Overlord 2.2 Released!
by Jacob Fike · 10/13/2006 (12:56 pm) · 12 comments
Well, everything has been signed, and the product page is now live! Woohoo!
This version, 2.2, adds the long-awaited file manager to the mix. Each project has its own file section where files can be uploaded, organized into folders, tagged with keywords, and attached to other items like bugs and tasks. There is also a spiffy interface when creating or editing tasks, bugs, etc. that allows you to upload a file right there, without changing pages, and attach it to the item you are creating or editing in a completely seamless fashion. Also new is the redesigned message system, which now works like a forum. There are several other key changes as well. You can see the complete changelog below the image.
As for the future of Overlord, I am about to begin working on a more business-oriented version, which, hopefully, will be released before the end of the month. It will include such features as time tracking, advanced permissions, per-project user access, and more as time goes by. I don't have a name for it yet, something like Overlord Advanced Technology maybe? Also, work is not stopping on the base Overlord product. I will continue to fix bugs, and there are certain features that will make their way into both products. I plan to include an upgrade script and there will be a discounted upgrade price once the new product comes out, so you can buy Overlord now and upgrade later without losing any data.
Note to current customers: If you purchased Overlord through http://www.phpoverlord.com, you need to keep an eye on your inbox. You will receive a message with instructions for getting access to future downloads.
CHANGELOG:
***************
Version 2.2
***************
NEW FEATURES:
File Manager: Each project now has a Files tab where you can upload files and organize them into folders. The limit to filesize is determined by both the user's browser and the server's PHP.ini configuration, so extremely large files are likely to fail to upload. 2MB or smaller files should work fine.
Attachments: Any file can be attached to any item, you can upload the file when you want to attach it, or attach an existing file.
CHANGES:
Messages for each project now function like a forum, which should make them more useful.
Links to the various RSS feeds are now displayed prominently where they are used on the site.
Bugs and Tasks now show linked Milestones in the list and will use the Milestone deadline if they do not have one.
The All Activity log is now shown on the My Domain page.
All items can now be commented on, not just messages.
Many log messages were changed. They should provide more useful information now.
BUGS SQUASHED:
Only active assignments are shown on the My Domain page.
Added the field to link a milestone when creating tasks, bugs, and checklists.
Completed Milestones do not appear in the Link to Milestone select box if they are also past their deadline.
Assignments are now properly deleted when the assigned item is deleted.
This version, 2.2, adds the long-awaited file manager to the mix. Each project has its own file section where files can be uploaded, organized into folders, tagged with keywords, and attached to other items like bugs and tasks. There is also a spiffy interface when creating or editing tasks, bugs, etc. that allows you to upload a file right there, without changing pages, and attach it to the item you are creating or editing in a completely seamless fashion. Also new is the redesigned message system, which now works like a forum. There are several other key changes as well. You can see the complete changelog below the image.
As for the future of Overlord, I am about to begin working on a more business-oriented version, which, hopefully, will be released before the end of the month. It will include such features as time tracking, advanced permissions, per-project user access, and more as time goes by. I don't have a name for it yet, something like Overlord Advanced Technology maybe? Also, work is not stopping on the base Overlord product. I will continue to fix bugs, and there are certain features that will make their way into both products. I plan to include an upgrade script and there will be a discounted upgrade price once the new product comes out, so you can buy Overlord now and upgrade later without losing any data.
Note to current customers: If you purchased Overlord through http://www.phpoverlord.com, you need to keep an eye on your inbox. You will receive a message with instructions for getting access to future downloads.
CHANGELOG:
***************
Version 2.2
***************
NEW FEATURES:
File Manager: Each project now has a Files tab where you can upload files and organize them into folders. The limit to filesize is determined by both the user's browser and the server's PHP.ini configuration, so extremely large files are likely to fail to upload. 2MB or smaller files should work fine.
Attachments: Any file can be attached to any item, you can upload the file when you want to attach it, or attach an existing file.
CHANGES:
Messages for each project now function like a forum, which should make them more useful.
Links to the various RSS feeds are now displayed prominently where they are used on the site.
Bugs and Tasks now show linked Milestones in the list and will use the Milestone deadline if they do not have one.
The All Activity log is now shown on the My Domain page.
All items can now be commented on, not just messages.
Many log messages were changed. They should provide more useful information now.
BUGS SQUASHED:
Only active assignments are shown on the My Domain page.
Added the field to link a milestone when creating tasks, bugs, and checklists.
Completed Milestones do not appear in the Link to Milestone select box if they are also past their deadline.
Assignments are now properly deleted when the assigned item is deleted.
About the author
As the CTO of Avalon Labs LLC, I am responsible for the technology behind Fellowstream, our team-based to-do list.
#2
10/13/2006 (1:36 pm)
Can't wait to see some basic time tracking in the business-oriented version! ;) 
#3
One question I have:
Is there going to be an Overlord forum in the GarageGames.com "Forums Areas"?
10/13/2006 (1:45 pm)
I'm looking forward to getting my download setup here.One question I have:
Is there going to be an Overlord forum in the GarageGames.com "Forums Areas"?
#4
10/13/2006 (2:20 pm)
@Matt: Not as far as I know. The phpoverlord.com site will be the main site for information, documentation, and forums. 
#5
I can't wait for more future features
10/13/2006 (2:44 pm)
I am exciting that there is now a file manager.. I can't wait for more future features
#6
10/13/2006 (2:47 pm)
You've got a really promising looking product there. You've got a few rendering bugs on various page in Safari on OS X, so you might want to borrow a friend's Mac to check those out. Otherwise it looked great to me!
#7
10/13/2006 (2:54 pm)
Congrats Jacob! I highly recommend Overlord to any developer/team looking for a project management solution. We have been using it internally here in the web hole and have found it to be a very effective communication tool. It has a very slick and intuitive interface. It's hard to believe a solution this powerful is available at this price point! 
#8
That way a single programmer could estimate the time each task would take to complete and assuming he allocated all tasks to himself he could see the estimated date the project would be complete which would gradually creep as tasks were not finished in time, or reduce if tasks are finished earlier than estimated.
In a way I guess what I'm asking for is auto sorting of tasks sequentially and in parallel based on assigned resource. Having the ability to then go in and shuffle the order of sequential tasks would be great. If you have a feature where tasks can be linked to state that task A must be complete before task B begins, then the need for manual shuffling would be much smaller, although it'd still be useful when there are a few higher risk tasks you want to get out of the way first.
Hope that makes sense :) I've been looking for a reasonable project management app that did the above for a while yet been unable to find one.
I've not seen much about this project, so I could be waaaay off base with what it is you're aiming for. But, if you are doing something roughly along the lines of the above, then I'll be very interested in this :)
10/13/2006 (3:20 pm)
Time tracking wise it would be great to be able to assign an estimated time each task will take as well as assign resources to the task. by resources, I mean a person. Then (assuming the task has not been assigned a set start/deadline) have a view which displays the total time to project completion assuming all tasks allocated the same resource occured in sequence and tasks with difference resources or no resource allocated occur in parallel.That way a single programmer could estimate the time each task would take to complete and assuming he allocated all tasks to himself he could see the estimated date the project would be complete which would gradually creep as tasks were not finished in time, or reduce if tasks are finished earlier than estimated.
In a way I guess what I'm asking for is auto sorting of tasks sequentially and in parallel based on assigned resource. Having the ability to then go in and shuffle the order of sequential tasks would be great. If you have a feature where tasks can be linked to state that task A must be complete before task B begins, then the need for manual shuffling would be much smaller, although it'd still be useful when there are a few higher risk tasks you want to get out of the way first.
Hope that makes sense :) I've been looking for a reasonable project management app that did the above for a while yet been unable to find one.
I've not seen much about this project, so I could be waaaay off base with what it is you're aiming for. But, if you are doing something roughly along the lines of the above, then I'll be very interested in this :)
#9
10/13/2006 (3:47 pm)
I'm getting this ASAP!
#10
10/13/2006 (3:47 pm)
@Gary: The time tracking will start off very simple. You can set estimated hours on a task and then input how many hours worked on a task when updating it. Then you can look at a milestone to see total # of hours for all tasks. There will be a project setting for work hours per day, week, or month which will be used when calculating whether or not a milestone will be on time or not. Eventually, it will support task dependency and the priority will become more important. I also plan to extend it even further than that by having it keep track of average amount of work done per user per day/week/month, so you can find the slackers; and possibly even have it recommend reassignments or extending deadlines and such when a milestone is falling behind schedule.
#11
Thats my nitpick, i'm sure everyone has at least one ;) From what i've seen overall though, it looks quite good.
10/14/2006 (12:25 am)
Is it just me, or do no bug systems outside of Microsoft have Priority and Severity as independant attributes for bugs? They seem like to very useful measures when determining the importance and impact of bugs. I know fogbugs moved away from it "with 8 levels of priority who needs severity?", the two really are independant though.Thats my nitpick, i'm sure everyone has at least one ;) From what i've seen overall though, it looks quite good.
#12
10/15/2006 (6:16 am)
Mantis has both Priority and Severity, and I do not like it. Would love to have them combined, so this is a welcome design from me :)
Torque Owner Gustavo Boni
Just a suggestion, could we have subtasks in overlord? Something like a better way to organize the tasks? I mean tasks categories like: Art, Programming, etc.
Anyway, Overlord is a great tool and i'm very happy with this!