3 Essential Tools to Manage Your Software Development Project

When considering a technical partner to build your software, there are other factors that come into play beyond technical ability. Communicating with remote teams, prioritizing tasks, working around time differences — all of these things can deeply impact your project’s success.

That’s why it’s essential to have robust software development tools under your belt that fit the purpose. After all, tools that are too complicated to use or lack critical functions will only get in the way when you’re trying to manage your project.

Top 3 software development tools

Here are our notes on some of the more popular software development tools out there to see what makes sense for you.

1. JIRA

Anyone in the development world knows about JIRA — and for a good reason. While a bit daunting for non-technical users, JIRA is easily one of the more powerful tools on the market.

It’s specifically for agile project management and comes with a host of adjustable features, from kanban boards to sprint permissions and Scrum reports. You can even adjust the view to better suit your personal preferences.

Above is a sample roadmap view. On the left, there’s a column of planned tasks, each with a colored bar spanning a calendar. This is useful if you’re trying to get a sense of when tasks need to be worked on and how long they should take.

Custom dashboards combined with a seemingly endless supply of APIs to any software you can think of (GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, to name a few) make JIRA a staple to have on hand.

2. Lucidchart

For those of us who prefer more visual mediums, Lucidchart is an excellent collaboration tool that lets users create custom diagrams or pull from a diverse template library. These range from organization charts and mind maps to prototypes, wireframes, and flowcharts.

The interface features a comprehensive set of menus to select shapes, add text, and adjust effects. Color coding items also makes it easier to organize ideas, and you can adapt diagrams to visualize different challenges and document work.

As a cloud-based tool, Lucidchart supports cross-team collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on a diagram at once. In-editor and video chat capabilities, as well as key integrations with G Suite, Drive, Confluence, and JIRA, make Lucidchart an agile solution.

3. InVision

If you’re creating a prototype design or testing the user experience (UX) on specific platforms, you might want to consider InVision. It’s a tool that allows users to build interactive prototypes without having to code anything first.

Just choose the project type and platform, as shown below and begin designing. The tool supports displays for desktop as well as iOS and Android devices.

InVision’s other main benefit is the ability to share and comment on designs. Thanks to its version control features, it’s easy for developers to push out a prototype, solicit client feedback on specific areas, and then revise. This helps to ensure that there are no surprises when it comes to delivery.

Software Development Tools Are Key to Project Management

Finding the right set of development tools for your project depends a lot on your style and your collaborators’. It’s not a bad idea to research different developers on the market to see what the industry standard is.

Research companies like Clutch offer verified reviews that can help you get a sense of how a development house works. Chances are, a developer already has a specific group of tools that they prefer to work with.

As a leading custom software agency ourselves, we know firsthand that the right development tools are essential to maintaining a smooth workflow. That’s why clients continue to come to us to design, develop, and support their apps. If you’re interested in pursuing a project with us or want a consultation, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Thayer Tate

Thayer is the Chief Technology Officer at SOLTECH, bringing over 20 years of experience in technology and consulting to his role. Throughout his career, Thayer has focused on successfully implementing and delivering projects of all sizes. He began his journey in the technology industry with renowned consulting firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM, where he gained valuable insights into handling complex challenges faced by large enterprises and developed detailed implementation methodologies.

Thayer’s expertise expanded as he obtained his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and joined SOLTECH, an Atlanta-based technology firm specializing in custom software development, Technology Consulting and IT staffing. During his tenure at SOLTECH, Thayer honed his skills by managing the design and development of numerous projects, eventually assuming executive responsibility for leading the technical direction of SOLTECH’s software solutions.

As a thought leader and industry expert, Thayer writes articles on technology strategy and planning, software development, project implementation, and technology integration. Thayer’s aim is to empower readers with practical insights and actionable advice based on his extensive experience.