How do you organize and keep track of multiple (many) projects

Question

As a contractor, out-sourcer and shareware author,I have about 5-10 projects going on at any one time. Each project has a todo list, requirements need to be communicated to other outsources and employees, status needs to be given to clients, and developer's questions need to be answered.

Sometimes it is too much... but then I realize that I'm not very organized and there has to be a better way.

What is your better way?

How do you keep track of requirements for multiple projects, assign work to multiple developers, obtain and give status for multiple projects to multiple clients?

What tools do you use? What processes?

Answer 1

I'm a big fan of http://trac.edgewall.org/'>trac for managing software projects. It provides task and bug management with integrated wiki and source control.

Answer 2

I should say that we use Mantis now, but I wish it was better. I wish I could use it for customer-facing queries, I with I could open and assign issues by email.

ScrumWorks Pro looks promising, but amazingly expensive for me, with 15 developers.

AccuNote may be an option, but it is new to me

Answer 3

We have been using FogBugz for managing several projects (10+) and clients (20+) for more than 4 years.

We have a project for each product and another project for each client. In this way I can control the requirements for each product and the pending activities related to each client.

Answer 4

This may sound really old-tech, but a different set of notepads for each project. Now, hear me out.

I know that notepads aren't searchable, and they aren't indexed, etc. But they will have meeting dates and times (if you've been taking notes during meetings, even on the phone), they have the ability of never crashing, and they're future proof in the event of wondering what you did a few years back but can't remember if the old project files made it to your new hard drive.

But the biggest reason is CYA-- logbooks and notepads can be used in the event of someone suing you as legal documents, especially if you've been diligent about dates. It might also work during patent discussions as well, showing a clear date and time of ideas being made. During another life, I worked in biology labs, and electronic record keeping, because it's so fickle, wasn't allowed for the legal reasons of being able to show that the work you did was your own. That attitude has permeated my own project notetaking, and helping to keep track of everything I need to get done.

Answer 5

tools are not the answer, unless you already have the knowledge, organization, and self-discipline to use them well. i highly recommend Getting Things Done

Answer 6

Try Omniplan if you're on a Mac. I find it just makes sense. I also find I don't end up fighting the interface and instead concentrate on using it to help me plan better.

Edit: It goes well with OmniFocus and no, I don't work for the Omni Group :)

Answer 7

I'm using the customer support, project planning and issue management portions of OpenERP. Having your issues and feature requests, along with the tasks required to get them done on the same CRM that allows you to manage your customers is a big benefit.

Answer 8

If you are into Agile methods (or even if not) you could try some of the Agile tools out there. Look in http://www.agile-tools.net/ for some comparisons. I use xplanner at work where we coordinate requirements and work over iterations among several teams. It has its quirks but it generaly gets the work done and allows for some useful agile structure. I am sure some other will have preferences for more mature tools.

Trac (as Mark Roddy mentioned) is also nice, because it integrates a wiki, task and defect management, so it can be an interesting tool if you have none of those already in place.

Answer 9

I have used SourceGear Vault to manage all our software projects. Our business nature is very much driven by project basis - typically i have 5 active projects running at one period of time.

Answer 10

You should have a look at No Kahuna Easy to use; Free and Pay versions; active, responsive development team.