The time has come for me to leave FileMaker.

I've been a software engineer at Claris and then FileMaker for nearly 12 years. My last day with you shall be Friday, March 17th.

During my stay, I've shipped a few products, endured product cancellations, worked with scores of excellent people, made lasting friendships, become a father, witnessed executive turnovers and corporate makeovers, cheated death, accepted awards, and much more.

I've been referred to by various epithets: "one of the U.C. Irvine kids", "the guy with the snake", "the brain tumor guy", "the blue-haired gentleman" (and others of a more colourful nature, I am sure. =)

I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work and play with so many fine humans while fulfilling my desire to create intuitive, superior software. I'll recall this period with fondness forever.

brendan

home: ectomort@ebyss.net
work: brendan@fusionone.com 408.282.1323

Postscript, 3/14/2000

Numerous people have asked about where I'm going and my reasons for leaving...

Where am I going? I'm going to fusionOne, a pre-IPO startup located in downtown San Jose. The company provides Internet-based synchronization for individuals and groups (using the emerging standard, SyncML) between desktop PCs, handheld devices, mobile phones, and information from web-based partners (Snap.com, Travelocity, Sabre, etc.) Besides the interesting technology issues, the company has got experienced leadership, serious financial backing (3com, Nokia, El Dorado) and way-cool ad agencies (Black Rocket & SF Interactive.)

I'll be doing software engineering in the devices group (I haven't decided what specific device or role, yet.) I was surprised to discover a few other ex-Claris people already in engineering there (Matt Brown, Steve Miller, Paul Chui, & Steve Dakin.) We've got a variety of engineering teams working on the synchronization server on the backend (Linux/Unix), web-based applications (JSP, ASP, XML), desktop applications support (currently Windows only), and various mobile devices (PalmOS, WinCE, Symbian, and others.)

Why am I leaving? Because it's time for me to "take the red pill" and follow the rabbit.

Postscript, 3/28/2000

Are FileMaker eyes prying in your e-mail?

It seems that FileMaker is so afraid of losing employees that it feels extreme measures are justified. These measures apparently include intercepting mail to FileMaker from the fusionOne domain, regardless of content. If true, I must admit to being rather diappointed by FileMaker's pathetic and cowardly behaviour.

On a different note, I'm really happy about the change I've made. My environment is refreshingly free of politics... engineering actually drives this company more than sales or marketing. I'm also plowing hardcore into my development tasks, which span a range of target environments from Java servlets, C++ server code, Oracle 8i, handhelds, and finally smart phones as well as fusionOne's proprietary stuff. Yowzers!

Almost all of this is new to me, so it's definitely quite a challenge...