Getting Real: The Smarter, Faster, Easier Way to Build a Web Application

Escape the Feature Factory to Build Smarter, Simpler, and Far More Effective Products

Jason Fried

9 Key Insights

About This Book

Getting Real is your roadmap for skipping the bureaucracy and waste that bog down most projects. If you’re tired of endless planning, meetings, and overcomplexity, this approach will flip your expectations: you’ll build smaller, faster, and better. With direct tools and hands-on tactics, you’ll learn how to start with your real users’ experience, strip away everything nonessential, and make agile changes as you go. The journey rewards you with confidence to launch early, iterate, and find creative solutions within tough constraints—resulting in satisfying work and products people actually love.

About the Author

Basecamp is an industry-changing software company known for creating simple, effective web applications used by millions worldwide. Their philosophy shaped products like Basecamp, HEY, and Ruby on Rails, pioneering a new way of working: stay small, move fast, and keep things real. The team has shared their hands-on lessons and bold ideas through influential writing and open-source contributions, making them trusted voices for a new generation of makers, leaders, and creative entrepreneurs.

Biggest Takeaway

By applying these principles, you’ll develop razor-sharp focus, break free from bloat, and develop products or services with remarkable speed. Expect shorter timelines, clearer priorities, and an energized, passionate team. You’ll improve your confidence in decision-making, build lasting customer relationships through honest communication, and enjoy the process more. This approach also cultivates adaptability and reduces stress since you’ll become comfortable with creative iteration and embracing uncertainty.