The agentic harness
for empowering Claris FileMaker
Analyze solutions, generate/update scripts, design layouts, build schema & more — all through AI that understands your live FileMaker environment.
(em dashes optional)
Open Source (free) with Plug-In (paid)
Both do the same three jobs — understand your solution, generate code, and deploy it back into FileMaker. The free open-source project works through files and the clipboard. The paid plug-in works live inside FileMaker, so it's faster and more reliable — no exports, no manual paste. It's an enhancement, never a requirement.
| Open Source agentic-fm · free | Plug-In AgenticFM · paid | |
|---|---|---|
| Understand your solution | Explode a Save As XML export into xml_parsed/; grep the index files and CONTEXT.json. More token costs. | Parses the same export into an indexed catalog with a cross-reference graph; runs indexed queries (impact, references, orphans, health). |
| Generate code | Hand-author fmxmlsnippet XML per the catalog rules. More token costs. | Emits human-readable script blocks; converts them to XML and verifies calculations against the live engine. |
| Deploy into FileMaker | Loads the snippet to the clipboard for a manual ⌘V (or AppleScript/MBS automation) via the companion server. | Pastes directly into the Script Workspace through the embedded HTTP server. No keystrokes. |
| Validate | Static linting with fmlint. | Static linting plus live-engine verification against the developer's actual FileMaker version. |
| Resolve IDs / context | Read CONTEXT.json and the index files — static, can go stale. | Resolved live via the FileMaker engine — never stale, no export step. |
| Runtime bridge | A Python companion server running on the host alongside FileMaker. | An HTTP server running inside the FileMaker process itself. |
| Front end | Use your preferred agentic harness — Claude Desktop, Codex, VS Code, and more. You're not limited to a single CLI agent. | Use your preferred agentic harness (Claude Desktop, Codex, VS Code, etc.) and/or the native chat panel inside FileMaker. |
| License | Apache 2.0 — free, open source. | Annual per-developer license, with a 14-day trial. |
Want it inside FileMaker, without the copy-paste loop? Meet the AgenticFM plug-in.
Built for FileMaker developers who use AI
Everything you need to bridge the gap between AI and FileMaker's closed environment.
Solution Intelligence
AI receives scoped context from your live FileMaker solution — tables, fields, relationships, layouts, scripts, and custom functions — so every action uses real IDs and names.
Automatic Validation
Every generated snippet is validated against canonical templates before it reaches the clipboard. Structural errors, missing attributes, unbalanced blocks, and coding convention violations are caught immediately.
Direct Clipboard Integration
Generated fmxmlsnippet code is loaded onto the macOS clipboard in the correct binary format. Paste directly into FileMaker — no manual XML handling required.
Script Composition
Generate, modify, and refactor scripts at the step level with full call-tree awareness. Faster iteration, less destructive, and avoids the duplication problem of full-script paste.
Visual Script Editor
Write scripts in human-readable format with Monaco editor autocomplete, inline squiggle validation, live XML preview, and integrated AI chat — in your browser or embedded in FileMaker.
Solution Analysis
Profile an entire solution — data model, business logic, UI layer, integrations, and health metrics. Understand what you have before deciding what to build.
Schema Design & Construction
Plan data models with ERD generation, then build tables and fields directly via OData. From whiteboard to working schema without leaving the conversation.
Layout Design
Spec and preview layout objects, field bindings, portals, and button wiring through an interactive design conversation — then generate output for FileMaker or the web viewer.
Context Staleness Detection
CONTEXT.json carries a timestamp. The validator warns when context is more than 60 minutes old, and the webviewer StatusBar shows context age with amber and red indicators.
Curated Snippet Library
A growing library of proven, reusable fmxmlsnippet patterns — HTTP requests, error handling, transaction wrappers, UI components, and more. Personal library browsing coming to the webviewer.
FileMaker Knowledge Base
Community-curated behavioral intelligence about FileMaker — found set mechanics, single-pass loops, variables, error handling, script parameters, and other nuances that AI needs to get things right.
20+ Agent Skills
Specialized workflows for solution analysis, debugging, refactoring, testing, schema building, layout design, and more — extending AI with structured, repeatable processes.
How it works
agentic-fm connects AI to FileMaker through structured context, validated output, and live solution feedback. Three XML formats make this possible — agentic-fm uses two of them.
Save a Copy as XML
The modern FileMaker export format. Covers scripts, layouts, schema, and more. This is the input format — your solution exported for AI to read.
fmxmlsnippet
The clipboard format FileMaker uses for copy/paste. This is the output format — AI generates snippets that paste directly into the Script Workspace.
Validated Output
Every snippet is validated against canonical templates before reaching the clipboard. Structural errors, missing attributes, and unbalanced blocks are caught automatically.
That last step — pasting snippets into the Script Workspace — is manual by design. Prefer a native chat panel that pastes for you? The AgenticFM plug-in does this automatically.
Project structure
A clear separation between FileMaker artifacts, AI context, and working output.
├── filemaker/ # FileMaker artifacts to install │ ├── Context.fmfn # Custom function source │ └── agentic-fm.xml # Companion scripts ├── agent/ │ ├── CONTEXT.json # Scoped context (from FileMaker) │ ├── sandbox/ # AI output — paste from here │ ├── context/ # Pre-extracted index files │ ├── scripts/ # Validation, clipboard, conversion │ ├── catalogs/ # Step catalog — step definitions │ ├── snippet_examples/# Canonical XML templates │ ├── library/ # Curated reusable patterns │ ├── docs/knowledge/ # FileMaker behavioral intelligence │ └── xml_parsed/ # Exploded XML (reference) ├── webviewer/ # Visual script editor (Preact + Monaco) └── xml_exports/ # Versioned XML archives
Ready to bring AI into your FileMaker development?
agentic-fm is open source and free to use. Star the repo to follow development, or jump straight into the installation guide.
Want it inside FileMaker, without the copy-paste loop? Meet the AgenticFM plug-in — agentic-fm can be used standalone or partnered with it to create the ultimate agentic harness for FileMaker.