Using Github Projects

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction to GitHub Projects
  2. Prerequisites
  3. Setting Up GitHub Accounts and Repository
  4. Creating and Configuring GitHub Projects
  5. Managing Tasks with Issues and Projects
  6. Using Boards Effectively
  7. Assigning Tasks and Collaborating
  8. Tracking Progress and Updates
  9. Integrating Pull Requests and Code Reviews
  10. Utilizing Automation and Labels
  11. Best Practices for Effective Use
  12. Example Scenario and Activities
  13. Additional Resources
  14. Conclusion

1. Introduction to GitHub Projects

GitHub Projects is a powerful tool integrated within GitHub that allows teams to manage tasks, track progress, and organize workflows using Kanban-style boards, tables, or custom workflows. It’s designed to streamline project management directly alongside your codebase, fostering seamless collaboration and efficient task tracking.

Key Features:

  • Boards and Cards: Visualize tasks using customizable boards and cards.
  • Integration with Issues and Pull Requests: Link tasks directly to code-related activities.
  • Automation: Automate repetitive tasks to enhance efficiency.
  • Collaboration: Assign tasks, add labels, and track progress in real-time.

2. Prerequisites

Before diving into GitHub Projects, ensure the following:

  • GitHub Accounts: Each team member must have a GitHub account. If you don’t have one, sign up at GitHub Sign Up.
  • Basic Git Knowledge: Familiarity with Git commands and version control concepts.
  • Project Idea Ready: Have a clear understanding of the web application you intend to build, including its functionalities and requirements.
  • Access to Tools:
    • Web Browser: For accessing GitHub and project boards.
    • Code Editor: Such as Visual Studio Code (Download VS Code).
    • Communication Tool: Like Slack (Slack) or Discord (Discord) for team communication.

3. Setting Up GitHub Accounts and Repository

3.1 Creating GitHub Accounts

  1. Sign Up:
    • Navigate to GitHub Sign Up.
    • Enter your email address, create a username, and set a strong password.
    • Verify your email address through the confirmation email sent by GitHub.
  2. Profile Setup:
    • Add a profile picture and bio to personalize your account.
    • Configure your account settings as needed.

3.2 Creating a GitHub Repository

  1. Create a New Repository:
    • Log in to your GitHub account.
    • Click on the “+” icon in the top-right corner and select “New repository”.
  2. Repository Details:
    • Repository Name: Choose a clear and descriptive name for your project (e.g., community-web-app).
    • Description: Provide a brief description of the project’s purpose.
    • Privacy: Select “Private” to restrict access to team members only.
    • Initialize Repository:
      • Check “Add a README file” to create an initial README.
      • Optionally, add a .gitignore file specific to your technology stack (e.g., Node, Python).
      • Optionally, choose a license (e.g., MIT License).
  3. Create Repository:
    • Click “Create repository” to finalize.

Link to Create Repository: GitHub New Repository

4. Creating and Configuring GitHub Projects

4.1 Accessing GitHub Projects

  1. Navigate to Your Repository:
    • Go to your newly created repository on GitHub.
  2. Access Projects:
    • Click on the “Projects” tab located below the repository name.
  3. Create a New Project:
    • Click “New project”.

4.2 Choosing a Project Template

GitHub offers several templates to suit different project management needs:

  • Basic Kanban: Ideal for simple task tracking with columns like To Do, In Progress, and Done.
  • Automated Kanban: Automates task movements based on issue status changes.
  • Bug Triage: Specifically designed for managing and tracking bugs.
  • Custom: Create a board tailored to your workflow.

Recommendation: Start with the “Basic Kanban” template for its simplicity and effectiveness in managing tasks.

4.3 Configuring Your Project Board

  1. Name Your Project:
    • Provide a clear name (e.g., Development Board).
  2. Select Visibility:
    • Choose “Private” to ensure only team members can view and interact with the project board.
  3. Create Project:
    • Click “Create project” to set up your board.

4.4 Customizing Columns

By default, the Basic Kanban template includes the following columns:

  • To Do: Tasks that need to be started.
  • In Progress: Tasks currently being worked on.
  • Done: Completed tasks.

Customization Steps:

  1. Add Columns:
    • Click “Add column” to create additional columns if needed (e.g., “Review”, “Testing”).
  2. Rename Columns:
    • Click on the column name to rename it for better clarity.
  3. Delete Columns:
    • Click on the three-dot menu on a column and select “Delete column” to remove unnecessary columns.

4.5 Integrating Issues with Projects

  1. Create Issues:
    • Navigate to the “Issues” tab in your repository.
    • Click “New issue” to create tasks, bugs, or feature requests.
    • Provide a descriptive title and detailed description for each issue.
    • Assign labels (e.g., bug, feature, enhancement) to categorize issues.
  2. Link Issues to Project Board:
    • Open an issue.
    • Click on “Projects” in the right sidebar.
    • Select the relevant project and column to add the issue to your project board.
  3. Drag and Drop Issues:
    • Alternatively, go to your project board and drag existing issues from the “To Do” column into the appropriate column as work progresses.

5. Managing Tasks with Issues and Projects

5.1 Creating and Organizing Issues

Objective: Break down the project into manageable tasks and track their progress.

Steps:

  1. Identify Tasks:
    • Collaborate with your team to list all necessary tasks for the project.
    • Consider dividing tasks into features, bugs, documentation, etc.
  2. Create Issues:
    • For each task, create a new issue in GitHub.
    • Title: Clearly state the task (e.g., “Implement User Authentication”).
    • Description: Provide detailed information, including objectives, requirements, and any relevant resources.
    • Labels: Assign appropriate labels for easy categorization and filtering.
  3. Prioritize Issues:
    • Use labels or numbering to prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency.

5.2 Linking Issues to Project Boards

Objective: Visualize and manage tasks within the project board for better tracking and collaboration.

Steps:

  1. Access Project Board:
    • Go to the “Projects” tab in your repository and select your project board.
  2. Add Issues to Columns:
    • Manual Addition:
      • Click “Add cards” on a column.
      • Select issues from the list to add to that column.
    • Automatic Linking:
      • As issues are created and labeled, they can be automatically sorted into appropriate columns using automation (if configured).
  3. Update Issue Status:
    • Move issues across columns as their status changes (e.g., from “To Do” to “In Progress”).

6. Using Boards Effectively

6.1 Understanding Board Views

GitHub Projects offers multiple views to visualize and manage tasks:

  • Kanban Boards: Traditional columns representing different stages of task completion.
  • Tables: Spreadsheet-like view for detailed task management and filtering.
  • Timeline (Beta): Gantt-chart-style view to plan and track project timelines.

Recommendation: Start with Kanban Boards for their simplicity and effectiveness in visual task management.

6.2 Customizing Board Columns

Customize your board to match your workflow:

  1. Common Columns:
    • To Do: Tasks that are yet to be started.
    • In Progress: Tasks currently being worked on.
    • Review: Tasks pending code review or testing.
    • Done: Completed tasks.
  2. Custom Columns:
    • Add columns like “Blocked” for tasks facing obstacles or “On Hold” for paused tasks.

6.3 Using Cards Effectively

Each card on the board represents a task (issue). To maximize efficiency:

  1. Detailed Descriptions:
    • Ensure each issue/card has a comprehensive description outlining objectives and requirements.
  2. Checklists:
    • Break down complex tasks into smaller subtasks using checklists within issues.
  3. Attachments and References:
    • Attach relevant files, screenshots, or links to resources directly within the issue.
  4. Assignees:
    • Assign team members responsible for each task to ensure accountability.
  5. Due Dates:
    • Set due dates for tasks to maintain project timelines.

7. Assigning Tasks and Collaborating

7.1 Assigning Tasks to Team Members

Objective: Distribute workload evenly and ensure clarity in responsibilities.

Steps:

  1. Assign Issues:
    • Open an issue and assign it to a team member using the “Assignees” section.
  2. Balance Workload:
    • Ensure that tasks are distributed based on team members’ strengths and capacities.
  3. Monitor Assignments:
    • Regularly review the project board to ensure no team member is overwhelmed or underutilized.

7.2 Collaborating on Code

Objective: Foster effective collaboration and maintain code quality.

Best Practices:

  1. Branching Strategy:
    • Use feature branches for developing new features (e.g., feature/user-authentication).
    • Merge into the main branch through pull requests after code reviews.
  2. Pull Requests:
    • Encourage team members to open pull requests for code reviews before merging.
    • Use descriptive titles and comments to explain changes.
  3. Code Reviews:
    • Allocate time for peer reviews to catch bugs, ensure code quality, and share knowledge.
  4. Resolving Conflicts:
    • Communicate proactively to resolve merge conflicts and coordinate overlapping work.

7.3 Communication and Updates

Objective: Maintain clear and consistent communication within the team.

Tools:

  • Slack: For real-time messaging and quick discussions.
  • Zoom/Google Meet: For scheduled meetings and screen sharing.
  • GitHub Discussions: Utilize GitHub’s built-in discussion feature for asynchronous communication.

Best Practices:

  1. Regular Updates:
    • Share progress updates during meetings and via communication tools.
  2. Transparency:
    • Keep all team members informed about changes, challenges, and achievements.
  3. Documentation:
    • Document important decisions, meeting minutes, and workflows in shared documents (e.g., Google Docs).

8. Tracking Progress and Updates

8.1 Monitoring Project Boards

Objective: Keep track of task status and overall project progress.

Steps:

  1. Weekly Reviews:
    • Conduct weekly reviews of the project board to assess progress and update task statuses.
  2. Identify Blockers:
    • Use columns like “Blocked” to highlight tasks facing obstacles and address them promptly.
  3. Adjust Plans:
    • Re-prioritize tasks based on progress and any changes in project scope or requirements.

8.2 Using Milestones

Objective: Set and track significant project milestones to ensure timely delivery.

Steps:

  1. Create Milestones:
    • Navigate to the “Issues” tab.
    • Click “Milestones” and create milestones corresponding to major project phases (e.g., “User Authentication Completed”).
  2. Assign Issues to Milestones:
    • Link relevant issues to their respective milestones.
  3. Track Progress:
    • Monitor milestone progress through the “Issues” and “Projects” tabs.

8.3 Reporting and Analytics

Objective: Utilize GitHub’s built-in tools to generate insights into project performance.

Tools:

  • Pulse: Provides an overview of recent activity, open issues, and pull requests.
  • Insights Tab: Offers deeper analytics, including contributions, traffic, and dependency graphs.

Best Practices:

  1. Regular Check-Ins:
    • Review Pulse and Insights periodically to identify trends and areas needing attention.
  2. Data-Driven Decisions:
    • Use analytics to inform project adjustments and improve workflows.

9. Integrating Pull Requests and Code Reviews

9.1 Creating Pull Requests

Objective: Facilitate code reviews and ensure code quality before merging into the main branch.

Steps:

  1. Develop on Feature Branch:
    • Create a new branch for each feature or task (e.g., feature/user-authentication).
  2. Commit Changes:
    • Make commits with clear and descriptive messages.
  3. Open Pull Request:
    • Navigate to the repository on GitHub.
    • Click “Compare & pull request” for your feature branch.
    • Fill in the pull request title and description, linking it to the corresponding issue (e.g., “Closes #12”).
  4. Assign Reviewers:
    • Assign team members to review the pull request.
  5. Address Feedback:
    • Make necessary changes based on feedback and push updates to the branch.
  6. Merge Pull Request:
    • Once approved, merge the pull request into the main branch.

9.2 Conducting Code Reviews

Objective: Ensure code quality, maintainability, and adherence to project standards.

Best Practices:

  1. Review Checklist:
    • Functionality: Does the code perform the intended function?
    • Readability: Is the code easy to understand?
    • Consistency: Does it follow the project’s coding standards?
    • Efficiency: Is the code optimized for performance?
    • Security: Are there any potential security vulnerabilities?
  2. Constructive Feedback:
    • Provide specific, actionable feedback.
    • Encourage discussions to resolve issues collaboratively.
  3. Approve and Merge:
    • Once the code meets all standards, approve the pull request and merge it.

10. Utilizing Automation and Labels

10.1 Automation with GitHub Actions

Objective: Automate repetitive tasks to enhance efficiency and reduce manual errors.

Examples of Automation:

  • CI/CD Pipelines: Automatically run tests and deploy code upon merging.
  • Issue Labeling: Automatically label issues based on certain keywords or patterns.
  • Notifications: Send alerts for specific events (e.g., failed tests, new issues).

Getting Started with GitHub Actions:

  1. Navigate to Actions Tab:
    • In your repository, click on the “Actions” tab.
  2. Choose a Workflow:
    • Select from pre-built workflows or create a new one.
  3. Configure Workflow:
    • Define the events that trigger the workflow (e.g., push, pull request).
    • Specify the jobs and actions to perform.
  4. Commit Workflow:
    • Save and commit the workflow file to your repository.

Resource: GitHub Actions Documentation

10.2 Using Labels Effectively

Objective: Categorize and prioritize issues and pull requests for better organization.

Steps:

  1. Define Label Categories:
    • Type: bug, feature, enhancement, documentation
    • Priority: high, medium, low
    • Status: blocked, in review, needs feedback
  2. Create Labels:
    • Go to the “Issues” or “Pull Requests” tab.
    • Click on “Labels”.
    • Click “New label”, enter the name, choose a color, and save.
  3. Apply Labels:
    • Open an issue or pull request.
    • Click on “Labels” in the right sidebar.
    • Select the appropriate labels.

Best Practices:

  • Consistency: Use consistent naming conventions for labels.
  • Limit Number of Labels: Avoid creating too many labels to prevent clutter.
  • Regular Review: Periodically review and update labels as the project evolves.

11. Best Practices for Effective Use

11.1 Prioritize Functionality Over Features

  • Focus on Core Requirements: Ensure that essential features are fully functional before adding additional ones.
  • MVP Approach: Develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that meets the primary needs of the community organization.

11.2 Maintain Clean and Documented Code

  • Code Standards: Adopt and adhere to consistent coding standards and best practices.
  • Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation, including README files, code comments, and API documentation.

11.3 Regular Code Reviews

  • Peer Reviews: Encourage team members to review each other’s code to maintain quality and share knowledge.
  • Feedback Loop: Use code reviews as an opportunity for learning and improvement.

11.4 Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD)

  • Automated Testing: Implement automated tests to catch issues early.
  • Automated Deployments: Use CI/CD pipelines to streamline the deployment process, reducing manual intervention.

11.5 Effective Communication

  • Transparent Updates: Keep all team members and stakeholders informed about progress and changes.
  • Utilize Tools: Leverage communication tools like Slack for real-time communication and GitHub Projects for task management.

12. Example Scenario and Activities

To solidify understanding, let’s walk through an example scenario and corresponding activities that students can perform to effectively use GitHub Projects.

12.1 Example Scenario

Project: Develop a Community Event Management Web Application for a local 501(c)(3) organization.

Key Features:

  • User Registration and Authentication
  • Event Creation and Management
  • RSVP Functionality
  • Dashboard for Event Statistics
  • Email Notifications

12.2 Activities

Activity 1: Repository and Project Setup

  1. Create Repository:
    • Team creates a private repository named community-event-manager.
  2. Initialize Project Board:
    • Navigate to “Projects” tab.
    • Create a new project named Development Board using the Basic Kanban template.
    • Customize columns: To Do, In Progress, Review, Done.

Activity 2: Creating and Assigning Issues

  1. List Tasks:
    • Break down features into tasks (e.g., “Design Login Page”, “Implement JWT Authentication”).
  2. Create Issues:
    • For each task, create a new issue with a descriptive title and detailed description.
    • Assign relevant labels (e.g., feature, frontend, backend).
  3. Assign Team Members:
    • Assign each issue to the appropriate team member based on their role.

Activity 3: Planning and Prioritization

  1. Sprint Planning Meeting:
    • Schedule a meeting to discuss tasks for the first sprint (e.g., Weeks 1-2).
    • Select high-priority issues and move them to the To Do column.
  2. Set Milestones:
    • Create milestones such as Phase 1: User Authentication and link relevant issues.

Activity 4: Development Workflow

  1. Branching:
    • For each feature, create a new branch (e.g., feature/login-page).
  2. Commit Changes:
    • Make incremental commits with clear messages (e.g., “Add login form UI”).
  3. Open Pull Requests:
    • Once a feature is complete, open a pull request for code review.
  4. Code Review:
    • Team members review the pull request, provide feedback, and approve.
  5. Merge and Update Project Board:
    • Merge the pull request into the main branch.
    • Move the corresponding card to the Done column.

Activity 5: Testing and QA

  1. Create Test Issues:
    • Create issues for writing unit tests and performing integration testing.
  2. Execute Tests:
    • Develop and run tests to ensure functionality meets requirements.
  3. Bug Fixes:
    • Create and assign issues for any bugs found during testing.

Activity 6: Deployment and Documentation

  1. Deploy Application:
    • Use GitHub Actions to set up CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments to a hosting platform like Heroku or AWS.
  2. Write Documentation:
    • Create comprehensive README files, API documentation, and user guides.
  3. Final Presentation:
    • Prepare a presentation to showcase the completed application to the community organization.

13. Additional Resources

To further assist students in mastering GitHub Projects and effective collaboration, here are some valuable resources:

14. Conclusion

Successfully managing a semester-long project using GitHub Projects hinges on clear organization, consistent collaboration, and adherence to best practices. By following this tutorial, student teams can:

  • Set Up Efficient Workflows: Utilize GitHub Projects to organize tasks, track progress, and manage workloads effectively.
  • Enhance Collaboration: Leverage GitHub’s integrated tools for seamless communication and collaboration among team members.
  • Ensure Project Success: Focus on delivering a functional and maintainable web application by adhering to structured development processes and prioritizing core functionalities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Structured Planning: Break down the project into manageable tasks and organize them using GitHub Projects.
  • Effective Communication: Maintain open channels of communication within the team and with external collaborators.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Regularly review progress, address challenges, and adjust plans as necessary.
  • Quality Assurance: Implement code reviews, testing, and documentation to ensure the final product is robust and maintainable.

By embracing these strategies, student teams can maximize their productivity, foster a collaborative environment, and achieve successful project outcomes that provide meaningful value to their community organization partners.

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