Back in February, I made the decision to leave my position as a full-time in-house FileMaker developer and go back out on my own again. I officially re-started my old development company, Xgravity, on April 1st (yes, April Fools day, but this was no joke!). Things have been insane ever since.
I've been developing with FileMaker since 1992, and in all that time, I've never seen the level of interest and demand for FileMaker-related services that I have seen since April. It seems to me that the market for FileMaker-based solutions is a very healthy one. That's great news for all of us FileMaker Addicts.
I attribute the health of the FileMaker market to several things. First off, you have to give FileMaker Inc a lot of credit. The enhancements to the product line over the past several years have made it even more compelling to larger organizations that are looking for a rapid application development solution. I'm seeing a lot of interest in FileMaker from larger organizations, especially workgroups within those organizations that need more (and in many cases more responsive) service than their IT departments can provide.
I also attribute the healthy FileMaker market to the evolving needs of companies that have been using FileMaker Pro for years, and who are looking to expand their use of FileMaker. I'm seeing demand from these types of users for Web-enabled solutions, mobile solutions, and advanced integration with other systems.
The success that I've had as a FileMaker developer over the past 7 months has been both a relief (imagine the stress of being out on your own in these turbulent economic times) and very encouraging. I can't wait to see what FileMaker Inc does next, and how the marketplace will react as a result.
I am still committed to FileMaker Addict. Over the next several weeks and months, I hope to increase both the frequency of posts and the range of subject matter. Look for new interviews, tips and tricks, and more. And I'll also be sharing my own experiences as an independent FileMaker developer.
Thanks for your continued support of and interest in FileMaker Addict!
-- Tim
