Learn how to configure GitHub Projects

Learn how to configure GitHub Projects

GitHub Projects is a powerful project management tool that enables teams to organize and track work directly within GitHub. It offers features like issue tracking, task prioritization, and customizable workflows for better collaboration and planning.

1. Creating a GitHub Project

Types of GitHub Projects

1. Organization Project:

   • Associated with an entire GitHub organization.

   • Allows multiple repositories within the organization to contribute to the project.

   • Ideal for teams working across multiple repositories.

2. User Project:

   • Associated with a specific GitHub user account.

   • Limited to personal repositories or a single user’s workflow.

   • Useful for individual contributors or freelancers.

Steps to Create a GitHub Project

1. Navigate to Projects:

   • Go to your GitHub organization or profile page.

   • Click on the Projects tab.

2. Click “New Project”:**

   • Provide a Project Name and an optional Description.

   • Choose between Organization Project or User Project, depending on the context.

3. Select a Project Type: Choose Table (spreadsheet-style layout) or Board (Kanban-style layout) based on your preferred workflow.

4. Customize Project Layout:

   • Add fields like labels, milestones, or custom fields to track specific details.

   • Configure columns (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done) if using a board layout.

5. Save and Start Managing Work.

2. Adding Issues to GitHub Projects

GitHub Projects integrates seamlessly with GitHub Issues, allowing you to track and manage tasks directly from your repositories.

Steps to Add Issues:

1. From the Project View:

   • Open the desired project.

   • Click on Add Items and search for existing issues in your repositories.

   • Select the issues to add them to the project.

2. From the Issue Page:

   • Open an issue in a GitHub repository.

   • Click the Projects dropdown in the sidebar.

   • Select the project to associate the issue with it.

3. Create New Issues: Use the + Add Item button in the project to create new issues directly from the project view.

3. Configuring Project Settings

1. Customize Fields:

   • Open your project and click Settings.

   • Add or edit fields such as Assignees, Labels, Milestones, or custom fields.

2. Automation: Set up automation rules to move items between columns based on their status (e.g., moving issues to “Done” when closed).

3. View Options: Toggle between list, board, or table views to find the layout that works best for your team.

4. Filters: Use filters to focus on specific repositories, assignees, or other fields.

4. Managing Permissions

GitHub allows you to control who can access and manage your projects.

Organization Projects:

1. Navigate to the Organization Settings.

2. Go to Projects and select the specific project.

3. Adjust the following:

   • Visibility:

     • Public: Anyone can view the project.

     • Private: Only organization members can view the project.

   • Permissions:

     • Admin: Full control over the project.

     • Write: Edit and update project items.

     • Read: View-only access.

User Projects:

1. User projects inherit the visibility and permissions of the user's repositories.

2. Add collaborators with specific access levels (read, write, or admin).

Granular Permissions:

1. Assign specific team members or collaborators to individual projects within an organization.

2. Use teams within the organization for simplified permission management.

5. Best Practices for GitHub Projects

1. Define Clear Workflows:

   • Standardize column names (e.g., Backlog, To Do, In Progress, Done).

   • Use automation to reduce manual movement of items.

2. Leverage Custom Fields: Add custom fields to track priorities, deadlines, or dependencies.

3. Integrate with Issues and Pull Requests: Link issues and pull requests to ensure traceability.

4. Regular Updates: Review and update project items during standups or weekly planning sessions.

5. Analytics: Use GitHub’s built-in progress tracking and insights to measure team performance.

Summary

GitHub Projects provides flexibility and ease of use, enabling teams to manage workflows effectively. With the right setup, it can be a valuable tool for individual contributors and large teams alike.