The History of the Claris (FileMaker) Platform

The history of the Claris Platform dates back to the late 1980s when it was originally established as a subsidiary of Apple Inc. called Claris Corporation. Initially, Claris focused on developing and marketing productivity software applications for the Apple Macintosh platform.

In the early years, Claris Corporation produced a range of popular software products, including ClarisWorks (later renamed AppleWorks), a comprehensive integrated office suite that combined word processing, spreadsheet, database, and graphics capabilities. ClarisWorks became a widely used software package during the 1990s.

As technology advanced and the needs of businesses evolved, Claris Corporation shifted its focus towards building custom software solutions for various industries. In 1998, the company was rebranded as FileMaker Inc., with a primary emphasis on developing the FileMaker platform—a powerful and flexible database management system.

FileMaker gained popularity as a user-friendly and versatile database solution that allowed users to create custom applications without extensive programming knowledge. Over the years, FileMaker continued to evolve, introducing new features and enhancements to meet the changing needs of businesses.

In 2019, FileMaker Inc. underwent another transformation and was rebranded as Claris International Inc., bringing back the Claris name. The rebranding marked the company’s renewed commitment to delivering innovative software solutions and a vision to empower businesses with a comprehensive platform for building custom applications.

Under the Claris International banner, the platform expanded beyond the traditional FileMaker offerings. The Claris Platform was introduced, encompassing a broader set of tools, technologies, and services. It included not only the familiar FileMaker platform but also other services like Claris Connect—a powerful automation platform that enables seamless integration and workflow automation.

With the Claris Platform, Claris International aimed to empower businesses, developers, and citizen developers to create sophisticated, custom applications that address specific industry needs, enhance productivity, and drive digital transformation.

Since its rebranding as Claris International, the company has continued to innovate and enhance the Claris Platform, introducing new features, integrations, and capabilities. It has positioned itself as a leader in low-code application development, offering a range of solutions tailored to various industries, including construction, healthcare, finance, education, and more.

Overall, the history of the Claris Platform reflects its evolution from a software subsidiary of Apple Inc. to a standalone company focused on delivering a comprehensive suite of tools for application development and integration, aimed at empowering businesses to build custom solutions that optimize their processes and drive success.