The Context Podcast

Featuring: Martha Zink, Director of Experience at Proof+Geist Julie Sigfrinius, Former Senior Director of Customer Success at ClarisDescription: In this episode of The Context Podcast, join Martha Zink and Julie Sigfrinius as they discuss the upcoming Claris Engage 2025 conference! Get a sneak preview of all the fascinating things scheduled for the event. From retro games to exclusive merchandise, an expo hall, and a packed roster of talks lead by FileMaker experts. They also talk about the importance of community and the welcoming atmosphere for first-time attendees— no matter if it's your first time attending or your return, you’ll find a strong community to welcome you into the fold.You can also find this episode on YouTube. Featured Links: Learn more about Claris Engage 2025: http://www.claris.com/engage Check out the training days and see what sparks your interest: https://www.claris.com/engage/2025/sessions/?tag=training-day  Want to be a sponsor or an exhibitor at Claris Engage 2025?: Email them at [email protected] something for The Claris Museum? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/clay-maeckel_clarisengage2025-activity-7273132883827990528-m31D?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop 

Featuring:Jonathan Marcus, Head of Software Development at SureguardDominik Keller, CEO at Co-Founder at FiveErnest KoeTodd GeistIn this episode of The Context Podcast, Ernest Koe and Todd Geist are joined by Jonathan Marcus from Sureguard and Dominik Keller from Five to discuss the challenges of building user-friendly applications for non-employees. They explore how Five's low-code approach simplifies development, the integration of AI for creating complex business solutions, and the importance of infrastructure, security, and compliance in industries like healthcare. The conversation highlights the flexibility of Five, the collaborative nature of development, and the robust frameworks needed to empower developers to innovate effectively.Check out the awesome work that Five and Sureguard are doing.You can also find this episode on YouTube.00:00Introduction to the Guests and Their Backgrounds04:59The Genesis of Five and Its Role in Software Development10:13Exploring the Challenges with FileMaker and WebDirect14:48Understanding OData and Its Advantages20:01Navigating the Learning Curve with Five and OData24:50AI and Code Generation in Application Development30:41Building Complex Business Applications36:24The Role of Infrastructure in Development39:01Security and Compliance in Medical Applications44:42Collaboration and Success in Development Projects

In this episode, Ryan McCann, CEO at Claris, joins us to discuss his journey stepping into the role, the organizational strategies driving growth, and the importance of customer retention in today’s competitive market.Ryan shares how Claris is navigating the transformation from a risk management mindset to a growth-oriented strategy. He dives into the challenges and successes along the way, emphasizing the critical role partnerships—especially with Apple—play in expanding market presence and enhancing the FileMaker platform.We also explore Claris’s mission to empower small and mid-sized organizations through innovative technology, with Ryan highlighting the growing trend toward custom software development and the opportunities AI presents for shaping the future of business solutions.Finally, we discuss the evolving role of the Claris community and Claris’s commitment to deeper collaboration and engagement with its partners.You also can find this episode on YouTube. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about Claris’s vision for the future and the exciting opportunities ahead!Chapters00:00 Introduction and Leadership Transition03:02 Organizational Strategy and Transformation05:51 Growth and Market Dynamics11:45 Retention and Customer Engagement17:53 Leveraging Partnerships for Growth29:55 Future Strategies and Market Expansion32:00 Empowering Organizations with Technology35:00 Strategic Partnerships and Market Expansion36:52 Navigating the AI Landscape40:01 Custom Software: A Right for Businesses51:53 The Future of Custom Solutions and Community Engagement

In this episode of the Context Podcast, Martha Zink hosts Eric Luce and Aloe Torres Navarro to discuss innovative projects utilizing FileMaker and web applications. They discuss the challenges of offline data collection, the importance of authentication, and the use of webhooks for data synchronization. The conversation highlights the architecture of client-server interactions, user experience considerations, and the integration of tools like Slack for real-time updates. The episode concludes with insights on future enhancements and the collaborative nature of development in the FileMaker community.Mentioned in the Podcast:OttoFMShttps://www.proofgeist.com/products/f...Alo’s Blog --- From Offline to Online: Building a Seamless FileMaker Go App with Otto Webhookshttps://www.proofgeist.com/blog/2024/...Eric’s Blog --- Using Claris FileMaker as a backend database for web appshttps://www.proofgeist.com/blog/2024/...Chapters00:00 - Introduction to Mobile FileMaker and Web Projects01:01 - Offline Data Collection Challenges08:04 - Understanding Authentication and User Experience09:49 - Redefining Client-Server Architecture12:00 - Managing Data Synchronization Expectations13:58 - Implementing API Keys for Secure Access18:26 - Utilizing Otto Receiver for Data Handling32:10 - User-Centric Design and Flexibility34:07 - Exploring Web App Development with FileMaker37:49 - Integrating Slack for Real-Time Updates40:57 - Future Enhancements and User Feedback51:30 - Conclusion

Get ready for another exciting episode of The Context Podcast, featuring Andrew LeCates from Claris. In this episode, Andrew joins Proof+Geist’s Martha Zink, Ernest Koe, and Todd Geist to talk all things Claris Engage 2024, a Claris developer conference set to take place February 6-8 in Austin, Texas.We discuss how excited we are for Claris Engage, where we get to be together in person on an Apple campus after years of virtual events. Andrew shares some key things he expects to see and learn about at Engage, and we reminisce about past developer conferences. If you’re there for the sessions, the products, the exhibitors, or just spending time with the community, come find us at our Proof+Geist and Ottomatic booths or our sessions. We can’t wait to see you all!While registration for Claris Engage is sold out, there are still slots for three Training Day courses:  https://content.claris.com/claris-engage2024-limited-space-alYou can find this podcast on YouTube. 

Featuring: Andrew Lecates, Chief Product Owner for Claris FileMakerTodd Geist Ernest KoeCorn WalkerDescription:Get ready for a special new episode of The Context Podcast! Join us as we sit down with our special guest, Andrew Lecates, Chief Product Owner for Claris FileMaker. In this episode, we discuss Claris's strategic shift towards a refocused Claris platform as Claris prepares to transition Claris Pro functionally into the FileMaker line, and deprecate Claris Pro (including Claris Go, Claris WebDirect, and Claris Server).Corn Walker, Todd Geist, and Ernest Koe delve into the fascinating realm of technology and AI as it relates to the Claris platform, both present and future, while also gaining insights into Andrew's new role and its implications. We also dig into the seamless integration of FileMaker, Connect, and Studio, and unpack the implications for the platform. Plus, stay tuned for some sneak peeks into the exciting plans for Claris Engage 2024. Check out all the changes Claris is making here: https://content.claris.com/claris-community-products-roadmap-proof+geist You can also find this podcast on YouTube.

Featuring: Martha ZinkTodd GeistChris Rogers Description:In this episode of The Context Podcast, Martha Zink and Todd Geist from Proof+Geist sit down with a special guest, Chris Rogers, the mastermind behind TourPro—a revolutionary software shaking up the dance event management scene. In this episode, Chris takes us on a journey through his remarkable transition from building a small side project to the creation of TourPro, a game-changing event registration and management tool for dance enthusiasts.With approximately 1,000 events a year, Chris and his team have mastered the art of making a complex technical product accessible to non-technical users. As Chris puts it, he's got "enough knowledge to be dangerous with FileMaker," and he's using that power to empower event organizers worldwide.What sets TourPro apart is its clever design—a user-friendly mobile app that lets you run events offline, keeping things seamless and efficient even without an internet connection. Chris dives into the technical magic that allows users to operate within the app, and then sync up once they're back online. Join us in this episode as we explore Chris Rogers's journey, laugh at relatable anecdotes, and gain valuable insights into the world of innovative software creation. Stay tuned, because this episode is your backstage pass to the captivating world of TourPro and the brilliant mind behind it.You can find this podcast on YouTube or your favorite podcasting platform.Links: https://tourprosoftware.com/ 

Featuring: Todd Geist Cris IppoliteDescription: In this episode of The Context Podcast, join Proof+Geist CTO, Todd Geist and Cris Ippolite, founder of iSolutions, as they dive into the fascinating impacts that AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) are having on our industry in general, and the FileMaker community in particular. Cris was an early proponent of using Machine Learning and AI with FileMaker. In fact, this is the third time we have had Cris on the pod to discuss this topic. The first was Episode 34, back in May of 2020, and the second time was Episode 71 in September of 2021 – way before ChatGPT was a thing. Now that LLMs and ChatGPT are the elephants in the FileMaker room, we thought it would be a good idea to have Cris back on the Podcast for an updated conversation on what this all might mean for how we do our jobs, and solve problems for our customers with our favorite platform.Hear how Cris and Todd think AI might revolutionize the way we build applications and systems with FileMaker, while preserving the essence of creative thinking. They discuss the upcoming Apple WWDC 2023 conference on June 5th, and their expectations on how Apple will shape the trajectory of AI. Plus, get an introduction to Proof+Geist's Front Radar Plugin—and stay tuned for the upcoming blog post on that.

Welcome to this episode of The Context Podcast where we explore the incredible capabilities of SimpleQ! This week includes our host Martha Zink, along with Corn Walker, Todd Geist, and Mike Perley.Join us as we delve into the intricacies of SimpleQ, explaining its seamless task handling and compatibility with various systems. Discover the advantages of this approach and how it revolutionizes business processes. Additionally, we explore the origins of SimpleQ, discussing the hybrid PubSub and queuing system that gave birth to this remarkable tool. We also shine a spotlight on Otto and its crucial role in accepting webhooks from third-party systems. See how Otto seamlessly integrates with SimpleQ to streamline data flow and enhance communication across different FileMaker apps.Tune in to The Context Podcast and embrace the efficiency of SimpleQ—a game-changer in the world of FileMaker and business process automation. You can also find this episode on Youtube or your favorite podcasting platforms.

Featuring:Martha Zink Todd Geist Rick KalmanDescription: In this episode of The Context Podcast, Martha Zink and Todd Geist talk toRick Kalman from Claris about the launch of Claris FileMaker 2023. Together, they discuss the upcoming changes to the platform—including the switch to a year-based naming scheme, significant performance improvements, and the availability of Claris Connect on the free plan. With stronger authentication protocols, greater scalability, and improvements to backend infrastructure, FileMaker 2023 promises to be Claris’s best release yet!Also featured: Todd’s dog, Clark, who is recovering from knee surgery and is spending his convalescence providing additional commentary in the form of background snoring.