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Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

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Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#21

Post by vaughan »

I recommend Asana. It is simple when you get started, but can also grow with you as your project increases in complexity with numerous task organization options.

Useful features:

- Browse tasks with keyboard like a text file.

- Tasks can be in multiple projects.

- Tasks can have sub tasks.

- Big ecosystem - lots of integrations with other tools.

I use the following alongside it:

- Everhour for time tracking.

- Unito to sync my tasks to Github to track commits.

- Github issues.

- Instagantt for gantt charting the Asana tasks to see how reliable your time estimates were and plan ahead.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#22

Post by mrslave »

hashmal wrote: post #10

For small/solo projects I prefer to use a notebook with the first few pages reserved for an index. I complement it with a kanban board on the wall (post-it notes). What I like about it: No procrastination in a management tool (over-planning, formatting, etc). No illusion of order (technology/computers have a tendency to make you appear disciplined, or to pretend you will be more disciplined by using them… I think it'…

> No software can provide the feel of moving a post-it note to the "Done" column. Physical data (pages) is also supposed to help memorization.

I tear mine into little squares.

Occasionally I throw them at my colleagues (very small, very intense, on-site dev team) assuming they were somehow involved in creating the issue, and we are aligned on sense of humor.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#23

Post by osrec »

osrec wrote: post #20

We built https://usebx.com/app for managing a small business. It includes a simple to do list type of project manager. Most of our users love the simplicity and the fact that it integrates with time tracking and invoicing. You may find it useful too.

Also, we're adding the ability to add files to tasks soon. If there's any particular functionality you're looking for but can't find, let us know - if we think it can make the app more useful, we'll build it. We're only at 30k active users, so are still small enough to be able cater to specific needs!

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#24

Post by pankajdoharey »

sriku wrote: post #3

I wholeheartedly recommend WorkFlowy - https://workflowy.com For me, its focus on text and deep hierarchical breakdown, in combination with tagging is potent. You may need to figure out your own way to adapt to your PM style though. For example, some common tags I use are "#next", "#someday", "#2018-02-08" and such.

It is good for Personal Workflows but lacks any feature that Org-agenda offers. It is a dumb down org-mode for web.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#25

Post by pankajdoharey »

nagarjun wrote: post #2

I've used https://trello.com/ for most of my projects even when I am working with a team. We love it. Here are some basics on how to manage a project with Trello: https://trello.com/inspiration/project-management .

Absolutely, With Trello you can always scale from small beginnings to full fledged system with plugins. And if you have a DIY nature you can write your own plugins the same isnt true for say JIRA.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#26

Post by eitland »

latte wrote: post #19

Telegram's Saved Messages feature (which is basically a chat with oneself) helps me a lot - it loads in the web interface instantly and works like an ultra-light notes app, where you can also post files and images, search your notes, edit and delete items. Everything is instantly shared between web and mobile. The drawback is that you can have only one Saved Messages chat and no way to tag messages by project - it be…

You can add a #hashtag or even a bunch of them to every post though.

Makes it easy to filter by topic.

Another quick tip: you can have multiple chats with the exact same recipients. Nice if you have a running chat with someone and you also have one or more shared projects.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#27

Post by TeMPOraL »

aerique wrote: post #15
terminalcommand wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Org-mode also offers tagging support. If you add it to your agenda, you can filter things out by tags. Org mode also has excellent mobile support. All your todo items, schedules etc. can also be viewed in your phone. Another plus-side is that it is completely text based. You don't have to worry about internet access, operating system, age of the machine, the medium you want to use. You can quickly export org-mode sch…

Could you elaborate on Org mode's excellent mobile support? Are you talking iPhone, Android or both? I've only got experience with Android and MobileOrg is a pain in the ass to setup and sync. The workflow is a hassle. Orgzly looks nice and is good for read-only usage but entering notes in it is awkward. Takes too much time compared to, for example, Google Keep. Are there other solution out there that I am not aware…

Seconded. I've been repeatedly trying to work with MobileOrg and Orgzly, and while the latter had finally turned into something functional, stable and actually usable day-to-day, I'd still call Org mobile support severely lacking.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#28

Post by gkya »

weavie wrote: post #17
_pfxa wrote: post #5

Org mode. I put a Readme.org in every project I start, and it can help with most project management tasks. You can also hook these files up to your Org agenda, so that issues (i.e. TODO items) show up there. Edit: I should also mention the Dired mode in Emacs, which is a directory browser. I use "% g" quite frequently, and it has useful extensions like wdired and dired-hacks.

> I use "% g" quite frequently Do you mean the command "Mark files containing"? I didn't know about this one before.. Could you expand on how you fit it in your workflow?

With anything I'm working on, the first place I go is the dired buffer for the project root. When say I'm trying to find in which file a certain thing is, I narrow the search down with % g, then search with isearch or M-x occur in the marked files. When I do know the actual string I want to find, I run M-x grep instead. I do whatever I do with the project and use VC mode to check in my changes if necessary. As I work most often with plain text documents, using TAGS files is often not an option.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#29

Post by smnscu »

A simple GitHub or Gitlab repository is all that I need. Gitlab has the added advantage of a free CI (with 2k free build minutes per month), but for me git hosting + issues and boards + wiki pages are all I need for any project. I have used many, many project management solutions before, but if you use a sane methodology you don't really need anything else.

Re: Ask HN: Simple tools/hack for small project management

#30

Post by rodolphoarruda »

We have been using Teamwork for a couple of years. It offers kanban card based paradigm as well as PERT/CPM. Our PD teams like the former while we in Consulting services like the latter best. One can project delivery dates in a timeline and with that do more refined risk management. Currently there are 455 running projects and 1603 stakeholders using the system including internal, customer and partners teams.
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