Using JIRA for Bug Tracking

Configure JIRA for Bug Tracking

So you want to use JIRA to track some pesky bugs? These steps should help you setup your instance so you'll have some data to explore in the Key Features section next!

  1. Create a Project
  2. Create Issues
  3. Create Users
  4. Configure Permissions
  5. Setup Useful Integrations and Add-ons

Are you currently using another bug tracker or trying out other products besides JIRA? See how JIRA stacks up against the competition. If you're thinking about making the switch from IBM Rational Clearquest, we've created some resources just for you. Check them out!

Create a Project

Before you can create issues, you need to create a project to contain them.

  1. Click 'Administration' then 'Projects' under the 'Projects' tab. 'Add Project' is at the top right.
  2. Project Key is the short prefix for issues: 'ABC-123'. Note that this cannot be changed later.

You can also import data into JIRA from another bug tracker.

Documentation: Creating a Project

Learn how projects, issues, and workflows fit together in this 2 minute video:

Create Issues

Now get some data in that JIRA!

 

Documentation: Creating Issues

Create Users

Unless you're exploring JIRA alone, you should start out by adding other users to your instance. Note that outgoing emails will only work if you have set up JIRA to send outgoing mail! (documentation at the bottom of the page)

  1. From 'Administration', select Users, then Add User.
  2. Locate the new user and click the 'Groups' link in the far right column.
  3. Select the appropriate groups for the new user:
  • 'jira-users' can create and edit issues
  • 'jira-developers' can create, edit and log work (time spent) against issues
  • 'jira-administrators' has full access to Administration

Note: these are simply defaults - you can change them at any time.

Documentation: Managing Users, Managing Groups

After you've added the user to a group, you should edit their role within your newly created project. 

  1. Click 'Project Roles' in the far right column, then click 'Edit Project Roles.'
  2. Here, you can check each role that the selected user should have for each project in your instance.

Documentation: Managing Project Roles

Configure Permissions

Once you've chosen who plays each role for each project, you can use those roles to define project permissions. When you edit permissions, you'll notice that by default permissions are set up for roles - rather than individual users or groups. The great thing about this is that those roles, and hence the connected permissions, can be changed per project - by people who aren't JIRA administrators. This is especially helpful if you have a large number of users to maintain, and want to keep JIRA administration restricted to just a few. 

  • Global Permissions apply to JIRA as a whole: things like who can log in, created shared filters/dashboards, and perform bulk changes.
  • Project Permissions control who can edit, delete, and perform other issue actions within a project.

Documentation: Managing Project Permissions

Useful Add-ons

When you find a bug, it can be a pain to continuously switch between your application and your bug tracker to record all relevant information. Luckily, there are a number of integrations and add-ons so you can create issues from tools you use often.

Issues from your Web Browser: Atlassian Bonfire Atlassian Bonfire lets you quickly create issues - with annotated screenshots and templates to pre-populate information - all without leaving your web app or even opening a new browser tab!

Bonfire helps Agile teams conduct exploratory tests and ensure they are delivering quality working software.

Issues from your iPhone app: JIRA Mobile Connect

JIRA Mobile Connect automatically creates JIRA issues when your iPhone app crashes. You can choose to include an annotated screenshot in addition to text and audio feedback. What's more, if you comment on the issue in JIRA, then the comment will show up in the app, and the app user can respond. And the best part - JIRA Mobile Connect is free for JIRA users!

Atlassian Bonfire and JIRA Mobile Connect are plugins that can be enabled from the Plugins section in JIRA Administration. To install and enable a plugin, follow these instructions:

  1. Click 'Administration' in the top navigation bar.
  2. Click on 'Plugins > Find New Add-ons'. 
  3. Browse recommended add-ons, or search for a specific add-on by name or category.
  4. Select the Free Trial or Install option to get started right away.