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I haven't used basecamp, until now
Becoming a self-employed web developer threw my daily routine out the window in a big way, and my preciously corporate sanctioned work-flow as well, giving me a new set of problems. One new problem I've had is process tracking, central information storage and updating, and project management. If this sounds like three problems, you're right, but they are tightly connected.
Having many projects and lots of information to track, share, and modify, basecamp handles with ease and makes me work less and takes care of these problems without taking too much of my time. I am finally "with it" when it comes to project management.
Developing software is no picnic (as you know), but now at least I know where the utensils are. Try eating potato salad without a fork, and you'll get the idea. If you haven't checked out basecamp (by 37 signals) it is worth it, there is a free account, awesome simple tutorial videos, and a great application to help you track life and work.
If you are with it, and use basecamp religiously (or casually), do you have tips for a basecamp beginner like me, or ideas to get more out of basecamp? We're all ears.
Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsGregApr 27th 2007 7:59PM
Basecamp is good but I think www.CentralDesktop.com is much better.
Steve ShicklesApr 28th 2007 12:02AM
I guess I will have to go try it now... No day is complete without a visit to your great site.. Thanks
JasonApr 29th 2007 8:06AM
I was right there when basecamp launched and tried two subsequent times to make it central to my projects. For me, it just doesn't fit well enough day to day.
It works great for me, but getting my clients into the mix has been the limiting factor. I could devote more time to getting them in the habit of making basecamp the hub for project communication, but it just wasn't worth the time investment for about 75% of my clients.
For the handful of clients/projects that basecamp would work well, I run an installation of activeCollab (http://www.activecollab.com/) that accomplishes pretty much the same end without having to carry the additional cost during the times I wouldn't need basecamp. Granted, there's some time involved with setup and maintenance. But I am a developer after all. :)
Jon HenshawApr 30th 2007 2:54AM
You can get an improved version of activecollab (with time tracking and other goodies) at BaseJumpr (http://basejumpr.com/) which comes with unlimited file storage.
ElliottApr 30th 2007 10:20AM
I've used basecamp a little, but have just encountered activecollab for the first time. I was blown away by how similar it was to basecamp at a much more competitive price - free.
I've yet to find anything that basecamp does that activecollab doesn't do. And, if you're a Dreamhost client, they have a "1 Click Install" of it. Nice product.
Szymon SzczepankowskiMay 8th 2007 6:16AM
Ideas to get more out of Basecamp?
What would you say for a nice Subversion hosting with code deployment and server management features connected with Bascecamp? And in such way that To-Do lists get second dimension - you can use them for bug tracking with approving and commenting or as a friendlily quality assurance tool or ...? And what about messages that present real life development progress without extra effort? Also this To-Do Review...
Amazing! ;)
http://www.springloops.com/tour/deploy
http://www.springloops.com/tour/basecampintegration
http://www.springloops.com/tour/workflow
You will never now what will be next!
You never know what will be next.
JohnJun 17th 2007 3:12AM
Activcollab won't be free for much longer if you read the developer's blog. That's what's really got me into Basecamp - that and the API which allows integration with some other useful stuff.
RolandJun 30th 2007 3:51PM
Hi,
I just want to let you know that there is another fork of activeCollab 0.71 called ProjectPier. I am one of currently 5 people working on that.
Right now we are collecting all 0.71 themes and translations and rebrand aC 0.71 to PP 0.8 which will be our first version. Additionally we are working on a Drupal based website at http://drupal.projectpier.org to replace the (ugly) existing website at pp.org.
In the next version we like to enhance the tool and simplify it on it’s rough edges :-)
If you like to join, please contact us through the Drupal web site. You will be very welcome.
Cheers
Roland