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Reader Question: Jason Fried and 37signals
March 23, 2006 in Reader QuestionWin a free copy of 37signals' latest book Getting Real Contest Completed.
Ok gang, you're all invited to vote in the poll below and share the rationale for your vote in the comments of this post. Two lucky commenters (one at random, one with the most thoughtful rationale) will receive a FREE copy of 37signals' latest ebook Getting Real. I'll hand out the free book copies on Monday, 27 March 2006.
Update:
Ok, I selected 3 winners.
I think Carolyn Wood provided the most thoughtful rationale arguing for "their ideas" and Rob Drimmie for "their software."
The random winner (slips of numbered paper picked blind by my 3yr old son Owen from a bowl) was Tim (yes he was pretty proud of himself after I asked him to "pick one from the bowl" and he picked out the number "one.")
Congrats to the winners, you'll get an email from Matt at 37signals with your download link shortly.
Thanks to 37signals for the prizes, and thanks to all of you who submitted thoughtful entries, I'm not sure about anyone else, but I enjoyed reading through them.
Oh, and my vote? Their ideas.
Technology moves at too rapid a pace to imagine that it will be their software. 10 yrs really is a long time. I have confidence that 37s can create lasting software, but I think their biggest impact will be that they were front and center championing this shift, which in many ways is the antidote to the dotcom bust.
With the generosity of Jason and crew in sharing their ideas on business, marketing and software development, and backing it up with an impeccable case study (their own success); I suspect in 10 years time a lot of water will have passed under the bridge, but that these solid ideas, and the businesses and approaches that sprang up as a result, will be a lasting legacy.
Comments
Less is more, magic mantra !
Posted by: tim | Mar 23, 2006 10:53:30 AM
37signals and the software associated, is gaining traction, and is starting to pick up steam. I would say that Ruby on Rails is soon to become the largest known (to developers) and unknown (to people using products based off RubyOnRails) software/thing. It will last more than 10 years.
Posted by: Daniel Nicolas | Mar 23, 2006 11:15:43 AM
I am a huge supporter of Jason and 37signals. Great philosophies, great products. However, I think the fact that they truly want to remain small may mean that the legacy won't have as much of a chance to grow into legend. I'm sure Jason and the rest of the gang love what they do, but judging by the success they have had thus far, 10 years from now, they'll probably be retired. I know I would be.
Posted by: Rich | Mar 23, 2006 11:16:32 AM
You never know what might happen in 10 years time, but I will admit I enjoy their message of simplicity - their ideas can be applied to just about anything...
Posted by: Fin | Mar 23, 2006 11:24:16 AM
I voted that their products and software will be more influential.
If you look at influences in software development over the past say 40 years or so, I argue that applications have more influence than theory.
Their theory is tight, don't get me wrong, but the number of people who use Basecamp is significantly larger than the number of people that will read their book, blog, or any other arguments they commit to, uh, electrons.
More important than pointing to a book of any sort and saying "look at these arguments, they make sense!" to sway people who don't care about the details of development is being able to point at a successful, profitable, well-known, dominant company and say "look at the way they did it".
Ruby on Rails itself influences people who use it and applications built with it, but its popularity and successfulness extend the influence far beyond. It is popularising MVC as a design pattern for people who use it or don't. The success of Rails lends credence to and influences the development of web frameworks for other platforms.
I don't think in 10 years people are going to care about Web 2.0, we'll have gone through at least 2 more revolutions by that point. Influence in software development, design and most every creative medium comes more from doing than telling.
Posted by: Rob Drimmie | Mar 23, 2006 11:26:57 AM
In 10 years I think some people will still be using Ruby on Rails, and probably a few will still be using the 37 Signals products, but it won't be the HOT item anymore. Something better will come along, it always does. What is more likely to last is their ideas (such as those in the Getting Real book). A lot of the principles of Getting Real can be applied to any language and any type of project, so they can outlast the language fads that come along.
Also, if I were them, I'd sell it off in a couple years and retire, or move on to the next big thing.
Posted by: Patrick | Mar 23, 2006 11:34:28 AM
I did not read any of the comments so that I would not be influenced...
I think their biggest legacy will be the "simple is better" methodology in all aspects of business. Even while being a minimalist at heart, specifically with design, I find that I now have the vocabulary of ideas to sell simple is better and show that simple things can be more valuable than more complex ones.
I see them becoming the IDEO of software...
Posted by: Gianni D'Alerta | Mar 23, 2006 11:44:46 AM
Software isn't the only thing that's bloated today, and I'm inclined to believe that Jason's work promoting simplicity as concept will have much deeper reverberations than any piece of software (Ruby is one hell of a platform, but I agree with the folks above: 10 years is a long time). We don't need a blender with 21 speeds, a remote control with 72 buttons or a wallet capable of holding 42 credit cards. We probably won't return to the days of the alarm clock that you can set with two dials or the indestructable single-button Atari controller, but I can dream ...
Posted by: Rebel Dad | Mar 23, 2006 11:45:26 AM
I think that the impact of Ruby on Rails is going to go far beyond that of the business ideas of 37Signals - other ideas will come along and stand alongside their business ideas, but RoR will continue to gain ground and become a major force in the world of web application development.
Posted by: Christopher | Mar 23, 2006 11:51:06 AM
As most platforms become larger and more general purpose, 37signals has shown once again that to create a great product, you need to focus.
Posted by: Jeff Lewis | Mar 23, 2006 11:56:10 AM
Coming from a strictly non-tech perspective, Jason's thoughts on simplicity are truly visionary. They're also an inspiring case study aout web2.0 and the blogosphere - showing that it isn't big ads and big budgets that make you successful. It's passion and authenticity.
37 signals' blog is must-read reading for all entrepreneurs.
Posted by: Ben Rowe | Mar 23, 2006 12:22:20 PM
Parachute pants were big once too ... and ten years from now who's even going to remember you had this contest?
Posted by: Alan Brewer | Mar 23, 2006 12:22:43 PM
I will Alan, I just set a reminder in Outlook.
Posted by: Carson McComas | Mar 23, 2006 12:31:36 PM
things will be much simpler.
Posted by: tyamada | Mar 23, 2006 12:43:51 PM
I think that what the 37signals crew has done is bring a lot of positive light to Dynamic Programming Languages as well as pushing Agile practices. As the big names in lights this is going to be their biggest contribution. Rails is great but someone will come up with something better. Ruby is enjoying a huge amount of publicity which I think is great.
Posted by: Dru | Mar 23, 2006 12:56:51 PM
Going for random :-) I may come back with something more insightful when I have more time ;-)
Posted by: James Paden | Mar 23, 2006 12:57:45 PM
I voted for their software tools. In most instances actions speak louder than words - I listen to the 37signals crew, along with many others, in various podcasts and read their blog, along with many others.
I also use their products and experience their approach day after day while working with the tools they provide.
keith
Posted by: keith bohanna | Mar 23, 2006 1:19:53 PM
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to remove."
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
As great as their accomplishments have been, I'm not sure that a few guys in Chicago writing software can propogate the mindset quoted above to a culture that is driven by "bigger, better, faster, MORE".
Big ups to them for trying, though.
Posted by: Craig | Mar 23, 2006 1:42:10 PM
Thoughtful rationale not being my speciality, I'll hope for dumb luck.
Posted by: John S. | Mar 23, 2006 2:11:40 PM
Ruby on Rails has built amazing and professional applications, all of them making impacts in the Web 2.0 space. Ruby on Rails and the bar that 37signals set for product quality have overall increased the quality of Web 2.0 applications.
Posted by: Chris | Mar 23, 2006 2:25:43 PM
I voted software and products -- as for why, Daniel Nichols said it first and best.
Plus, it seems awfully early to try to second guess what the hindsight view of postery will be on the "founding fathers of web 2.0."
Posted by: Shaula Evans | Mar 23, 2006 2:28:33 PM
Less is more is not going to sustain...
Posted by: Victor | Mar 23, 2006 2:59:52 PM
While their products will probably evolve and do have a big userbase compared to their blog readership etc, the smaller group are the movers and shakers who are leading a software 'revolution' and they are heavily influenced and shaped by the writing of 37 Signals. The first group are the end users, 37 Signals influence stops there, the second group however, are actively involved in defining and creating the next generation of the web. This looks like it will have some of the biggest impacts on society in the next ten years, so the role of 37 Signals's ideas in shaping this is massive. Their products may experience short term hype (and long term usefulness), but their real longevity is in their influence.
Posted by: Natalie Ferguson | Mar 23, 2006 4:00:33 PM
I don't think it's fair to look 10 years down the road, hopefully by then their will be several more Jasons/37signals and I really feel that is what defines them, because their philosophy and message has greater reach as inspiration for others.
Posted by: Robert Velasquez | Mar 23, 2006 5:13:15 PM
Ruby on Rails will last in some form, but I think it is the nature of small, agile enterprises that in 10 years they will be almost unrecognisably different from today, as they probably should be.
I think they will be still be making impacts, but in other ways, other areas. It may be that in 10 years their biggest impacts will have come from something that nobody has even conceived of yet. That would be my bet.
Posted by: Mathew Patterson | Mar 23, 2006 5:18:13 PM
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