Overview
Basecamp is an all-in-one project management and team communication platform developed by 37signals. It organizes work into projects, each containing tools for messaging, to-do lists, file sharing, scheduling, and real-time group chat. Basecamp emphasizes simplicity and structured communication to reduce information overload.
Basecamp is a web-based tool with native apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. It replaces the need for separate tools for email threads, group chat, file sharing, and task management by consolidating everything into one place. The platform supports client access for external collaborators with controlled visibility.
Getting Started
Project Structure
Basecamp Account
├── HQ (Company-wide)
│ ├── Message Board
│ ├── Campfire (Chat)
│ ├── Automatic Check-ins
│ └── Doors (External tool links)
├── Project A
│ ├── Message Board
│ ├── To-dos
│ ├── Docs & Files
│ ├── Campfire
│ ├── Schedule
│ └── Card Table
└── Teams
├── Engineering
├── Design
└── Marketing
Message Board
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Create message | Click New Message in project |
| Categories | Organize by type (Announcement, FYI, Pitch) |
| Rich formatting | Bold, italic, lists, code blocks, attachments |
| @mentions | Notify specific people |
| Comments | Threaded replies on each message |
| Pin message | Keep important messages at the top |
To-do Lists
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Create list | Add categorized to-do lists per project |
| Assign | Assign to-dos to one or more people |
| Due dates | Set deadlines with calendar integration |
| Notes | Add details and attachments to each to-do |
| Reorder | Drag to prioritize items |
| Groups | Organize lists into groups |
Campfire (Chat)
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Project chat | Real-time chat within each project |
| Pings | Direct messages to individuals or groups |
| File sharing | Drag and drop files into chat |
| Code snippets | Share formatted code blocks |
Docs and Files
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Upload files | Drag and drop or browse |
| Create docs | Rich text documents within Basecamp |
| Version history | Track changes over time |
| Preview | Preview images, PDFs, and docs inline |
Schedule
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Events | Create calendar events with details |
| Milestones | Track project milestones |
| Integration | Sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, iCal |
| Recurring | Set repeating events |
Card Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Kanban columns | Organize cards in customizable columns |
| Card details | Title, description, assignees, due dates |
| Color labels | Tag cards with colors |
| Move cards | Drag between columns |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|
J / K | Next / Previous item |
Ctrl+Enter | Submit form / Send message |
M | Jump to My Stuff |
/ | Focus search bar |
1 | Jump to Home |
? | Show keyboard shortcuts |
Notifications
| Filter | Description |
|---|
| All | Every notification |
| @mentions | Directly mentioned items |
| Assignments | Tasks assigned to you |
| Stuff I follow | Items you’ve chosen to follow |
Focus Modes
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Work Can Wait | Snooze notifications until morning |
| Do Not Disturb | Pause all notifications |
| Unfollow | Stop receiving updates for specific items |
Check-ins
| Example Questions | Frequency |
|---|
| What did you work on today? | Daily |
| What will you focus on this week? | Weekly |
| Any blockers or concerns? | Weekly |
Integrations
| Integration | Description |
|---|
| Email forwarding | Forward emails into Basecamp projects |
| iCalendar | Sync schedules with external calendars |
| Zapier | Connect to 5,000+ apps |
| API | REST API for custom integrations |
API
# List projects
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
https://3.basecampapi.com/ACCOUNT_ID/projects.json
# Create a to-do
curl -X POST \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"content": "Review design mockups"}' \
https://3.basecampapi.com/ACCOUNT/buckets/PROJECT/todolists/LIST/todos.json
Advanced Usage
Hill Charts
Hill Charts visualize project progress. Items move uphill (figuring things out) and downhill (executing known work).
| Phase | Description |
|---|
| Uphill | Discovery phase with unknowns |
| Top | Solution is clear |
| Downhill | Execution of known remaining work |
Templates
Create a template project with standard lists and messages. When starting new projects, choose Use a template to copy structure.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| Not receiving notifications | Check notification settings; verify email address |
| Missing project | Check if you’ve been added; contact admin |
| Calendar not syncing | Re-copy the iCal URL; check external calendar |
| File upload failing | Check file size limits; try different browser |
| Client seeing internal items | Review project access settings |
| Slow performance | Clear browser cache; try the desktop app |
| Email forwarding not working | Verify project email address; check spam |
| Can’t find old message | Use search; check archived projects |
