I got an invite from the good folks at WebBreakStuff today to check out Goplan, their latest product beta (but it’s apparently not a beta).
If you’re not on the invite list, you can go check out their Flickr set or mine (very cool to offer that, by the way).
The base feature set includes Notes, Blog, Calendar, Tickets, Tasks, Files and Campfire-like Chat rooms. When creating new Projects, you can select which of these features that you want to include.
I have to say that I love the feel of this app… if they can offer single sign-on with something like OpenID and Microformats, I think I’ll be in love. Or infatuated at least. For a little while.
There are a few quirks (like the Add Event form and date validation) but the biggest problem so far seems to be adding other users… unless it’s a project space of one, this might be the loneliest collaboration software I’ve ever seen! 😉
So bottom line — Basecamp still has the edge, but with competition like this (no word on the pricing model yet), I’m eager to see how these loose pieces coming together can help empower the independents really building the future of the web.
. . .
While I’m at it, I should shout out to Fred and co. for organizing a very successful BarCamp in Portugal. Perhaps the most inspiring result of this event relates directly to Goplan:
The event was a success and made us consider working closer to the portuguese IT market – something we’ve been kinda skeptical about mainly because it always seemed like it wasn’t ready for the kind of services we offer. Check out the event photos over at Flickr.
If BarCamp can bring a tighter focus on local communities outside the valley, that’s a true accomplishment, and a goal that we set for the event from the very beginning.
Factory Joe 
Chris, thanks a bunch for trying it out and posting your thoughts. I don’t want to spill all the beans right now but microformat support is on its way, and a few more things I know you’ll be into 😉
More on the pricing model soon, as well. Thanks again!