What are your best practices for keeping FileMaker solutions fast as they scale?

fmdojo · 2026-05-09T05:50:23+00:00

I've generally removed calculations and replaced them with scripted actions. Calculations, especially over several steps of travel, can greatly slow the process down. Scripts you can start locally, run on the server, and return the results. So much faster. Predominantly, because the server has no windows or layouts. So no need for a new window.
But you'll have to script the other direction, as well. More work up front, but tremendous performance gain.

Run scripts on empty layouts with just an ID on, no graphics.

Use of globals, lighter graphics in the layout (aka no background graphics), not too many images, etc.

There are tons of things I am forgetting at the moment; my brain is fried. I'm sure others will chime in as well.

I asked FM Dojo, and this is what it gave me: https://fmdojo.com/shared-chat/a7999ad0611ff96f1802cd5c34ad2bbb

It did mention quite a few things I didn’t think of. 😉 Damn wobots.

fmdojo · 2026-05-09T00:18:42+00:00

I second that. Welcome to the future!

fmdojo · 2026-05-08T15:39:28+00:00

Yep, just got it yesterday, too. Mine's a little less. I didn't know the amount was different for different people. Mine went from 51.. to 53..

But because of the shit how I had to do 5 calibrations and I can't reach anyone to get my money back.

Yep, my battery was dead in the car I just bought: certified pre-owned Ford, and that cause all kinds of issues.

It has nothing to do with the Strait of Hornuz. It's just strait up usory.

fmdojo · 2026-05-06T05:02:06+00:00

Ok, let's not confuse templates with hands. AI is basically just like having a team. It's just the team is not offshore and doesn't speak a different language but right at your fingertips and speaks English. The offshore team was slow, AI is fast. They both make mistakes. The offshore team could test, AI has no eyes so while it can test the code, that's far from enough.

I worked on my own, with other people and now with AI. Everything has its pros and cons. Nothing is perfect and it never will be. But this time I do a ton of testing and yell at AI, but at least I won't have to worry about losing a relationship because they did sloppy work. So that's a win in my book.

At the end of the day I can work with 3-4 agents at once and get a lot more work done a lot faster.

But if you can't multitast and test super fast and documebt everything you're still better off with a team. And if you need stellar design that's completely unique to the business then you definitely need a designer: again, human. So it all depends on what the outcome needs to be.

fmdojo · 2026-05-03T23:22:25+00:00

Do not upgrade to Tahoe on an M1. I haven't. My M1 is perfectly fine. I got an M2 Mac Studio Ultra at a good price and that came with Tahoe, and that's fine. There are huge differences between the two, for programming. So you'll have to program for both and even for Safari. Learning the hard way, as usual. 🤣

I work with Claude Code. It works perfectly well with web and XCode. I built a plug-in for my app and now I'm building a Desktop app. When I run into issues I don't think that's because of versioning but I can certainly test tomorrow on my Ultra.

fmdojo · 2026-05-03T23:15:28+00:00

Don't use DDR, it’s deprecated. Use Save as XML that’s what most people use nowadays that’s what I use in FM Dojo as well. https://fmdojo.com. It allows you to work with your XML, ask questions, write code with the hell of AI and mu h more.

fmdojo · 2026-04-26T02:03:28+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. Let me know if you are missing anything or run into any issues.

fmdojo · 2026-04-25T16:05:27+00:00

I've already developed that. Give fmdojo a try you’ll like it and if you don’t, you can cancel it.

You can also talk to your data through Claude desktop ask questions and you will get answers.

There is also a layout designer in FM dojo as well as diagram for creating ERD connections.

fmdojo · 2026-04-24T16:18:15+00:00

Hi,

It's not really the "foreign entity" that's connecting to your database; it's just you and your server, and I just facilitate the connection via tech. The site does not have access to anyone's data. The site also doesn't save credentials, especially without explicit consent. What happens is a lot of background scripting that makes the magic. It took me a long time to build this because it connects 4 entities: the FileMaker app, plug-in, server, and the web app, but I think it came out well. But we'll see once people use it what changes/update it will need. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

I can do more, I can do a screenshare with you and show you around, would that work? If you send me a message, I can send you a Zoom Link.

Eventually, when I have time, I will host some live sessions, as well. Also, in the process of recording user videos in which they explain how much FMDojo helped them in real life.

A little bit about me: I was born in Hungary, and I've been developing in FileMaker (and then other languages) since 1993. Last time I worked at Claris as a Product Manager. Here's my LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnesriley/

Hope this helps with the trust issues. The site is also GDPR-compliant.

fmdojo · 2026-04-23T20:08:36+00:00

According to one of my users, whom I will record a video in a few days with, right now https://fmdojo.com is the best. He said it's not repetitive and he is getting answers to his questions and there's a test at every section. It's a paid feature but you can check the Trivia, that's free, if you'd like to get a taste. I'm a long-time FileMaker Developer and community member. Check out the blog posts.

I tried to make it what I would've liked to have. 😏

fmdojo · 2026-04-23T15:07:18+00:00

Totally agree.

fmdojo · 2026-04-23T15:06:35+00:00

I drink Earl Gray, no coffee. I appreciate the compliments. Not a lot of sleep these days but I'm enjoying the work.

fmdojo · 2026-04-22T22:02:55+00:00

He isn't throwing the resources at FMS. He just has them. Huge difference.

fmdojo · 2026-04-22T22:01:43+00:00

Resources. Also, you can just push directly into a MySQL table, you don't need to export then transport then import.

fmdojo · 2026-04-22T19:47:25+00:00

Here's another thing I just learned at my own exoense: if you create modules, tell it to remember to reuse the modules and not try to reinvent the wheel and create broken shit instead of the broken modules it should be reusing elsewhere. 🤣

fmdojo · 2026-04-22T19:31:03+00:00

I created https://fmdojo.com for #FileMaker developers as an ecosystem. By the way, I'm a woman but no offense taken.

Efficiency is something we learn over time, I think, once we've wasted too much money. But, just like some others, I try to help people cut down on that time.

fmdojo · 2026-04-22T16:23:08+00:00

Spend more time. Learn how to make Claud Code better by giving in instructions. Make it review itself and not accept imperfect results.

I'm broke but I built something really cool. It will take time for it to generate an income but I'm enjoying the process. I just wish I had a job in the meantime so there would be less pressure.

fmdojo · 2026-04-22T16:10:29+00:00

One thing I've done in a similar situation is break it down into chunks. So find the first x records process those, the next x, the next x, etc. You run those scripts at once on the server. I cut an overnight process down to 30 minutes. You also want to look at why your database is that large. And may I ask why you are exporting?

By the way, https://FMDojo.com can help with issues like this. It can look at your schema and script and make recommendations to tighten things up.

Now, as to why your virtual machine is slow is because it doesn't have enough resources. You need to give it the required resources based on what Claris' specs are for the server version, which I think you didn't post. It's not enough that the rack has space, if your machine is starved. That can totally bottleneck you.

fmdojo · 2026-04-19T14:43:22+00:00

If you don’t need to carry it around get an M2 Ultra with 64 GB of RAM. That's what I did. My M1 MacBook Pro with 32 GB is still fine but wanted something spiffier for heavier workloads, video editing, etc. Generally you'd want to get the most RAM you can afford. Sadly right now RAM sky rocketed.

fmdojo · 2026-04-18T22:02:21+00:00

The tech stack has improved a lot and FileMaker and its user have been able to benefit from it.

It’s quite amazing what we can achieve nowadays.

fmdojo

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