Reviews
Review: RMTrack 2.0
- By Mike Gunderloy
- April 14, 2004
RMTrack 2.0.3
starting at $299
RMTrack Issue Tracking Solutions, Inc.
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 929-1720
www.rmtrack.com
I reviewed RMTrack 1.2 last fall. Now that they've got their 2.0 version
out, I figure it's time for another look. It remains a very customizable
ASP.NET-based bug-tracking system that should be adaptable to nearly any
organization's needs.
The customization runs much deeper than adjusting the values in pick
lists. The piece I like best is the graphical workflow designer, which
shows you the state machine that underlies the tracking process. This
runs as a control right inside of Internet Explorer, and lets you add
new states and transitions, remove existing ones, and so on. Whether
it's an additional level of approvals for a critical project, or a
streamlined process for writing knowledge base articles, RMTrack can
handle it.
Of course everything else can be customized too: user groups,
priority codes, resolution codes, you name it (and of course the usual
stuff like which projects you have active and what builds you're
planning to make). Even the layout of the main bug form can be changed
by manipulating controls on another ASP.NET page.
Other nice touches include a way to set up "public users" who can enter
bugs but not read reports, a good set of graphical tracking reports, and
flexible e-mail notifications.
Version 2.0 improves on the 1.x series in several ways. First, there's a
new project wizard that makes it really easy to get going; you should be
able to enter bugs within 20 minutes of starting the install. This
version also allows you to change data entry forms and workflow on a
per-project instead of per-server basis, making a single RMTrack server
much more flexible than before. You can now share filters between users,
adjust security on a field-by-field level, and flag users as inactive
without losing their history. All in all, it's a nice set of
improvments.
The RMTrack Web site lets you download a 30-day trial version, as well
as all of the relevant manuals (there's also excellent help available
within the product). If you're thinking about a Web-based tracking
system, RMTrack is worth evaluating.
About the Author
Mike Gunderloy has been developing software for a quarter-century now, and writing about it for nearly as long. He walked away from a .NET development career in 2006 and has been a happy Rails user ever since. Mike blogs at A Fresh Cup.