How Apple spun off its own apps to save the Mac
In short: In 1987, Apple faced a dilemma: their bundled software was so good that third-party developers couldn't compete. To fix this, Apple did something rare—they handed over the source code for their own flagship programs to a new subsidiary called Claris, creating a corporate pivot that shaped modern software distribution.
The move was born of necessity. In the early days of the Macintosh, Apple shipped machines with MacWrite and MacPaint so users had tools 'out of the box.' However, third-party developers complained these programs were too high-quality for everyone to buy alternatives. To allow competition to breathe, Apple decided to let their own apps 'wither,' but developers failed to provide suitable replacements quickly enough. This created a stalemate where users wanted updates and developers feared the cost of making them.
In 1987, Apple formed Claris International Inc. as a subsidiary, transferring copyrights for MacWrite, MacPaint, and others like MacDraw and AppleWorks. The goal was to separate application software from hardware and operating systems. Claris started with five products and about $50 million in revenue, aiming for full independence within 18 months. However, Apple ultimately decided in 1990 to keep Claris as a wholly owned subsidiary rather than spinning it off into an independent public company.
Claris's history is a study in market survival against giants like Microsoft. While they launched the 'Pro' series (like FileMaker Pro) to offer more approachable interfaces, they struggled to match the 'checkbox features' and aggressive bundling of Microsoft Office. By 1998, facing declining sales, Claris divested almost everything except its flagship relational database, FileMaker. The company rebranded as FileMaker Inc., eventually resurrecting the original Claris name in 2019.
The legacy of this era is seen in how software ecosystems are managed today. By offloading products to a subsidiary, Apple attempted to balance user experience with market health—a strategy that highlights the tension between 'good enough' native tools and the need for a thriving third-party economy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Claris
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