In my earlier career as an IT professional, I witnessed the rise of data warehousing. However, I took a different approach, leveraging FileMaker Pro (FMP) - a small-scale database system - for numerous data solutions. While FileMaker Pro might seem modest compared to industry giants like SQL Server and Oracle, it offers exceptional value in terms of price-to-performance ratio.FileMaker Pro's strengths lie in its user-friendliness and rapid deployment.

To illustrate its efficiency, I recall a project during my tenure in Cisco Systems' assessment unit. Using FileMaker Pro, I was able to construct an entire item bank in just one day - a testament to the system's agility and ease of use. During my tenure as the Director of Research and Assessment at a university, I once again turned to FileMaker Pro (FMP) to rapidly develop an item bank. However, this approach was eventually challenged by proponents of open-source technology within the institution. A decision was made to migrate the item bank to a new system built on MySQL and PHP. The migration process revealed some unexpected challenges:

• Resource Intensity: The project required a full-time project manager, two full-time programmers, and a part-time graduate assistant.
• Time Investment: Replicating the functionality of the original FMP-based item bank was a lengthy process.
• Quality Issues: Despite the significant resources allocated, the new system was not without its flaws, with several bugs emerging post-migration.

FileMaker Pro, now known as Claris FileMaker, is still in use today, but its role has evolved in the era of big data and cloud computing. While many organizations have shifted towards cloud-based solutions for large-scale data management, FileMaker continues to serve a niche market:

• Continued use: Some small to medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, and departments within larger organizations still use FileMaker Pro for custom database solutions.
• Adaptation to modern needs: FileMaker has evolved to include cloud capabilities. Claris FileMaker Cloud allows users to host their FileMaker solutions in the cloud, providing some of the benefits of cloud computing.
• Rapid application development: FileMaker is still valued for its ability to quickly create custom applications without extensive coding knowledge.
• Integration capabilities: Modern versions of FileMaker can integrate with various web services and APIs, allowing it to work alongside other cloud-based tools.
• Niche applications: It remains popular in certain industries for specific use cases, such as inventory management, customer relationship management, and project tracking.
• Legacy systems: Some organizations continue to use FileMaker because they have legacy systems built on the platform that would be costly or time-consuming to migrate.

While FileMaker Pro is not as widely used as it once was, particularly for large-scale data management, it continues to have a user base. Its combination of simplicity, speed, and cost-effectiveness made it an invaluable tool for many of my projects, challenging the notion that bigger always means better in database management.

While the following content may no longer reflect current technological landscapes, it remains an invaluable historical record. These write-ups serve as a digital time capsule, offering insights into the evolution of computing, with a particular focus on database technologies.