Here's what I see: you have identified a problem, and the problem is so big that you are itching to build a solution.
This seems to be independent from your question. Everyone on HN can come up with a reasonable speculative answer to your question (and mine would be a "yes"), but focusing on the issues makes clear if it's even worth competing in the first place.
With the information you provided, you seem to have a solid target market identified. How many teams are there that, like yours, that could benefit from a Basecamp alternative? And which of your team's needs aren't met with Basecamp, and is it something that Basecamp could replicate quickly? Dig a little bit deeper and discover the specific needs - that should reveal more useful information than any of us could provide :)
-Sam's Teach Yourself Shell Programming in 24 Hours
These won't make you a shell genius immediately, but they'll create a good basis for future, specialized learning.
Also, I try not to be a material snob, but buying the book instead of using a website or .pdf file made a world of a difference (especially during a morning commute).
Kudos to your father, Ilya. This is a wonderful, timeless story of perseverance and human desire. The characteristics and settings change, but the spirit is always the same.
My first non-congratulating HN comment ever is to completely agree with you. Valuable insights come from all different kinds of stories. I'm glad this community recognizes that, and what a wonderful piece this is.
This seems to be independent from your question. Everyone on HN can come up with a reasonable speculative answer to your question (and mine would be a "yes"), but focusing on the issues makes clear if it's even worth competing in the first place.
With the information you provided, you seem to have a solid target market identified. How many teams are there that, like yours, that could benefit from a Basecamp alternative? And which of your team's needs aren't met with Basecamp, and is it something that Basecamp could replicate quickly? Dig a little bit deeper and discover the specific needs - that should reveal more useful information than any of us could provide :)