My Lessons learned from trying to find Open Source Bug Tracking and Issue Management Software

December 8th, 2007Uncategorized

Having involved several people in a project I landed recently, I have been asked by the team to install a bug tracking system of some kind.  Here are some handy links that point to different bug tracking software.  Have a look and see if you find one you like:

Some important things to look for:

1. Good User Interface design (SO Important!)

Most bug trackers are huge, cumbersome, and are built like space shuttles.  As a result, not enough focus is ever paid on the user interface design. and that’s a real shame.  I think a good user interface design and attention to detail is important.  Especially for the design of the bug tracking software web site.  If someone spends the time to create good design there, you can be sure they have done the same with the bug tracking software

 

2. Web-based

It just makes good sense for anyone to be able to add bugs easily!  Especially customers that don’t have your bug tracking software installed or graphic designers using Macs.

 

3. Accepts email

This requirement is going to be harder to fill but its a MASSIVE help for entering bugs easily.  Especially when you don’t have the time to fill in a detailed bug information screen.

 

4. Understands Customers vs Developers

Its critical that you allow customers and end users to easily add or submit new bugs for review.  Some development teams think that allowing customers to enter bugs easily is a bad thing, but I see it differently.  If they are participating in issue tracking and are using your software, that’s like free QA.

 

My Final choices Narrowed Down:

 

1. Track+ - www.trackplus.com

Full featured and has a customer facing interface.  Also accepts email which I really like.  Recent features added include import/export of Microsoft Project documents.  Interesting

2. BugNet - www.bugnetproject.com

Good design caught my eye with this one.  Not entirely sure if the workflow fits my requirements very well though.  Seems a bit too traditional for my taste.

3. BugTracker.NET - http://www.ifdefined.com/

Pretty impressive system built by one guy, Corey Trager.  Very well thought out email services and a good overall solution.  This might be the one.


One Response to “My Lessons learned from trying to find Open Source Bug Tracking and Issue Management Software”

  1. Corey Trager Says:
    December 10th, 2007 at 6:24 pm

    Don’t hesitate to email me if you have questions about BugTracker.NET.

    If you are going to be having your customers submit bugs, make sure you have version 2.6.8, which has important improvements for exactly that scenario.

    BTW, it wasn’t just me who built it. Many others have contributed code that I’ve spliced in, especially Jochen, Jason, and Michael W (see the about.html). Plus, everybody who takes the time to submit a bug report is making a contribution too.
    More info at http://ifdefined.com/bugtrackernet.html

    Another useful page for folks evaluation trackers is:
    http://ifdefined.com/blog/post/2007/10/Links-to-other-comparisons-of-issue-trackers.aspx
    It’s just a page of links to entries like yours above.

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