The Journey of Slack: Team Dynamics and Early Success

Slack may be a household name today, but its journey to success began with a small team of developers. Before Slack, there was Tiny Speck, a gaming company that created the short-lived Glitch. This blog post delves into the initial team size and communication dynamics that contributed to the creation of Slack as a standalone product.

The Formation of Tiny Speck and the Birth of Glitch

In 2006, Tiny Speck was formed with a vision to develop engaging and innovative video games. One of their projects was Glitch, an online multiplayer game that unfortunately did not resonate with the market. In 2012, after nearly six years, Tiny Speck closed down the project. At the peak of its operation, the company had a team of 45 members working on Glitch. However, the team's focus was not solely on the game development; it also involved creating a robust communication platform for their internal needs.

The Evolution of Communication Tools

Initially, Tiny Speck used IRC (Internet Relay Chat) as their communication tool. However, IRC was found to be limiting in many ways, especially as the team grew and their needs became more complex. Over time, the team customized IRC to fit their specific requirements, adding features that improved communication efficiency and effectiveness.

A unique dynamic emerged within the team. By the time Tiny Speck terminated operations, there were 45 people who had been in operation for three and a half years. They had a company-wide email list, but it only had 50 messages accumulated over three years, with an average of one message per three weeks. This phenomenon, known as the "network effect," occurred naturally as more team members relied on IRC for information and collaboration.

The Birth of Slack

The team recognized the value of the customized IRC platform and decided to refine it further. This led to the creation of Slack. Although they were not successful in making the game (Glitch), the team was highly successful in optimizing communication within their company. Slack was born from the hacks and improvements made to IRC, and it quickly became the central communication tool for the team.

The Shift to Slack

By January 2013, the entire team at Tiny Speck had shifted their focus to developing Slack. Within a few months, they had integrated all communication channels into Slack. By March, team members felt so comfortable with the platform that they began inviting colleagues from other companies to try Slack. This first public version of Slack was not officially released but was shared and tested internally and with external partners like Rdio.

By June, the team had expanded their beta testing to include a wider audience, leading to viral growth that investor Marc Andreessen dubbed "epic."

Conclusion

The success of Slack can be largely attributed to the team's efficient communication tools during the early stages of development. The journey from IRC to Slack is a testament to the power of continuous improvement and the importance of adapting to changing needs. Today, Slack is a cornerstone of modern workplace communication, but its roots trace back to a small team with big dreams and a unique way of working together.