Launch Details and Decisions – REWORK

Basecamp 5 is out in the world! In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to talk about some of the details of the launch and the big decisions that went into it. They discuss what went smoothly, what only a live rollout could reveal, and the response from current customers.

*Key Takeaways*

00:00 – Episode preview
00:47 – How this launch compared to previous Basecamp versions
04:30 – Setting (and moving) the launch date
07:30 – How the mobile apps equaled a point of no return
14:02 – Going live is when things get real
17:32 – The decision to move all customers to Basecamp 5 at once
21:04 – Handling the customers who push back hardest
22:25 – How a great support team makes or breaks a major product transition

*Links and Resources*

See where Basecamp is being used right now – https://basecamp.com/live

If Your Product Is Great, It Doesn't Need to Be Good by Paul Buchheit – https://paulbuchheit.blogspot.com/2010/02/if-your-product-is-great-it-doesnt-need.html

Record or upload a video question for Jason and David — https://www.37signals.com/podcastquestion

Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwo5Hcps5IkBBAv1-_HPOMvC4Rn1p8lsQ

Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at https://www.basecamp.com 

HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial – https://www.hey.com/

Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at https://www.fizzy.do

Books by 37signals – https://37signals.com/books

The REWORK podcast – https://37signals.com/podcast/

Jason Fried on X – https://x.com/jasonfried

David Heinemeier Hansson on X – https://x.com/dhh

Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website https://www.37signals.com/

Leave us a video question at www.37signals.com/podcastquestion or send an email to rework@37signals.com, and we might answer it on a future episode.