Fast BugTrack vs. Alternatives
This bug tracking system usually revolves around a document, be it a
whiteboard, a word-processing document, or a spreadsheet. The primary
disadvantage of this system is that only a single person can update the
document at once. This means that you must either dedicate a single
individual to keeping the document up to date, or you must use the "baton"
method, in which users pass the document from user to user, where the
last person to be given the document can edit it, while others wait for
their turn.
Disadvantages of this system:
- Inefficient.
- Prone to error.
- Loss of history.
- System will not scale past 5 users.
As a development team grows, the team will often assign a new / junior member
of the team build a custom bug tracking solution. While this is an
excellent way to teach a team member web programming, the development process,
etc, it is probably not the best use of your organization's valuable resources.
The system produced will likely track bugs very well, but will likely be
missing critical features such as support for email notification or attachment
support. This resource will end up devoting a considerable amount of their
time maintaining / supporting their tool - this will quickly become
an unrewarding task. While the initial tool might be very good, it was
probably never designed with scalability in mind. Over time these issues
begin to catch up with an organization, leaving them in a state in which their
bugs are in an unmaintainable environment.
Disadvantages of this system:
- Resource intensive - over time this will begin to cost more than even
the most expensive bug tracking system.
- Likely not a robust / scalable solution.
- Likely missing critical features / requirements of the group.
"Alcea Fast BugTrack was up and running in 5 minutes,
and has saved us hundreds of dollars over trying
to run and maintain a free bug tracking system.
Its the smart way to go."
-- Cameron Elliott, Spamarrest LLC
Numerous bug tracking systems are available that are completely free. These
systems are used on very large projects, scale very well, and likely
include the critical features that make up a robust bug tracking system.
For a development organization that is willing to expend the resources to
install and maintain a free bug tracking system, this is likely the route to
go. While there is no formal organization to provide technical support, the
open source community is often very helpful in solving various technical
issues that might arise. All of this sounds very good. What's the catch?
The problem is that these systems are often built
on other technologies and frameworks that also must be installed and/or
maintained. For example Bugzilla needs Apache, MySql, Perl, and a local
SMTP server. A user who is familiar with Unix and/or is a system administrator
should be able to install this system. Non-technical users, or users whose
time is valuable to them, will need to look elsewhere for a robust solution.
We at Alcea have frequently worked with very technical development teams --
who know that they should be using a real bug tracking solution -- but
who have simply not had the time and/or resources to install a proper bug
tracking system and instead have resorted to the manual process. Fast
BugTrack is aimed at this group of users who need a bug tracking system
up and running in 15 minutes -- not 3 days later.
Disadvantages:
- Complex and time consuming installation process
- Keeping up with current versions of free solutions can become a fulltime
job.
- Lack of formal support structure.
"I do love this product! Unlike many of the much more expensive systems I've
worked with, that try to do too much, Alcea Fast BugTrack does one thing and doe
s it better. Simple and intuitive, what's not to love?"
-- Ernest Gautier, Quality Assurance Engineer, Medical Broadcasting Company
Other commercial solutions break down into 3 categories:
- Hosted solutions
- Thick client / server solutions
- Other web-based solutions
Hosted bug tracking solutions
If you are comfortable depending on another organization to maintain/host
your bug tracking solution.
Disadvantages:
- If the company goes out of business, is purchased, changes business
strategy, you are out of luck. This has never happened to a dot-com
company before - there is nothing to worry about - really.
- Monthly subscription fees are typically per user and can quickly exceed
the cost of an expensive bug tracking software package.
- Your bug tracking history is an important part of the software development
process. Do you use an external company to host your source code? Your
financial systems? Why count on an external organization to handle something
as important as your bug tracking system.
Thick client / server solutions
Disadvantages:
- Bug tracking system not available externally.
- Bug tracking system will work on a limited number of platforms. Users
on Linux, Mac, or other Unix systems will not have access to your bug tracking
system.
- Upgrading these systems can be difficult.
- Your internal technical support department will need to support a variety
of platform / client installation issues.
Other Web-based solutions
Disadvantages:
- For the most part are built on top of other packages - see Free Bug Tracking Systems for this discussion.
- Most of these systems charge per user - even though you are running just
a single server. This business model just doesn't make sense. Imagine if
the web server you were running had connections / user limitations. The system that you initially thought would be cost effective ends up being very expensive as your organization grows.
- Not platform independent - the server will run on Windows only, or Unix only. Your bug tracking system begins to drive your business' IT requirements.
- Rely on javascript and/or cookies - this defeats the purpose of choosing a web-based bug tracking system, because now all of your users can only use
web browser X to access the bug tracking system.
- Slow. The time required to access database X for every request bogs down
your server, slows your users, and limits your user's efficiency.
- Meets all of your business needs: Email Support, Attachments, Reports, Configurable.
- Will scale to meet the largest organizations bug tracking needs.
- No "per user" charges. Onetime cost, no hidden licensing fees - Save thousands and reduce administration and downtime.
- Fast and efficient. Designed from the ground up to be as fast as possible.
- Flexible and customizable.
- No external software dependencies - quick and easy to install and maintain.
- Short and simple installation process.
- A commercially supported product.
- Free upgrades for a year.
- Developed and supported by an established company.
- Fast BugTrack is constantly growing and improving. We listen to our
customers feedback, and work harder than anybody else to ensure that
our customers are happy.