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Interesting article. It pointed out a lot of flaws in 37signals software that are clearly intended. Whether a lack of features and a strict conformance to bare

by yan 18y ago

Interesting article. It pointed out a lot of flaws in 37signals software that are clearly intended. Whether a lack of features and a strict conformance to bare software is a net positive or negative for small business is another conversation, but this does point out a need for features that they are missing. This also comes along with 37signals' post on the permanent nature of features, and the importance of getting it mostly right from the beginning. On that topic, the idea of providing business services in the mindset UNIX tools is beginning to be really attractive to me. Provide a limited set of features in a small bundle that plays well with other services, along a similar mindset. A billing component, a collaboration component, etc, such that each one can play with another very well. That should make offering new services more painless and intuitive. Any takes on a venture? :)

edw519 18y ago
It pointed out a lot of flaws in 37signals software It pointed out the major flaw in the 37signals philosophy: they're frozen. Sure they moved apps from the desktop to the web and simplified them greatly, two very appealing propositions for many small businesses. But OP presents a clear example of the flaw: What do you do when you have grown and your app can't? Apply all the perfume you want, but if your app can't scale or be customized, in the end all you have is what you started with: a canned package.
- yan 18y ago
  Not to mention you are creating an artificially low barrier of entry to your market. Like what happened when Google AppEngine was released with a /sample/ app that mimicked theirs.
- jeanmarc 18y ago
  I would have to disagree with you on this matter - Basecamp on its own provides enough features for most users, and their API is powerful enough to allow for nearly limitless expansion. Where I feel the company fails is in promoting this API to consumers. If the company had a directory of third party tools, a job board for Basecamp API developers, and built a few extension tools of their own I feel they could appease the nay-sayers while sticking true to their philosophy

by yan 18y ago

edw519 18y ago

It pointed out a lot of flaws in 37signals software It pointed out the major flaw in the 37signals philosophy: they're frozen. Sure they moved apps from the desktop to the web and simplified them greatly, two very appealing propositions for many small businesses. But OP presents a clear example of the flaw: What do you do when you have grown and your app can't? Apply all the perfume you want, but if your app can't scale or be customized, in the end all you have is what you started with: a canned package.

yan 18y ago
Not to mention you are creating an artificially low barrier of entry to your market. Like what happened when Google AppEngine was released with a /sample/ app that mimicked theirs.
jeanmarc 18y ago
I would have to disagree with you on this matter - Basecamp on its own provides enough features for most users, and their API is powerful enough to allow for nearly limitless expansion. Where I feel the company fails is in promoting this API to consumers. If the company had a directory of third party tools, a job board for Basecamp API developers, and built a few extension tools of their own I feel they could appease the nay-sayers while sticking true to their philosophy