fmp-dev-design-patterns

A Claude skill for writing Claris FileMaker scripts that are correct, readable and maintainable: boilerplate, error handling, JSON parameters and results, transactions, AI steps, custom functions, naming conventions and anti-patterns, plus a design-patterns layer you keep as configured or re-derive by auditing your own solution.

With the Claris Agentic Development Toolkit (ADT) installed, scripts are written straight into the FileMaker file through ADT and read back to confirm. No clipboard XML, no copy and paste.

Built and maintained by Darrin Southern from CadenceUX.

What it covers

• Session setup: use the configured patterns, or audit your solution first (live through ADT, or from a Save as XML export without it) and accept the recommendations you want.
• Configured design patterns: Domain: Action script naming, dot-notation fields and table occurrences, CF-based error checks with $$LastError discipline, explicit exits with JSON results, and an anti-patterns list headed by passing state between scripts in $$ globals.
• A script-writing checklist with an error check after every step that can fail.
• Worked patterns (references/scripting-patterns.md): error handling, variable scope, loops, sub-scripts, JSON parameters, scripted finds, transactions, AI steps, custom functions.
• Delivery through ADT with a write, read-back, compare loop.

Exact step and function syntax comes from claris-filemaker-pro.

Install

Part of the cadenceux plugin marketplace:

claude plugin marketplace add https://github.com/CadenceUX/cadenceux-skills.git
claude plugin install fmp-dev-design-patterns@cadenceux

On claude.ai and Cowork: Customize → Plugins → Add marketplace from GitHub → CadenceUX/cadenceux-skills. Or download the .skill file from the latest release and double-click it (macOS).

Files

Path	Purpose
SKILL.md	Session setup, configured patterns, boilerplate, delivery
references/scripting-patterns.md	Worked scripting patterns
references/pattern-audit.md	Audit method (ADT or Save as XML)
evals/evals.json	Test cases

Licence

CC BY 4.0. Use it, fork it, adapt it. Attribute it.

Built and maintained by Darrin Southern from CadenceUX.