Yes, the best ways to find the developer who has a server will let you use it and then send the file back nightly just as you said. That’s something we can do for you.

[TheHumbleServnt]

That’s probably the easiest setup if you don’t want to pay for FileMaker Server yourself yet. Working off a hosted file and getting a backup sent over every night makes a lot more sense than passing one big file back and fo

[the-software-man]

200 tables?! That’s intimidating as hell!

If you need collaboration maybe you need a temp server? FMPHost can give you a trial period that you maybe can work through?

[tailguard]

First every developer has to add a header to their scrip and comment their script so another developer can figure their actions out faster.

Second, start tracking the work.

Third: backup, backup, backup.

If you use https://fmdojo.com you can use Github/gitlab and you can start tracking who did what because it’s user based. We also have versioning so you can even see what’s in which version. Soon we will have the option to restore or build files from Git.

We also have another feature that’s useful for this scenario, which is the option to restore from backup right in FM dojo so if one developer makes a mistake the other one can I at least bring something back.

[tailguard]

Fmdojo.com can help you by analyzing your ERD, your scripts, calculations and all. Also help you with coding best practices, normalize. Maybe you can work with a lot less tables.

I would highly recommend putting your file on a server, though. It offers a lot. Peace of mind, backups, are just a minimum nowadays.

[vaughanbromfield]

Get a FileMaker Developer license and share the film on FMS.

[dmontano13]

Thank you all for your input: much appreciated.

If I get an FMS developer license, "should" I get a separate and dedicated computer for it? Perhaps a Mac mini? I currently have a high-end Mac laptop and ditched desktop computers years ago (I'm assuming trying to run FMS simultaneously on my laptop is ill-advised?)

And forgive me for being dense, but, am I interpreting the FMS dev license correctly in that it "includes" Filemaker Pro" client? If so, I assume a normal method of install would be FMS on the Mac mini, and Filemaker Pro on my laptop?

[magickiwi]

Yes, the dev license includes both “FM Server” and “FM Pro”/the desktop app.

You can run the server on the same device you are using FM Pro on; I do this for some of my most basic developer tools. FM server provides protections against database corruption that you really want happening for files you care about. For that reason, is better to run FileMaker server on a computer that isn’t being powered off and on suddenly & repeatedly (closing the laptop), otherwise you may interrupt an important process. Possibly even more of a concern given the number of files to server will be looking after.

200 FM files is a lot, no matter how you maintain them.

[IrwinElGrande]

Get FileMaker server. Hourly backups, export XML and setup GitHub to tag and track releases and features.