Payscroller - The Blog

As a 2.0 startup, we tried to manage the project in a lean (it just means we operate with as little cost as possible, ideally at zero cost) and effective way. So naturally, it came to me that we need to establish and utilize a set of tools to manage the project and make it as smooth sailing as possible. So 2 weeks back, I started looking at some “free” tools in hope to formulate a good recipe for managing the project.

So the first set of tools are from who else but the good people from 37signals.

Backpackit - An web-based app for collecting, organizing notes and calendar, todos, etc …. Its a nifty tool but for the free version, you get very limited features but still would get you by. So my inital plan wasvto use this as a project main page and build links to the project subpages. Backpackit has built-in caledar, writeboards (more details in the next paragraph) and allows creating of lists, notes and also uploading files to the page.. Tons of other featires

Writeboard - A writeboard is basically a single html page editor, that allows you to save/edit the html page and version your changes, and its free. A great thing about writeboard is that it allows you to share the page to invited users. Each free backpackit account allows up two writeboards with the main page.

Campfire. An Ajax-based chatroom that allows the admin to open it public or send invites to certain people to join the chatroom. It allows users in the chatroom to upload files too. The free version has limited upload quota.

Armed with these tools, I started exploring how we can create sort of a project page using the above free tools/app. So here’s the guide to managing the project the lean (free) and web 2.0 way.

Backpackit is a great too for sharing the project pages with the team, so the first thing to do is to create a project page as the main page of the app. So the free acount at Backpackit allows sharing of 2 writeboards. So to overcome that , we use set up individual writeboards and each writeboard is used to edit and generate requirements. Now you can just easily put links on the main page of Backpackit to the various writeboards. The next thing we need is to have a common place where the team can meet and discuss stuff with the projects, so Campfire is the perfect tool for that.

So with zero money spent, we now have a project page that allows us to easily access and edit requirements documents (writeboard) and a place to chat and talk about the project.

Now the problem with this setup is the lack of calendar, task/todo lists that is essential for all projects. So with searching, we came upon to Jotspot. Jotspot is a wiki-type app that allows you to create and share text document, spreadsheets, calendars and has many other installable apps. Go here to see what app you can install as an add-on to the jot wiki. So after signing up an account and playing around with our jot, I really like it alot. It seems to work and integrate well with the rest of the features for coordinating and managing the project. The most useful add-on app that really appeal to me are

• Project manager - Collaborate simply and easily on your projects with shared to-dos, due dates, discussion, and shared files
• Jotpot spreadsheet -Stop emailing spreadsheets! Simply copy and paste to publish your spreadsheets as interactive wiki page. Feels just like Microsoft Excel but on the web!
• Bug Reporter - Bug reporting database application that helps track, assign and resolve bugs and manage quality assurance.

And the beauty of it is that you get all these add-on even with the free account which makes it even better. So I’m sold, I’ve chosen to use jotspot for our project management platform and all for zero cost.

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