Atlassian Jira Project Management Software is one of the most advanced project management systems on the market today. Most often used in companies developing software as a bug tracker (software for tracking and fixing errors in programs, as well as for controlling the correction of these errors). Jira is convenient in that it combines both a project control system and an error tracking system - there are many programs that perform only one of these functions.
Atlassian Jira: Description
The Jira software product exists in several versions:
- Jira Software is a software development tool.
- Jira Service Desk - software to provide support for users of the support service.
- Jira Core - business project management software that allows you to track the progress of tasks.
The popularity of Jira Atlassian is due to its flexibility and customization. The ability to customize the program for a specific project is provided by many additionally installed plugins.
How does Jira Atlassian work? Brief outline
Jira allows you to present the current workflow as a set of tasks and conveniently operate them together and separately. Each task is a separately created element with customizable parameters. An approximate form might look like this:
- name - to which project the task belongs (should briefly and clearly reflect the essence);
- type of task;
- priority - how critical is the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of this task;
- Components;
- status;
- contents - a detailed and detailed description.
In addition to the task, you can attach a picture or a screenshot, as well as leave a comment to clarify the details. After creating a task, you can specify which project participant should complete it (including yourself). In turn, the one to whom you “hung” the task may refuse to complete it and redirect it back to you or agree to - and then send you an already completed task for verification.
According to this scheme, Jira Atlassian works as a bug tracker: testers “catch” bugs in the software being developed, fix them in Jira and send the fixed bug to the developer responsible for this section of the code. After fixing the bug, the developer redirects the open task back to the tester, so that the latter makes sure that the error does not repeat anymore. After that, the task receives the status of "closed".
In the Jira Atlassian interface, the project looks like a list of tasks, next to which their statuses and participants responsible for the execution are displayed.
Team Tools
The creators of the program put several convenient tools for project management into it. For example, the so-called scrum board allows you to quickly see which of the tasks are still planned, work on which is already being implemented, and which are already done.
License cost
The software from Atlassian is not free: in order to use it, you will need to purchase a license. There are two price categories - for a small team (up to 10 people) and for a growing team. For the first category, buying a licensed version of the program costs $ 10 per month. For a larger company, the price rises significantly - from 50 to 1,500 dollars, depending on the size of the company. Payment can be made not only monthly, but also annually.
For all users, the manufacturer provides a short trial period of 7 days, as well as the possibility of a guaranteed return of money paid for a license within 30 days. However, it should be borne in mind that money for licenses for small companies is not returned, because, according to the company, they are immediately sent to charity.
After 7 days, you will either have to purchase a licensed version of the program, or refuse to use it further. Do not think that you will be able to hack Atlassian Jira. Crack (license key cracker) for this software is not so easy to find, and it’s simply unethical. For those who do not want to use a paid product, there are many free analogues in the world. We will consider some of them at the end of the article.
Zoom In: Atlassian Jira Enterprise
For organizations that have reached the size of corporations, Atlassian developers offer the Jira Enterprise product. On such a scale, the program can support up to 100,000 users at the same time thanks to a separate server created for the needs of the corporation. This approach provides powerful performance and constant access to data. Naturally, the price of the product also increases several times - from 6 to 450 thousand dollars a year.
Also for large companies, Atlassian offers exclusive technical support, available 24 hours a day - for 35 thousand dollars a year. Another 30 thousand - and your company always has a consulting specialist from Atlassian. Its main task is to help you optimize your workflow as much as possible, monitor the current situation on projects, analyze the results and predict further development.
Analogs and alternatives
Although Jira is one of the most advanced and versatile programs for project management, it has many analogues, including free ones. Even the name itself is a reference to the Japanese word Gojira, which means "Godzilla" - the Japanese do not pronounce the letter "p". And "Godzilla", in turn, is a hint of a prototype and competitor "Jira" - the Bugzilla program ("Bugzilla"). Unlike Jira, Bugzilla is free, but it’s not as flexible as the more modern Jira, and is mainly suitable for tracking bugs only.
Another free alternative is Mantis. This program already allows you to configure the system both for bug tracking and for working with the support service. Interestingly, this name also hints at a predator. In English, mantis is a mantis. Other free bug tracking software is BugTracker.NET, Track, Redmine, The Bug Genie. These programs are much easier to configure than the "Jira". Opponents of using Jira also mention an inconvenient mobile application.
In the category of project management, the competition for Jire is also made by domestic task managers: free Planfix, Megaplan, Simple Business and licensed Bitrix. From foreign analogues - Asana, Zoho Projects, Trello. Jira is undoubtedly good, but if there is a need to use a free product, you can always pick up an analog with the same functions.