REWORK Give it a name
29 snips
Jan 28, 2026 
David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails and sharp commentator on software and design. Jason Fried, product designer and CEO known for Basecamp and simple work tools. They discuss when to pick a name, how Fizzy evolved from Splat to Boxcar, domain tradeoffs and buys like hey.com, legal naming skirmishes, and why sound and momentum often beat perfection.
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From Splat To Fizzy (Then Boxcar)
- Jason Fried named the product Splat first inspired by bugs on a windshield and later renamed it Fizzy when the UI shifted to bubbly shapes.
- They briefly tried Boxcar due to card-like visuals and Chicago train imagery but reverted to Fizzy because it sounded better.
Sound Matters More Than Perfect Fit
- A name rarely checks every box; prioritize how it sounds and feels over perfect conceptual fit.
- Jason and David prefer pleasant, easy-to-say names because they anchor product identity and morale.
Don't Chase The .com Too Early
- Don't over-index on getting the exact .com domain early; pick a name you love and rally around it first.
- Buy expensive or ideal domains later only when the product needs them, as they are a luxury, not a requirement.