Goplan 2 is on the way

Sócrates Vicente on July 24, 2008, Comments (21)

You were probably missing updates by now - truth is we haven’t been doing a good job in keeping you up to date with what’s going on, and how the new Goplan is coming along. So hopefully this post will make up for that, at least for a little bit until we’re ready to unveil more details about the upcoming updates.

What’s new?

So what is new on Goplan 2, you ask? There’s actual company support (which should make the pain of managing users go away for good), time tracking, better file management and attachments, and a few more things that will be announced soon. We’re hacking away at code and design, so it’s still a bit early to give you a deadline, but we’ll have a better idea in a couple of weeks for sure.

Also, I’m hoping for a full revamp of our design and layout. While the current one has been good, we’ve been finetuning a bunch of processes (many things that have been taking several page loads will be ajaxified). I’ll keep you posted on that process with wireframes and mockups. Keep an eye out.

So, we’ll be doing several blog posts in the upcoming weeks with more details on what’s coming. Keep an eye out, and if you have comments, suggestions or thoughts, do leave them in the comments or email them to our support team. Thanks!

Comments:

Thanks for the update. I was a beta tester for Goplan (before defecting to Basecamp after you guys stopped updating it) and I really look forward to seeing what is in store.

I second Noel’s sentiments.

The deeper my mental investment gets in using another Project Management software as time goes by, the less chance I’ll switch back.

I suggest you produce some carrots to dangle in the interim. If it takes too long, it might just be better for me to ignore the future of GoPlan, so I never know what I’m missing.

Good to see a blog post. I’m still using goplan as I have invested time into using it and don’t want to port everything over. Once new projects start I’ll have to think about going back to basecamp (the lack of tickets was what made me look for alternatives).

Hopefully you can produce something - even a beta to show us that it will be worth the hassles we’ve endured and the frustrations at the lack of updates and communication.

I’m looking forward to version 2. Timetracking will make goplan the best project management suite I’ve used. Before signing up for a paid plan, I’d love to know how much longer we can expect to wait before 2.0 goes live.

I agree. A blog post was a good update. But current communications do not give me the sense that this project is a priority for Webreakstuff. The target date for this update has rolled and rolled, with no signs of progress (no screen shots, no beta test, etc.) I mean, 37 Signals sucks at communicating their Road Map … so you have a step up there … but they also show progress (they have regular releases an updates). Just as much as we all want good software, we also want to be assured that you are a company that will grow with our companies.

Totspot - your NEW project has had plenty of blog posts:

1 in August
8 in June
12 in june

Goplan? In an ENTIRE YEAR:

NONE in August
ONE in July - and ironically it’s post apologising for being bad at communicating
ONE in May
ONE in April
ONE in Febuary

I wouldn’t care but you’re charging for a service that is below par, you claim supprt is a killer feature - do you mean lack of support for the product will kill it?

Basically, it is clear that Goplan is the red headed stepchild of WBS. Do you use basecamp for your own project management?

When i first came to Goplan i found a very good project with good look and features but allways knowing that a lot of things was missing, but it has never really growup as i expected, im, sorry but i am not going to keep waiting for Goplan 2 for much longer

do you really use BaseCamp ??? :O

Wow - this is getting embarrassing. You really don’t read this blog huh? not one comment from you guys - plenty of negative comments and not a single rebuttal

JTB, we are not responsible for the update of the Totspot blog and actually we use the same Goplan available to everyone to manage our projects, which shows how much we trust Goplan and believe in the product (although we have been “slow updaters” of the application).

Socrates, any update? Are you all getting close to the finish line? Anything we can see?

I am new to GoPlan and rally like the way it’s been done. More features would be great and the ideas in the post are good ones. But I have to say, it only takes A FEW MINUTES to add more detail about what you are actually doing/have already done in preparation for the update. If you are running some cool features in dev mode, please let us see!!! We are all curious and that’s a good thing!

I am also new to GoPlan, started paying for it yesterday.

Really like the looks and functionality – the simplicity of GoPlan. Reading the negative feedback on the lack of updating and communication makes me a bit worried, but I’m hoping for the best. I’m a designer and as of such, I find it difficult to work with stuff that looks ugly. This looks and is so much faster than BaseCamp - but lacks a bit in feature comparison.

Maybe Version 2.0 will break to the next level.

I hope it does break into the next level without getting bloated. I agree the simplicity is good and the above worries me a bit too. Please please can we have a blog posting once a week (as I said it only takes a minute - how can it be so hard?) so we have a better idea of how the product is going to shape up.

“I’ll keep you posted on that process with wireframes and mockups. Keep an eye out.” Just a reminder.

Also, I thought the code was done - was being tested and skinned (UI design). How far along are you guys? What’s been the hold up.

Hey guys,

First, let me say great job on the application. I’ve been using it for a good long while now, and have even recommended it to several of my friends/business associates.

However, I have to say there’s been a lot of negative commentary on the blog, in the forum, etc. I think some of them have some points, and the updates certainly have not been as quick as we’d like. I DO believe you have a solid piece of software though. There’s no doubt in my mind that if you were to implement the changes you’ve been talking about, you’d be the leader in your league. You have a great groundwork product here, and have better customer service than most teams I’ve seen.

However, I fear that your ability to communicate with your user-base as a whole is the problem. You’ve been very slow about providing the updates that everybody is asking for, and have just plain not delivered on most of them. I don’t see this as a problem yet. The problem I do see though, is that you’re not telling anybody why.

I love the simplicity and intuitive nature of GoPlan, and want to continue to use it, but like many others I’m simply jumping out of my socks in anticipation for the features you’ve announced. Frankly, it’s pretty disappointing to not only not receive the updates I get excited about, but it’s even worse to not know why, or if I should EVER expect to see them happen.

From one business owner / software developer to another, my advice to you is to open up to your customers (through your blog) more often, and to be more open about what’s going on behind the scenes. People can easily forgive pushed due-dates if they are provided a good reason why (even if the reason is a lack of motivation/time on your part). Problem is , we have no clue why these things have taken so long. You’re honestly more likely to get positive response if you provide expected due-dates, and give a quick “Hey guys, gonna be late. This is why: _____________” if you expect not to meet it, rather than not giving due-dates and never delivering or giving updates as to why.

One more bit of advice: There’s nothing wrong with providing scheduled ‘previews’ of what’s happening behind the scenes. Not only does it add a level of re-assurance that you guys are actually working back there, but it is a great way to get the word out and get new potential users excited…bloggers eat that stuff up. Personally, I’d love to see a few ‘sneak peek’ screen-shots and progress updates every few months. I really think you guys should explore this sort of communication technique.

I really hope you guys make it through this slump. It’d be a shame to see GoPlan die. I’m a loyal supporter, and hope to be for some time to come.

I’m looking forward to your next post, be it an announcement of newly implemented features, or an update as to what’s going on. :)

-Lorren

@Lorren: couldn’t have said it better, myself.

@Goplan: suggest looking at how these guys communicate their roadmap (regular updates, schedule, and even some sneak peeks) http://www.vimeo.com/roadmap

Wow guys - really? Still nothing - I once had SO much respect for Webreakstuff, no almost zero

@Lorren - beautifully put, exactly right. You would have thought that would initiate a response huh?

At this rate, I reckon a ticketing system for basecamp may kill goplan. (www.tikiden.com - anyone have an invite?)

@cb: a group calendar, other than a Google Calendar hack, for Basecamp would do the trick for me.

@Goplan: common’ guys! We are obviously cheering for you and are here for a reason. But you are falling asleep at the wheel.

please guys give us some updates… we will have to make a decision between goplan, basecamp and clockingIT within the next few days and i would love to give my vote to goplan.
hope i’m not betting on a dead horse :(

Bueller? Bueller?

@Dave L - this is the thing - we all really _WANT_ to love goplan, and we all obviously see its potential otherwise we wouldn’t be leaving comments, and basically _BEGGING_ for updates. NOt even the product, just a series of solid updates. It’s very frustrating and very disappointing. We are paying customers - this really is a fantastic example of how not to run a business.

Clearly this is just a side project that keeps getting shunted down the priority list at WBS headquarters. Fair enough, BUT TELL US SOMETHING

might be interesting for some of you to hear this:
http://getsatisfaction.com/goplan/topics/how_is_the_state_of_development?utm_medium=widget&utm_source=widget_goplan

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