I know Basecamp doesn't hire until someone at the company tries the job first. Have you and Jason handled nuts and bolts work like accounting, setting up health insurance, and legal paperwork? Did you learn those topics in business school?

Do you think software products are more useful that don't present themselves as an "all in one" solution for something? For instance, did you consider, then decide against rolling Highrise into Basecamp?

Hi David, This is a business question for you. Some people whose businesses I like built platforms on which others can do work. Here are three examples: Matt built WordPress: A platform on which people can build a website or blog. You built Rails: A platform on which people can build web applications. Derek built CD Baby: A “platform” on which people could sell their CDs. Do you think intending to create a platform is a wise idea on which to start a business? Or, is creating a platform something you stumble into as a side effect of making something else (like Valve creating Steam, you creating Rails to build Basecamp)? I noticed Evernote tried, but failed to intentionally shift their product to be a big platform for developers. Maybe this is because the move came from Evernote, instead of customers requesting it. Thanks. I appreciate your writing.