GitHub Projects is a powerful planning and project management tool built into the GitHub platform. It offers functionality similar to tools like Trello, Jira, and Smartsheet, but with deep integration into GitHub repositories.

Why GitHub Projects?

  • Customization
    • Supports various workflows (e.g., Kanban, Scrum).
    • Multiple view types: Table, Board, Timeline/Roadmap.
    • Add custom fields to track project-specific data.
  • Integration
    • Seamless connection with GitHub Issues and Pull Requests across repositories.
    • Supports draft items that are project-specific (not tied to a repo).
    • Real-time updates: changes to issues/PRs are reflected in the project.
  • Collaboration
    • Centralized platform for tracking progress and assigning tasks.
    • Enables clear communication and coordination within teams.

Use Cases in our University Environment

Academic: Group Project Management

Scenario: Students collaborating on a software engineering project, research paper, or group presentation.


How GitHub Projects Helps:

  • Create a project board to manage tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities.
  • Assign issues to individual students.
  • Use the Kanban board to visualize progress and identify bottlenecks.
  • Collaborate and resolve issues directly within the project interface.

Business: Internal Department Project Management

Scenario: A university department (e.g., IT, Facilities, Marketing) managing a complex initiative like a website redesign or campus event.


How GitHub Projects Helps:

  • Track all project phases, tasks, and dependencies in one place.
  • Assign and monitor tasks for each team member.
  • Use custom fields to track budgets, timelines, and resources.
  • Centralize documentation (e.g., proposals, designs, reports).
  • Use comments and discussions to hold asynchronous project meetings.

Default Settings & Restrictions

  • ✅ Default Access: No restrictions on initial review.
  • ✅ Feature Availability: Projects are enabled by default and ready to use.

Step-by-step: How to Start Using GitHub Projects

  1. Create a Project
    • Navigate to your repository or organization.
    • Click Projects → New Project.
  2. Choose a View
    • Select the most suitable view for your workflow:
      • Table: Structured list of items.
      • Board: Kanban-style columns (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done).
      • Timeline/Roadmap: Visualize deadlines and milestones.
  3. Configure Lists
    • Define custom columns or lists to categorize work (e.g., Blocked, Needs Review).
  4. Add Items
    • Add draft items directly to the project.
    • Or link existing issues or pull requests from any repository.
  5. Assign Items
    • Assign tasks to team members for accountability and visibility.
  6. Add Dates
    • Set start and due dates to track timelines and deadlines.
  7. Automate Actions (Optional)
    • Use built-in automation to:
      • Move items between columns.
      • Archive completed tasks.
      • Trigger actions based on status changes.
  8. Utilize Insights
    • Analyze progress using built-in charts and metrics.
  9. Add Status Updates
    • Post regular updates to keep stakeholders informed.



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