Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss their new free and simple publishing product, Workbook. They talk about the excitement of sharing information online, starting a new product from scratch, the value of offering the product for free, and the various authors who may benefit from it.
Workbook offers a simple and free platform for publishing web-based books, promoting cohesive content collections.
Workbook's open-source nature and simplified design encourage creativity and exploration in content creation, catering to a broad audience.
Deep dives
Introducing Workbook - Simplified Web-based Book Publishing
Workbook is the new product by the co-founders of 37 signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemar Hansen. Workbook simplifies the process of publishing web-based books, allowing the easy creation of collections of essays or content in a book format. Unlike traditional blogging systems, Workbook focuses on creating cohesive collections with cover pages and title pages, offering a simple and free platform for users to publish their work.
Features and Philosophy of Workbook - Empowering Independent Publishing
Workbook embodies the essence of independent publishing on the web, providing users with control over their content without relying on external hosting services. It offers a clean and straightforward design approach, akin to the simplicity found in Hey World posts, aiming to counter the overwhelming clutter present on many modern web platforms. By emphasizing freedom from data tracking and ad services, Workbook promotes the sharing and dissemination of human knowledge with a focus on elegant and uncomplicated presentation.
Versatility and Audience of Workbook - Beyond Traditional Book Publishing
In addition to traditional book formats, Workbook's versatility extends to various content types, including cookbooks, technical manuals, graphic novels, and internal company handbooks. With the ability to host public and private books, Workbook caters to a broad audience seeking to publish static information online, uniquely positioning itself as a tool for organizational knowledge-sharing and individual content creation. Its open-source nature and simplified design encourage creativity and exploration in content creation.
Workbook's Accessibility and Future Developments - Free, Update-friendly, and Secure
Workbook's pricing model, offering the platform for free, liberates users financially and encourages wider content creation due to reduced barriers to entry. The absence of a paywall and email newsletter underscores Workbook's focus on sharing and accessibility. Users benefit from Campfire's update system, ensuring seamless integration of patches and maintaining up-to-date software effortlessly. Moreover, Workbook's security and compliance with GDPR standards enhance its appeal, fostering a secure and user-controlled environment for content sharing.
In this episode, Kimberly Rhodes hosts a discussion with Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the co-founders of 37signals, about their newest product. And the best news? It will be free and simple to use.
Key Takeaways:
00:26 - The next Once product
02:52 - The excitement of easily sharing free information in book form online
07:02 - Simplified publishing software that you completely control
12:12 - Starting a new product from scratch creates an open space for new ideas
15:55 - The various authors and enthusiasts that may want to use the new product
22:10 - Making the case on why this product is free