Think Wordpress.
Fried just doesn't want you to have that option for project management. It's not about Diasopora, it's about Basecamp.
Fried just doesn't want you to have that option for project management. It's not about Diasopora, it's about Basecamp.
Or do you think that somehow Diaspora will be a product management solution? Will it also do my taxes? Perhaps it will print bingo cards, organize my book collection, and bake the world's tastiest pies?
This is exactly what Fried is talking about: When you launch a pure-vapor product you encourage people to project fantasies onto it. That sends you lots and lots of false signals and sets the public up to be disappointed.
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.
He is just trying to stop the finance momentum.
37signals is not some machiavellian puppetmaster. Fried posted a simple opinion piece on a hot topic and you immediately start frothing at the mouth like a times square end-of-worlder. Get a grip.
And, even if that were true, it will be still be wrong because vaporware isn't a threat.
And regarding Basecamp/Diaspora: I can already get most of the same functionality I can get from Basecamp in plenty of other products, both hosted and open-source. Basecamp is popular because it's really, really good, not by a long shot because they are the only option.
A project management application on the Diaspora platform would have zero advantage over Basecamp because of that. And even if it would have, Diaspora is open, and 37S could just implement Basecamp as a node.
Fried says Diaspora is going to fail because it's the provocative thing to do, and that's what Fried does on his blog.
What's the rush to bash Diaspora and make backers back off? so people put about 20$ each for seed round in an important project for seemingly honest guys. It's not that he has to stop a Maydof scheme.
The rush to disturb it, the strong word ("curse") are the result of deeper interest to stop them.
Diaspora is a paradigm shift, and it will be easier to implement a better Basecamp without single point of registration and billing.
Perhaps you should step back and take a deep breath?
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.
I am sorry, but do you think that Jason can "shut down" something that Google makes, just with his writing?
And seriously, the idea of Diaspora competing with BaseCamp takes some imagination! At such an abstract level, almost any web app could be said to compete with any other web app.
Of course he is. Isn't that obvious.
Nobody dares to compete with Basecamp? Are you kidding me?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_project_managemen...
Basecamp alternative: http://lessprojects.com/ - Status: Not shut down.
Basecamp alternative: https://www.hoisthq.com/ - Status: Private beta
Free, open-source Campfire alternative: https://echowaves.com/ - Status: Not shut down.
And these are just the ones I know about (OK, I had to Google for a second to find EchoWaves).
Final nail in the coffin: If 37S was "competing" by shutting down competitors, why are they innovating their products at the pace they are? The Campfire of today doesn't look like the Campfire HuddleChat ripped off.
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.