naaa, it's a simple lesson: If your startup has a developer like DHH who built a widely successful and popular framework used by the entire web, and than won the Google coder of the year prize, than 37 signals ideas are for you.
Unfortunately, it's probably not the case.
You did a good thing. It's an open source project and this is the right way to join forces. The target is ambitious enough.
And there is really nothing wrong with an open letter: anybody who put his hours to open source deserves at least attention, and hopefully reputation. Cheers.
It's very easy to explain why things will fail. In fact, most startup fail. Most VC investments, with all the balances and checks, fail. For any given tech venture, anybody who says "it will fail" will be right probably 99 times out of 100.
Great wisdom, indeedץ
Yes, this project is far fetched. Yes, the tech idea is still not clear. Yes, these guys don't have previous experience. Yes, it's not a common funding way. Yes, Facebook is the current almost monopolist player.
But to all the Jason Fried's out there: We wish them luck. They did the right thing in the right time. Many people gave a small sum each for a good cause. And like many other ventures: they may just succeed.
For the record: This time 37 signals is perfectly right. These patents are absurd. The most is "objects for keeping settings". Really, they just covered everything out there, any software, any device.
The court should dismiss these patents.
I think that Fried's post is trolling.
It's not a simple opinion: it may well slow down their finance. 4 brave guys, dedicated for an important goal, in the right time.
Instead of wishing them luck calling them "Curse"? and I AM the troll?
But not in Google Apps!
Google had no problem to add tasks (talk to remember the milk).
But why not project management?
BTW - it's fair. J.Fried is using his ammunition to protect his business. But let's just call it what it is.
Reg innovative: Huddle chat was written in weeks. We can only guess where it be now. Basecamp is great, but very similar to what it was 2 years ago
Anyway guys, we all should only hope the best of luck for this Diaspora thing instead of bashing them. That's all I'm saying. Mr. Fried could wait at least until the finance period is done.
Not a bit. They are a great company, great products and great inspiration.
I just think that this post is ugly. He could wait a while, let them finish the finance, let them work, and in a few months write about the results.
The rush, the hurry, the strong word ("a curse") is - to me - too bold to be pure "startup/product advice" issue.
So 4 CS grads raising below seed round range for a much needed project and supported by so many people is a Curse? For THAT he could not sleep?
A pity that this attitude comes from a startup news site. Again: It's a paradigm shift that should enable to create new class of web applications in "nodes" instead of "central hubs".
And all central hub owners, who make their revenues from the old paradigm, should be worried.
We have seen this shifts wiping out companies so fast before. It's not something to laugh about.
Than how do you explain his (successful) campaign against the free google chat that competes with Campfire? Google shut it down, basically, because it's "unfair to J.Fried".
Since Google did it, nobody else dare to compete directly with Basecamp, as is.
Diaspora is a paradigm shift, and it will be easier to implement a better Basecamp without single point of registration and billing.