3 ms·

Looking for feedback on Duckbase – a new system to manage your knowledge

1 points by misakss 4y ago

misakss 4y ago
Hi all, My friend and I are working on a product called Duckbase, that helps you manage your knowledge. It appears as a note-taking app, but anything you add to it (notes, websites, reddit posts, tweets, etc) automatically gets organized. Then, as you are writing, it will resurface the most relevant snippets of that information. You also have the option to actively search for the information, either through a search bar or visually with a 2d map. The key differentiator to existing note-taking apps such as Roam and Obsidian is how this lowers the barrier to usage by automatically organizing information rather than requiring you to link it yourself. I would also add that we are focusing on curious and creative people that maybe haven't even heard of PKM (Person Knowledge Management) before, where we have much of our focus on creating an outstanding UX. If you are interested in more details (and pretty pictures), feel free to check out: https://www.duckbase.io/ https://www.duckbase.io/ Any feedback is greatly appreciated! :)
- PaulHoule 4y ago
  Is there anything more than a sign up form? As it is the only feedback I can have is that I am loathe to fill out my email on that kind of form because maybe six months from now I will get an email from you, maybe it will get through my spam filter, and maybe I will still care. I think making people wait to try a product is a way people kill their startups. Maybe 1 person in 50 who sees your sign up form is going to fill it out, you have someone on the hook who was a remarkable amount of ardor in that moment. (You can’t believe what a precious thing that is.) It is very likely that ardor will have faded by the time that they hear from you again. Maybe the best you can do now is make a YouTube video showing people working with the prototype. As it is this is note taking startup 74,912 out of 111,325.
  - misakss 4y ago
    That is a valid point, I will look into creating a video of the prototype to show off the concept. My goal is to gather user insights and feedback before building too much product. Your feedback is much appreciated, thank you!
HelloNurse 4y ago
Pretty pictures? We are talking about a note-tacking app, which lives and dies by its user interface: cartoonish vague mockups instead of screenshots are an insult. It's still a lesser insult than a landing page with a centered form to subscribe to your spamming list and, below the fold, some hopeful buzzwords. Apparently, harvesting email addresses is the entirety of your MVP.
- beardyw 4y ago
  I think we need an application of Hanlon's Razor here. I agree with your 1st paragraph, but let's put it down to over exuberance. The message is the same, do at least a little work first.
  - HelloNurse 4y ago
    I was only cynical about the urge to irritate people with a request to register to receive worthless updates (if one really wants to harvest many email addresses for hostile purposes, there is better bait than niche software). My impression, based on the OP's introductory comment in this thread, is that development of this product is earnest but severely unfinished/half-baked, with a somewhat annoying but "normal" marketing style and business plan. Unfortunately, a new app/startup of this sort is not judged by backstage discussions on Hacker News, but by their website, and the first impression of the website is shockingly terrible: nothing to read, nothing to see, and a prominent request for our email addresses that adds up to negative value.
    - misakss 4y ago
      I see your points, and I think they are valid. However, my goal is to gather user insights and feedback before building too much product. As the other comment suggests, I'll look into creating a video of the prototype to make the concept more concrete. There is no better place than HN to get honest feedback. Thank you for taking your time to look through the landing page and leaving your feedback, much appreciated.

1 points by misakss 4y ago

Hi all, My friend and I are working on a product called Duckbase, that helps you manage your knowledge. It appears as a note-taking app, but anything you add to it (notes, websites, reddit posts, tweets, etc) automatically gets organized. Then, as you are writing, it will resurface the most relevant snippets of that information. You also have the option to actively search for the information, either through a search bar or visually with a 2d map. The key differentiator to existing note-taking apps such as Roam and Obsidian is how this lowers the barrier to usage by automatically organizing information rather than requiring you to link it yourself. I would also add that we are focusing on curious and creative people that maybe haven't even heard of PKM (Person Knowledge Management) before, where we have much of our focus on creating an outstanding UX. If you are interested in more details (and pretty pictures), feel free to check out: https://www.duckbase.io/ https://www.duckbase.io/ Any feedback is greatly appreciated! :)

PaulHoule 4y ago
Is there anything more than a sign up form? As it is the only feedback I can have is that I am loathe to fill out my email on that kind of form because maybe six months from now I will get an email from you, maybe it will get through my spam filter, and maybe I will still care. I think making people wait to try a product is a way people kill their startups. Maybe 1 person in 50 who sees your sign up form is going to fill it out, you have someone on the hook who was a remarkable amount of ardor in that moment. (You can’t believe what a precious thing that is.) It is very likely that ardor will have faded by the time that they hear from you again. Maybe the best you can do now is make a YouTube video showing people working with the prototype. As it is this is note taking startup 74,912 out of 111,325.
- misakss 4y ago
  That is a valid point, I will look into creating a video of the prototype to show off the concept. My goal is to gather user insights and feedback before building too much product. Your feedback is much appreciated, thank you!

HelloNurse 4y ago

Pretty pictures? We are talking about a note-tacking app, which lives and dies by its user interface: cartoonish vague mockups instead of screenshots are an insult. It's still a lesser insult than a landing page with a centered form to subscribe to your spamming list and, below the fold, some hopeful buzzwords. Apparently, harvesting email addresses is the entirety of your MVP.

beardyw 4y ago
I think we need an application of Hanlon's Razor here. I agree with your 1st paragraph, but let's put it down to over exuberance. The message is the same, do at least a little work first.
- HelloNurse 4y ago
  I was only cynical about the urge to irritate people with a request to register to receive worthless updates (if one really wants to harvest many email addresses for hostile purposes, there is better bait than niche software). My impression, based on the OP's introductory comment in this thread, is that development of this product is earnest but severely unfinished/half-baked, with a somewhat annoying but "normal" marketing style and business plan. Unfortunately, a new app/startup of this sort is not judged by backstage discussions on Hacker News, but by their website, and the first impression of the website is shockingly terrible: nothing to read, nothing to see, and a prominent request for our email addresses that adds up to negative value.
  - misakss 4y ago
    I see your points, and I think they are valid. However, my goal is to gather user insights and feedback before building too much product. As the other comment suggests, I'll look into creating a video of the prototype to make the concept more concrete. There is no better place than HN to get honest feedback. Thank you for taking your time to look through the landing page and leaving your feedback, much appreciated.