Project Management System JIRA Atlassian: overview, reviews, analogues and alternatives

Atlassian Jira Project Management Software is one of the most advanced project management systems in today's market. Most often used in companies that develop software as a bug tracker (software for tracking and fixing errors in programs, as well as to control the correction of these errors). "Gira" is convenient because 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 for providing support to users by the support service.
• Jira Core - Software for managing business projects, allowing you to track the execution of tasks.

The popularity of Jira Atlassian is explained by its flexibility and customizability. The ability to customize the program for a specific project is provided by a number of additional plug-ins that are installed.

How does Jira Atlassian work? Short Scheme

Jira allows you to present the current workflow as a set of tasks and it is convenient to operate them together and separately. Each task is a separately created element with customizable parameters. The approximate form might look like this:

• The name - to which project the problem belongs (should briefly and clearly display the essence);
• Type of task;
• Priority - how critical it is to perform or not to perform this task;
• Components;
• status;
• Content - a detailed and detailed description.

In addition to the task, you can attach a picture or screenshot, as well as leave a comment to clarify the details. After creating a task, you can specify which project participant should perform it (including yourself). In turn, the one to whom you "hung" the task, you can refuse to perform it and redirect it back to you or agree - and then send you an already completed task for verification.

According to this scheme Jira Atlassian works as a bugtracker: the testers "catch" bugs in the developed security, fix them in Jira and send a fixed bug to the developer responsible for this piece of code. After fixing the bug, the developer redirects the open task back to the tester, so that the latter is convinced that the error does not really recur. After that, the task gets the status "closed".

In the Jira Atlassian interface, the project looks like a list of tasks, along with their statuses and the participants responsible for execution.

Tools for team work

The creators of the program have put into it some convenient tools for project management. For example, the so-called srack board allows you to quickly see which of the tasks are just planned, work on which has already been implemented, and which ones have already been done.

Cost of license

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 dollars a month. For the company, the price rises substantially - from $ 50 to $ 1,500, depending on the size of the company. Payment can be made not only per month, but also annually.

For all users, the manufacturer provides a short trial period of 7 days, as well as a guaranteed refund of money paid for a license within 30 days. However, it is worth considering that money for licenses for small companies is not returned, as, according to the company, immediately sent to charitable needs.

After 7 days you will either have to purchase a licensed version of the program, or refuse to continue using it. Do not think that you will be able to hack Atlassian Jira. Crack (program-cracker license key) for this software is not so easy to find, and simply unethical. For those who do not want to use a paid product, there are many free analogs in the world. Some of them we will consider at the end of the article.

Scaling up: Atlassian Jira Enterprise

For organizations that have reached the size of corporations, the developers of "Atlassian" offer the product Jira Enterprise. On such a scale, the program can support up to 100,000 users simultaneously through a separate server built for the needs of the corporation. This approach provides powerful performance and constant access to data. Naturally, the price of the product 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 in your company there is always a consultant from Atlassian. Its main task is to help you to optimize the workflow as much as possible, to monitor the current situation on projects, to analyze the results and to forecast further development.

Analogues and alternatives

Although Jira is one of the most advanced and versatile programs for project management, it has many analogs, 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 the prototype and rival of the Gira - the Bugzilla program. Unlike "Jira", "Bugzilla" is distributed free of charge, but is not as flexible as the more modern Jira, and is suitable mainly for tracking bugs.

Another free analog is Mantis. This program already allows you to configure the system for both bug tracking and for working with the support service. It is interesting that this name also hints at the predator. In English, mantis is a mantis. Among other free software to track bugs - BugTracker.NET, Track, Redmine, The Bug Genie. These programs are much easier to set up than the Gira. Opponents of the use of Jira also mention an uncomfortable mobile application.

In the category of project management, the "Jire" competition includes, among other things, domestic task managers: Free Planix, Megaplan, Simple Business and Bitrix licensed. From foreign analogues - Asana, Zoho Projects, Trello. Jira is certainly good, but if there is a need to use a free product - you can always pick up an analog with the same features.