Issue trackers
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In addition to the features you mention, I want to be able to direct the issue ticket to any person or group I want for additional information. If there is any kind of "process flow" in the system, I want to be able to exit a flow, and later reenter it, without having to close the ticket and reopen it, or some other drastic measure. I also would like it to be hooked into email, so that one can send an email from the ticket itself. In addition, if I use my email client to reply to an email from a ticket, I would like that reply to be added to the ticket. Also, make it easy to provide all the reports that managers are wanting, such as priority lists, backlogs, age, etc. Since some of these issue trackers are also used as accountability trackers (accountability in general is very good; many implementations of accountability tracking suck), make it hard to change the things that are used to track accountability. For instance, if my research shows that a particular problem is due to the database server having been powered off, some low level tester shouldn't be able to change that to "Code Defect" without consultation.
Currently reading: "Gateway", by Frederik Pohl
The last company I worked at had a wonderful custom written system in Lotus Notes that tracked issues/requests through entry, assignment, analysis, programming, testing, and implementation. It allowed e-mail addresses that would be notified as each step of the process was finished. For example, a user makes a request, a manager assigns an analyst, the analyst gets an e-mail they have a task, when the analysis is over, the manager gets an e-mail, the manager can then assign a programmer (generally the analyst), and it continues with the stakeholder optionally being informed along the way. It was one of the few systems I liked at that company. I'd love to add that automation to the OneNote procedures I currently use. OneNote gives me the ability to add all sorts of additional notes, screenshots, and documentation the Lotus Notes system did not have.
Psychosis at 10 Film at 11 Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.
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I've used a zillion issue trackers and project management systems and always, without fail, come back to using Excel or even just notepad. This is ridiculous given all the info I could be tracking that could (and should) be helping me. Instead of asking what issue tracker or PM software you use, I was wondering what features you really rely on to get the job done. For me its: - Speed - Simplicity - Multiuser, multi-project - Drag and drop stuff / minimum clicks. Be as fast to modify as Notepad or Excel - Track priorities, status, assignees, due dates, milestones - Roll up of values (eg add all the time estimates for child items and show it on the parent) - Email alerts - free form comments within each item - uploads of screenshots or docs - tie into source code control What do the guys who actually do this stuff properly find the most important?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
What I like best about Excel is the ability to sort and do metrics and statistics easily. So for low cost simple issue tracking I prefer Excel over just a plain editor. With Excel the world is my oyster. If project managemnet is the main thing then I like Microsoft Project. The best heavyweight issue tracking system I ever used was home grown by a previous company in Lotus Notes. I don't like JIRA, although I have only used it a few months. It seems like too much flash and not enough of what I need - searching and sorting primarily. ClearQuest was also a monster but seemed easier to use than JIRA.
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I've used a zillion issue trackers and project management systems and always, without fail, come back to using Excel or even just notepad. This is ridiculous given all the info I could be tracking that could (and should) be helping me. Instead of asking what issue tracker or PM software you use, I was wondering what features you really rely on to get the job done. For me its: - Speed - Simplicity - Multiuser, multi-project - Drag and drop stuff / minimum clicks. Be as fast to modify as Notepad or Excel - Track priorities, status, assignees, due dates, milestones - Roll up of values (eg add all the time estimates for child items and show it on the parent) - Email alerts - free form comments within each item - uploads of screenshots or docs - tie into source code control What do the guys who actually do this stuff properly find the most important?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Regarding connectivity, could you pl. rate your client preferences (most important == 1)?
- Web browser
- Windows desktop
- Android tablet/phone
- iPad/iPhone
- Windows phone
- C# API
- Other (please specify)
Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Regarding connectivity, could you pl. rate your client preferences (most important == 1)?
- Web browser
- Windows desktop
- Android tablet/phone
- iPad/iPhone
- Windows phone
- C# API
- Other (please specify)
Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
1. Web browser 2. Windows desktop Android tablet/phone 3. iPad/iPhone Windows phone C# API 4. Other: Web API (Json)
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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1. Web browser 2. Windows desktop Android tablet/phone 3. iPad/iPhone Windows phone C# API 4. Other: Web API (Json)
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Another question: would built-in support for agile development be useful or is that a nice-to-have? Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Another question: would built-in support for agile development be useful or is that a nice-to-have? Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
What specific support do you mean?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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What specific support do you mean?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Things like tracking resource load and burndown rate. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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What specific support do you mean?
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Also, is meta-data customization (e.g. priority level definitions, workflows) a must-have or a nice-to-have? Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Also, is meta-data customization (e.g. priority level definitions, workflows) a must-have or a nice-to-have? Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Very important. We chop and change our terms reasonably often.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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Very important. We chop and change our terms reasonably often.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
"Terms" as in priority, severity, etc? What about workflow customization - basic, detailed or indifferent? /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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"Terms" as in priority, severity, etc? What about workflow customization - basic, detailed or indifferent? /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
Terms" as in priority, severity, etc?
yes
Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
What about workflow customization
indifferent. Let me set a status as I need to set it.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
Terms" as in priority, severity, etc?
yes
Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
What about workflow customization
indifferent. Let me set a status as I need to set it.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Thanks! This is valuable feedback. Stay tuned. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com