> Simple todo's beat
 > complex task management every time.

I was checking out Backbone.js the other day and they listed a number of 
interesting lean Project/Task Management Apps that were built with it. 
I haven't tried any of these, but they seem interesting, and "light":

https://www.blossom.io/
https://do.com/
http://www.getflow.com/
https://trello.com/

-Shaun


On 2/23/12 6:02 AM, Alexander Johannesen wrote:
> Hiya,
>
>> --What project management software are you using?
>
> Semantic MediaWiki, xSiteable
>
>> --What made you choose the system?
>
> Most project management software is written by geeks, not for humans. They
> all propose some methodology to go with their model, but either their model
> is inflexible (and crashing with yours), or it is so flexible that any tool
> might do the trick. Also, they are notoriously hard to configure on a
> cumulative scale of the people involved. Also, people hate putting in their
> data, so most software, even if they might just do the trick, fails for
> human reasons.
>
> So, a simple wiki with some added ontology cruff, and xSiteable delivering
> semantics and widgets across all people is enough. Simple todo's beat
> complex task management every time.
>
>> --Has the system met all of your needs? If not, where does it fail?
>
> It only fails when we need average to higher degree of data, again, a human
> problem. Oh, and it sometimes fails because the MediaWiki GUI sucks for
> non-geeks. I think Confluence is better and overal pretty good.
>
>> --Overall opinions?
>
> I could write you a sonnett or two, but I have very little trust in
> software helping much in project management (after having tried them all
> over a span of 20 years). A joint platform for documentation (and for
> heavens' sake, choose a Wiki that has a usable interface!)
>
> In fact, you'd be *far* better off getting "Making stuff happen" by Scott
> Berkun (
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/0596517718?tag=scottberkunco-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0596517718&adid=1B6JF6HWHDT0S5RYZNNM),
> the best book I ever got. Honest, I'm not affiliated. :)
>
>> --What systems did you evaluate and decide not to recommend?
>
> Hmm, I think I've tried too many. I'm sure there's software out there that
> doesn't suck (ie. I hear good things about a few here and there), but far
> too often do I see this usability parred with human engagement problem crop
> up and ruin the best of software packages.
>
>> Any information would be great!
>
> Sorry to be so glum. I'm more happy with simpler approaches such as
> "project on a page" (ie. one Wiki page with short description, people,
> contacts, goals, and progress) and more agile ways of dealing with
> requirements and development (reduces the need for approved paper, easier
> to roll back bad decisions, etc.). The closest I get to a Gant chart is
> that one of our vendors insists on sending me one every now and then,
> despite that he has to come into the office and explain it to people every
> single time.
>
> In other words; use software to document and drive forward, never use
> software to measure progress and estimates.
>
> Regards,
>
> Alex (disgruntled ex-beliver in project management software)

-- 
Shaun D. Ellis
Digital Library Interface Developer
Firestone Library, Princeton University
voice: 609.258.1698 | [log in to unmask]