Show HN: my new project, an app to tell your friends what you need

by lolizbak • 15 years ago

46 29 15 years ago

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

Hi fellow HNers, I wanted to show you my new project: Grople.com .

This is my 1s rails project, and I was looking for best learning practices. So I asked around (twitter, facebook) and got 2 types of responses: friends who also wanted to learn, and friends who could help out.

So this is actually what I built: an app to tell your friends what you need. Your friends can "+1" (they have the same need) or help out (commenting, offering their help).

I would love your feedback as much on the concept than on the execution. I built this in about 2 weeks, and will iterate based on your comments!

Thank again!

bricestacey2• 15 years ago

Why do you have to put a price on it?

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

Because for some things, i'm ready to pay. Honestly, two weeks ago, i would have paid a lot for a 2 hours hands-down training on polymorphic models. For other things (a favor, a beer with friends tonight), i wouldn't pay anything - obviously. So I figured i'd give the option.

JHLewisJr• 15 years ago

Great idea. Would be great if you had categories for the groples - just click on a number of boxes: programming assistance, training, handyman, etc.

TamDenholm• 15 years ago

Might want to fix the grammar of the biggest bit of text.

"Tell your friends what your need" should be "you", not "your".

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

That's why my girlfriend says i need glasses.... :) Thanks, corrected!

evoltix• 15 years ago

On the main page it says: "Tell your friends what your need." It should be: "Tell your friends what you need."

duiker101• 15 years ago

this seems interesting but i do not want it with twitter. you should make it open with your login system and give the option to connect twitter, or to choose what service to use, yours or twitter.

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

we'll implement other signup options, you're right. twitter connect is fast and easy, it's why we began with it. thx!

Johngibb• 15 years ago

You should look into the rails gem 'devise' if you're not already. It comes built in with everything you need for login, like account creation, passwords encrypted with bcrypt, forgotten password reset. And it also works with oauth login so it'll still support twitter.

JonAtkinson• 15 years ago

That name is terrible. I'm sure it's a clever portmanteau, but I'm just seeing 'grope', which is not a pleasant association for your brand.

nateberkopec• 15 years ago

I'm not a huge fan of "just grople it" on the homepage either. If I just encountered your service for the first time, I don't know what "gropling" is, so I don't know how to "grople it".

Your startup name becoming a verb is something earned, not something you can just create or start doing.

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

"Your startup name becoming a verb is something earned, not something you can just create or start doing." => You're totally right. We've been using it (noun, verb) internally and I guess I got used to it. Thank you!

lewispb• 15 years ago

Bounced at 'voila'

baberuth• 15 years ago

Great idea, awful name.

Grope + People = Grople ?

Obligatory Grapist video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqq051BU2MY

Sort of reminds me of zaarly.com

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

Thank you. I've received various feedback, but you're right - we might need to change :)

kongqiu3• 15 years ago

Definitely recommend a name change. Cool idea, though.

patja• 15 years ago

Doesn't anyone else find the whole idea of putting a price tag on a request to your "friends" a little off-putting?

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

The thing is, every favor/service has a price. If you're my friend and you're an expert in rails or a salsa teacher, i'd be happy to pay you to teach me what you know if i need it.

Doesn't make sense?

kongqiu3• 15 years ago

The combination of cash+friends does put off many people. In lieu of cash, could they offer a beer for something?

A barbecue?

A code review (i.e., something they're particularly good at)?

unshift• 15 years ago

not being a jerk but i don't actually get it -- i can post something that i need and a price and then what? people people can say they need it too? why do i care?

a few nits:

- your URL scheme is no good (/projects/<number>), should be something more readable

- the footer should read, "bear with us, we have cool things brewing" and not "we got"

- your homepage doesn't actually explain what effect "gropling" something has, if any

andjones• 15 years ago

I love the idea, however there is a fundamental problem with the way we ask for things that must be overcome:

Only those that think they deserve what they're asking for will ask. The problem boils down to self worth. If I truly believe that I am worth (a million dollars|to be funded|a beer|a lesson in rails), then I will get it [1]. In this sense, this tool does a great job of connecting a need to those who can possibly fulfill that need within your social network.

Those without the confidence to ask will be left in the dust. They will see this as another divisive tool between the haves and have nots.

If you can solve the problem of self worth, that is a billion dollar problem [2]. Its not a problem many of us in the start-up world consider. I think you must have a relatively high enough self worth to with stand failure and keep self promoting a start-ups.

We all deserve the very best in life. Some of the unhappy people I know are afraid to ask for the very best, or just don't think they deserve it. I think your tool is a step in the right direction.

[1] Within reason. If I ask for a trillion and believe I'm worth a trillion, I will get what I asked for. That is, my peer group will let me know that is silly.

[2] Also cooler than a million dollar problem

kongqiu3• 15 years ago

If the "self worth" problem is something you want to focus on (and for an MVP, I'm not convinced it's that big an issue), some ideas for encouraging more participation by non-narcissists:

Limit the number of "requests" and/or dollar amount a person can submit. If a user invites a friend who then signs up and/or makes a request, the original user could earn more requests. This would provide an incentive for the "high self worth" people to encourage their lower-self worth friends to ask for things.

Just a thought...

lolizbak9• 15 years ago

Really cool idea, thank you ! Will try to implement this next week

localtalent• 15 years ago

In response to patja's comment, I a) don't like doing cash business with my friends and b) rarely will ask enough to make it worth my time.

Say my friend needs help fixing her bike, something I know how to do. She puts the call out and I volunteer. How much do I ask for? $20? $30? Not really life-changing sums, and getting much more than that makes it awkward. This is why that the currency for bike nerds is 6-packs.

What would be a lot more interesting for me is skill swapping: I'd be happy to teach someone to fix their bike if they gave me help learning the guitar. Then not only do I learn a new skill (which is worth a lot more than $20), I get to spend more time with a friend (or associate, or stranger).

Consider the value exchange that's going to take place between your users, and I think it gets a lot more compelling.

And I'm not really feeling the name either, I also thought of the Grapist.

Void_• 15 years ago

Why couldn't I just use my Facebook status, or Twitter to tell my friends that I need something?

jeggers5• 15 years ago

Never do business with friends!!!

Show HN: my new project, an app to tell your friends what you need

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