FileMaker launches SDK for building native iOS apps

Apple subsidiary FileMaker on Tuesday announced the FileMaker iOS App SDK, a set of coding tools that offer developers the means to build native iPhone and iPad apps.

As reported by software consultancy geist interactive, the new SDK lets developers craft standalone iOS apps from existing FileMaker files. The resulting app is native and therefore does not require FileMaker Go, FileMaker's previous iOS solution, to run.

According to FileMaker's Steve Romig, the SDK is not intended to be used as a development platform for apps marketed on the iOS App Store, though doing so is technically possible. Assumedly, FileMaker designed the new iOS SDK to build database solutions to be distributed via a mass mobile device management system.

As the FileMaker SDK was released today, geist believes Apple has neither accepted nor rejected an app made with the tool, though the publication notes such software is compatible with Apple's MDM distribution path, as well as TestFlight.

Developers looking to take advantage of FileMaker's new iOS SDK must be enrolled in Apple's Developer Program and use Xcode on Mac to build out their wares.

FileMaker developer Todd Geist of geist interactive will be holding a seminar to discuss the new SDK on Friday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. Pacific.

Formed in 1998 from the remnants of defunct software maker Claris, FileMaker is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and operates worldwide with offices in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

7 Comments

applesauce007 1702 comments · 17 Years

About 8 years ago

Very Nice.
This will complement desktop FileMaker.

CoreData+SQLite is very nice for iOS & OS X, I would like to see a full blown SQL / NoSQL DB from Apple à la FoundationDB.
They should have that DB interfaced with CoreData and humming on Linux & OS X server by now.
I hope they don't keep it internal only. That DB would sell well in enterprises or perhaps they can open source it.

jffdx 12 comments · 9 Years

"Formed in 1998" is way off. FileMaker goes back at least to 1990.

sky king 186 comments · 16 Years

This may be a dumb idea, but does this mean that some enterprising developer could (or would) write something like the defunct BENTO? If they did I would easily pay $20 per year for it and bet there are others like me out there.

I have Filemaker Pro and find that it is super powerful but far beyond what I need in everyday life.

SkyW 1 comment · 8 Years

This is huge... I love FileMaker so now being able to build fully native, database driven, media rich, web connected apps for iOS is amazing... Have already tried it out and got my first app up and running in less than an hour :-)

tiptronic 1 comment · 8 Years

sky king said:

This may be a dumb idea, but does this mean that some enterprising developer could (or would) write something like the defunct BENTO? If they did I would easily pay $20 per year for it and bet there are others like me out there.

I have Filemaker Pro and find that it is super powerful but far beyond what I need in everyday life.

I used Filemaker (and Filemaker Pro) since the late 80s... but it got really stuck nowadays: No modern UI, no real synching, webUI (re-)moved to Server, restrictive 1-seat license, etc... and that for a price(!). That's why I abandoned it more and more over the years. First I was using Bento, which was quite cool and flexible, did sync with my devices, etc... but Filemaker nuked this as well. I think nobody really works/cares for Filemaker at the Filemaker HQ - they're just using it as cash cow...

For quick things I switched to the great Tap Forms (https://www.tapforms.com), which is a perfect replacement for all Bento and lots of Filemaker projects (Mac/iOS only) and the developer have an open ear for wishes and improvements - all this for a fraction of FM's price... Check it out... I like it!