Claris CEO Ryan McCann on FileMaker in the Age of Agentic Coding

That previous item led me to look at Claris’s website for the first time in a while. And, lo, there’s a banner promoting a message from CEO Ryan McCann that was posted just yesterday, under the headline “How Claris Is Building for What’s Next”:

Every AI-generated application creates the same problems: Where does it run, and how is it deployed, secured, and managed?

The app needs a database. It needs user authentication, role-based permissions, and audit logging. It needs backup and recovery. It needs to work on Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone, and the web. It needs to run on infrastructure your organization controls, whether that is in the cloud or on your own hardware.

This is what FileMaker already is. One unified platform with data, logic, interface, security, and cross-platform delivery, built together from the start. We’ve been solving this problem at scale for over 40 years.

“Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone, and the web”, huh? Feels like there’s a somewhat popular platform missing from that list. Can’t quite put my finger on it. Oh yeah.

FileMaker 2026 is coming soon. This release focuses on resiliency, productivity, and infrastructure, including native disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities enabled by two new features: FileMaker Server Remote Backup and Standby Server. Additionally, it lays the groundwork for agentic development. We will share specifics in the coming weeks.

Later this summer, following the release of FileMaker 2026, we will deliver the first developer previews of our agentic coding functionality.

I have to admit I very seldom hear about FileMaker, and I’ve never once heard of Ryan McCann before. But it must still be a significant business. Tim Cook certainly doesn’t seem like the sentimental type.

★ Wednesday, 6 May 2026