As a software program improvement group, one wants undertaking administration software to maintain monitor of their tasks, points, new characteristic requests, and bugs. We don’t have an enormous software program improvement group right here at Beebom, however we do have our personal app and web site, each of that are managed by our in-house group of builders. Even a group as small as ours (5 members) wants software to maintain the duties on monitor and be sure that the members know their assigned duties. In fact, it may be accomplished utilizing the same old channels of communication like emails and messages, however that’s not an optimum answer. Therefore, we’re all the time looking out for a service which might complement the workflows of our builders and supply them with the mandatory instruments to get issues accomplished in a quick and environment friendly means. If the issue which I simply described resonates with you too, I’ve an answer which you would possibly wish to have a look at. The answer I’m speaking about is a web based undertaking administration and bug monitoring software known as Backlog.
Backlog is a web based undertaking administration software which has been created whereas retaining the wants of builders in thoughts. It gives vital instruments to maintain tracks of ongoing tasks, reported bugs, new characteristic requests, and extra. On this article, we’re going to take a deep dive and work out if this may be the answer we’re in search of. So, let’s get into the small print of the software program, we could?
Key Options
As all the time, we are going to begin with the important thing options of the software program which ought to offer you an total concept of what the software program can do for you.
We are going to first begin with completely different classes of customers that may be created with Backlog. Like a lot of the undertaking administration software program, Backlog gives members a number of ranges of permissions relying on the consumer class they fall in. A member can both be a House Proprietor, an Administrator, or a Consumer. Now, these are backlog’s terminologies, so let me clarify them in slightly element right here. A House Proprietor is principally the proprietor of the primary Backlog account and has the general management. For instance, he can change the common settings of the account, create new tasks, handle members and their permissions, and so forth.
An Administrator is slightly below House Proprietor and has roughly the identical capabilities as House Proprietor like managing tasks, assigning members, creating points and so forth. Nevertheless, he can not change the common account settings. Consider an administrator as a undertaking supervisor and you’ll get the concept. Lastly, there’s Customers, that are the members of your improvement group which could be assigned to completely different tasks. They’ll touch upon points, log their progress, create Points, verify undertaking standing, and extra. So, as you possibly can see Backlog gives you with a hierarchal construction the place everyone could be assigned permissions based mostly on their work profile.
Backlog gives you with 4 fundamental capabilities that are Challenge Administration, Activity Administration, Bug Monitoring, and Model Management. All the opposite instruments are housed beneath these 4 fundamental instruments. We are going to begin first with the Challenge Administration.
Backlog is an excellent undertaking administration software because it gives a single place for all of your undertaking associated wants. You may create new tasks, assign members, assign due-dates, converse with the members, give and take suggestions, visualize the the undertaking timeline utilizing Gantt charts, visualize progress with burn down charts, monitor total progress, and keep up to date anyplace with Backlog’s cell apps for Android and iOS. As you possibly can see, Backlog gives with all of the instruments you’ll ever have to create and handle a undertaking, all in a single place.
Nevertheless, a undertaking administration software program is price nothing if it could possibly’t offer you a great way to handle duties. Fortunately, Backlog nails this characteristic. First, you get a transparent view of all of your due duties at a single place in your dashboard. You can even assign and consider precedence hooked up to all of the duties. Nevertheless, my favourite job administration characteristic of Backlog is the power to assign members to a job which additionally notifies the members. This helps in clearly defining every group member’s accountability so there’s no confusion.
I additionally like the duty standing buttons which inform you concerning the standing of each job at a look. There are 4 completely different standing varieties; Open, In Progress, Resolved and Closed. One of the best half is that each one of them are shade coded therefore you don’t even need to learn to know the standing of a job. The colour coding additionally helps in viewing the standing in Gantt chart mode. Mainly, Backlog takes care of all of your job administration wants with out hampering the group’s workflow.
Bug discovery, monitoring, and resolving is likely one of the most essential components of software program improvement and I’m comfortable to report that Backlog brings a ton of instruments to deal with this work. Backlog permits you to report, manage, focus on, and monitor bugs, all in place. Since Bugs on the finish of the day come beneath Duties, you get all of the options that I discussed above together with some further options. The additional options embrace a complete search to search out duplicate bugs, the power to view change-log historical past, customized fields to match the workflow, and extra.
One factor which makes Backlog completely different from some other undertaking administration software program and particularly good for builders is the characteristic which they name Model Management. The characteristic permits you to maintain monitor of all of the code modifications, commits, and pull-request. It does that by instantly integrating with Git and SVN thereby permitting you to simply handle supply code subsequent to your tasks. It additionally lets builders examine modifications between branches and assist them get an outline of the modifications that may be merged.
Top-of-the-line options of this software is that it helps inline dialogue within the code. Builders can evaluate the modifications and remark proper there to make it simpler for the opposite group members to implement change requests. Different options embrace retaining monitor of commits, documenting undertaking particulars, and extra.
Consumer Interface
Backlog’s consumer interface could be very fashionable and intuitive. You’ll get used to the interface inside just a few hours, and begin utilizing it like a professional in a day or two. All of the buttons are simply accessible and also you don’t have to actually search for something. That stated, there are lots of superior settings which a consumer can make the most of to make their workflow quicker in the event that they wish to.
The UI is split into just a few fundamental areas, every with its personal set of controls. First, there’s the Dashboard, which principally offers you an outline of all of the tasks and points that are both assigned to your or created by you. There’s additionally a Current Updates part on the Dashboard which reveals all of the current feedback and modifications that has occurred contained in the tasks or Points you’re part of.
On the Dashboard, you possibly can click on on the title of any undertaking to see its particulars. The Dwelling web page inside any undertaking will present you all of the current updates. You may click on on the Points web page to see all the problems which have been created contained in the undertaking. Simply to make clear, an Difficulty is any job you create inside a undertaking. It may be a bug, a characteristic request, a job and so forth. Coming again to the Points web page, I like the truth that a lot of the particulars you want about an Difficulty could be seen right here together with the Difficulty title, date of creation, due date, its standing, and extra. Nevertheless, When you want extra details about any Difficulty, you possibly can all the time click on on it.
Then there’s the “Add Difficulty” button utilizing which you’ll create an Difficulty of you personal and add members to it. Backlog offers quite a lot of contol whereas creating an Difficulty. You may create an Difficulty both beneath a undertaking, or beneath one other Difficulty itself. Then you possibly can assign members, set precedence and milestones, add due-dates, and extra.
I might additionally like to provide a particular point out to Gantt and burn down charts options of Backlog. The software program principally permits you to simply hit a button and see a timeline of all of your tasks and job statuses in a type of Gantt chart. Mainly, you should use the Gantt and burn down view to see in case your undertaking is on time or not.
To conclude, with regards to the UI of the software program, Backlog has knocked the ball out of the park . The UI feels fashionable, intuitive and is simple to get the grasp of. I additionally like the truth that the primary areas and controls are identical for each consumer and don’t depend upon their consumer class. Whether or not you’re a House Proprietor, Administrator, or a Consumer, you all get the identical consumer interface. The additional options that include the upper stage of permissions supplied to Directors and House House owners are built-in by including further buttons on the identical consumer interface. So, for those who be taught it as soon as, you received’t need to do it once more from scratch even when your consumer hierarchy is upgraded.
Ease Of Use
I personally discovered this software program very easy to make use of and so did our improvement group. In keeping with them, the software program could be very properly made and simple to get used to. All the issues that I discussed within the consumer interface part is me paraphrasing their findings, and their backside line was that the software program did assist them loads in streamlining their workflow. Talking from my time of utilizing this software program and their suggestions, I can certainly say that Backlog is a robust but straightforward to be taught software program.
Nevertheless, I did discover difficulties getting the notifications to work. Apparently, notifications are despatched when a difficulty or remark is added and once you add members to “notify remark to” discipline. It’s not an enormous deal actually. Aside from this minor niggle, I can say that Backlog is one nice for undertaking administration, bug monitoring and job administration. The intensive choices and integrations, together with the gorgeous UI make Backlog a should attempt.
Pricing and Availability
Being a web-app, Backlog is accessible for all of the desktop platforms together with Home windows, Mac, and Linux. In addition they present free Android and iOS apps to maintain monitor of your tasks on the go. There are a number of pricing plans accessible for groups relying on their dimension. The pricing begins at $20/month for 30 customers and 5 tasks. You may all the time improve if in case you have a bigger group or wish to create extra tasks. There’s additionally a free ceaselessly plan for small groups which helps you to create 1 undertaking with as much as 10 members. All of their plans include a 1-month free trial interval, so you should use the software program extensively earlier than you plant to purchase it.
Execs:
- Challenge Administration software program specializing in builders
- Bug monitoring and job administration
- Intensive choices whereas making a job/Difficulty
- Gantt and burn down chart integration
- Lovely, fashionable, and intuitive UI
- Git and SVN integration
- Inline Feedback
Cons:
- Native notification choices tough to search out
Handle Your Improvement Tasks With Backlog
Backlog is likely one of the few undertaking administration instruments which solely focuses on builders. It has a contemporary and exquisite UI with options which can fulfill the wants of any small or massive group. However, I don’t need you to take my or fairly our developer group’s phrases at face worth. The software program gives a totally free 1-month free trial, so use it, after which share with us your ideas within the remark part beneath.
Strive our Backlog right here
