Requirements management tool for small scale development?
by Thomas \"Man of Ice\" Lund · in General Discussion · 10/28/2003 (4:10 am) · 4 replies
I'm about to start up a project, and in that regards I would like to learn from my lessons. Once development starts on a larger system with multiple ppl involved, one tends to forget roadmaps, requirements and to actually share these amongst ppl involved.
What I'm looking for is a requirements management tool / process control tool for software lifecycle management (WOW, what a bunch of buzz words)
In short: a place to put your design documents, feature requests, project planning with time estimates, bug tracking, task lists, asset lists + ability to create reports (current roadmap, open issues, open support cases)
I have searched the net for several hours now, and it is very very hard finding anything that fits the above, and that doesnt cost at least $10k.
A commercial tool for this could be something like this:
http://www.projectricity.com/products.htm
I'm fully aware that e.g. bugzilla could be used for something like this, but I dont want to use a tool that is made for bugtracking that can be tweaked. I would rather use a piece of software that was made to do the task. It is also possible to roll your own - but I dont have time to do so, nor the desire.
Does anyone know of good, free or almost free (up to $1000) software packages that one can use for a ~3-5 person team? What do you use besides bugzilla or word/excel?
What I'm looking for is a requirements management tool / process control tool for software lifecycle management (WOW, what a bunch of buzz words)
In short: a place to put your design documents, feature requests, project planning with time estimates, bug tracking, task lists, asset lists + ability to create reports (current roadmap, open issues, open support cases)
I have searched the net for several hours now, and it is very very hard finding anything that fits the above, and that doesnt cost at least $10k.
A commercial tool for this could be something like this:
http://www.projectricity.com/products.htm
I'm fully aware that e.g. bugzilla could be used for something like this, but I dont want to use a tool that is made for bugtracking that can be tweaked. I would rather use a piece of software that was made to do the task. It is also possible to roll your own - but I dont have time to do so, nor the desire.
Does anyone know of good, free or almost free (up to $1000) software packages that one can use for a ~3-5 person team? What do you use besides bugzilla or word/excel?
#2
Thanks for the heads up on the dotProject. Although I'm using a bunch of traditional softwares (MSProject, Excel, Word, etc) to manage my project ... I'm also on the lookout for something like this. :)
Alex
10/28/2003 (7:45 am)
John,Thanks for the heads up on the dotProject. Although I'm using a bunch of traditional softwares (MSProject, Excel, Word, etc) to manage my project ... I'm also on the lookout for something like this. :)
Alex
#3
But I'm not only looking for a ms project look-alike. I'm very much interested in managing requirements too. So a tool with more focus on the project lead / architect to keep the project flowing through all life cycles.
E.g. I would love to be able to have something like a "feature/roadmap planner", where I can keep track of requested features, their estimated cost of development, who made the request, what version it should be implemented in etc.
Most tools I can find are basic "create some tasks, report time, see a report" tools.
But thx for the pointer on dotproject. I'll take a peek at that.
10/28/2003 (8:12 am)
I agree on the "everyone has to use it" part. You need to fully commit to something like this.But I'm not only looking for a ms project look-alike. I'm very much interested in managing requirements too. So a tool with more focus on the project lead / architect to keep the project flowing through all life cycles.
E.g. I would love to be able to have something like a "feature/roadmap planner", where I can keep track of requested features, their estimated cost of development, who made the request, what version it should be implemented in etc.
Most tools I can find are basic "create some tasks, report time, see a report" tools.
But thx for the pointer on dotproject. I'll take a peek at that.
#4
I developed a web-based tool that I used back in my consulting days of programming. It was customized to my specific needs, but it will probably do pretty well for what you need. Because I've been so impressed with this community, I'll let anyone use it free of charge. Here are some of the features:
-Multiple Project Creation
-Tasks that can be assigned to one or multiple resources
-Issue/New Request forum, each issue can later be 'tasked' to a specific resource
-Message forum
-File repository
-If you want to track hourly progress, you can check in/out and log time to each specific project/task
-full security for each section of the system, based on login and group
-hourly and bill to rates can be assigned to a resource or a individual task
-invoices can be generated based on hourly rates, hours logged, etc.
My only condition is that those who choose to use ProjectTracker give me constructive feedback on how to make the system better. On the plus side of this, that means that if you have a new requirement, you'll likely get it programmed into the system to fit your request. :)
To sign up, go to www.rpmsolutions.biz/index.cfm?Section=5&Page=14 and sign up for an evaluation. If you make a note in the comments field that you found this on garage games, I'll let the "evaluation" keep going and not expire. :)
Note: when you receive your email, it will talk a lot about TimeTracker... you will be most interested in ProjectTracker (also found as a link in the email).
Let me know if you have any questions or problems... and don't forget, I'll customize it to work for the GarageGame community... so don't hesitate to request something if needed.
10/30/2003 (9:56 am)
Hi Thomas,I developed a web-based tool that I used back in my consulting days of programming. It was customized to my specific needs, but it will probably do pretty well for what you need. Because I've been so impressed with this community, I'll let anyone use it free of charge. Here are some of the features:
-Multiple Project Creation
-Tasks that can be assigned to one or multiple resources
-Issue/New Request forum, each issue can later be 'tasked' to a specific resource
-Message forum
-File repository
-If you want to track hourly progress, you can check in/out and log time to each specific project/task
-full security for each section of the system, based on login and group
-hourly and bill to rates can be assigned to a resource or a individual task
-invoices can be generated based on hourly rates, hours logged, etc.
My only condition is that those who choose to use ProjectTracker give me constructive feedback on how to make the system better. On the plus side of this, that means that if you have a new requirement, you'll likely get it programmed into the system to fit your request. :)
To sign up, go to www.rpmsolutions.biz/index.cfm?Section=5&Page=14 and sign up for an evaluation. If you make a note in the comments field that you found this on garage games, I'll let the "evaluation" keep going and not expire. :)
Note: when you receive your email, it will talk a lot about TimeTracker... you will be most interested in ProjectTracker (also found as a link in the email).
Let me know if you have any questions or problems... and don't forget, I'll customize it to work for the GarageGame community... so don't hesitate to request something if needed.
Torque Owner John Kabus (BobTheCBuilder)
Before spending a lot of money on software, keep in mind that this type of software is only as good as the people using it. If everyone tracks their time and updates their tasks/bugs properly a sheet of lined paper will due. If people aren't using the software then even the 10K software will be useless.