The culture ofBasecamp, the small company behind top-shelf project management software, is famously productive and unfrazzled.
David Heinemeier Hansson, aka DHH, is the developer behind Basecamps eponymous flagship product.
In his off hours, hes an international race car driver.
We asked him how he works.
Location:Right now, Malibu, California.
But I was no child computer prodigy.
I tried to learn how to program, but failed several times.
Although I did end up typing in a few games from the back of magazines.
But mostly, I just played other peoples games on computers.
Then as a teenager I ran a warez BBS for pirated Amiga software called Electronic Confusion.
I learned all about modems, calling cards, and the fascinating scene of crackers and traders.
It was through this involvement with the Amiga scene that I befriended a bunch of programmers.
Pointer arithmetic and vector calculations was not my idea of fun.
Then the internet became a thing.
I still liked games, so I ended up creating a number of websites for reviewing games.
That lead to creating quake3.dk in anticipation of Quake 3.
Ran that for years.
And then finally I created dailyrush.dk, which dealt with both consoles and PC games.
That was a real startup.
Created in an incubator.
This was in 2000-2001.
Working on all these projects forced me to learn PHP.
Not because I wanted to become a programmer, but because I wanted new features for my websites.
He decided to hire me rather than learn how to program.
And from there the story went to Basecamp and Ruby on Rails and here we are.
Some 15 years later!
Take us through a recent workday.
It depends on where Im based.
Im kind of a slow crank.
The mornings are for dealing with inbound.
All the emails, requests, PRs, chat rooms, blah, blah.
That work varies widely.
Some days its all about writing.
Jason and I are currently writing a new book called The Calm Company.
But if its not a book, then its often a new blog post.
Or an idea for a talk.
Or ideas for Basecamp.
Theres a lot of writing in my work.
Other days its all about programming.
That might be spiking out a new concept for Basecamp.
Or it might be extracting code for inclusion in Ruby on Rails.
Whatever it is, its a treat.
But other days still its tickling the mechanics of running a company of some 56 people at Basecamp.
We dont have a lot of layers or support staff at Basecamp.
Theres no CFO or COO.
There are no dedicated managers.
So theres just a good amount of company stuff that keeps popping up.
That usually works out for the better.
Less policy scar tissue, no interest in endless meetings, no appetite for bulk.
What apps, gadgets, or tools cant you live without?
My favorite software is all writing environments.
I helped Allan shapeTextMate1 way back in 2003, and its still my preferred text editor for code.
Youll have to pry it from my dead cold hands!
But I also likeiA Writer.
I do most of my prose writing in that.
Its beautiful, its simple, its free of distractions.
Then theres OS X/iOS Notes.
Thats where all those loose ideas for new blog posts, book essays, and talks go.
I also love photography.
Ive captured so many priceless memories with that combination.
Especially after becoming a father.
Kids are a great motivation to hone your photography craft.
Finally, I like mechanical watches.
All sorts, but I have a particular weakness for vintageDaytonas.
Looking at a mechanical watch thats still ticking after 40 years is a great reminder to seek longevity.
Building simpler things that last longer.
Taking care of them.
Making them go the distance.
Whats your workspace setup like?
Yes, Ive heard the bullshit about cluttered desks being the hallmark of a brilliant mind.
But I like it neat.
Clutter isnt calm, and calm is how I click.
Whats your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
Im always astonished by the tangled web of obligations most people manage to weave for themselves.
I say no to almost everything.
Then I can commit myself fully to the few things that I do truly choose to do.
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
I dont, really.
I try not to have a backlog.
Im sorta obsessionally clearing out my inbox.
Just make the call, which in my case is mostly no, then move on.
The only tracking I generally do is of things that are outside of my control.
Like, we just finished building a house.
I had to have a system for keeping track of all the vendors, punch lists, and such.
Basecamp fit perfectly for that, thankfully!
How do you recharge?
What do you do when you want to forget about work?
Work is mostly programming and writing.
Two of my favorite things to do in life.
So I dont need to forget about work.
But I do need to recharge.
A great days work is 45 really focused hours that lead to major progress on a project or topic.
Ive found squeezing the lemon of every last drop is a sour way to live.
So I race cars around the world in the World Endurance Championship.
Love the feeling of total focus and flow I can tap into when behind the wheel.
The exhilaration of speed, g-forces, and that tinge of danger.
Thatll wipe the mind right clean!
Im also a passionate photographer.
Its so satisfying to capture just that perfect moment.
Just the right composition in the right light.
Getting the colors just so.
And finally, I love to travel with the family.
Discovering the world with my wife and kids is a real treat.
But hey, sometimes its also just spacing out in front of a show or Instagram.
Whats your favorite side project?
Does Ruby on Rails qualify as a side project?
I suppose it does.
So that would be it!
What are you currently reading, or whats something youd recommend?
Working my way throughDebt: The First 5,000 Years.
Fascinating history of money, debt, barter, slavery, morality, and all the connections between them.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
This interview has been lightly edited.
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