Kanboard
Simple visual task board for project management.
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Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.
What is Kanboard?
Kanboard is a free and open-source Kanban project management tool designed to help teams visualize workflows, track tasks, and improve productivity through simplicity and minimalism. Its primary purpose is to provide a visual representation of work processes, enabling users to manage projects by organizing tasks into columns that represent stages of completion. Ideal for software development, marketing, and personal task management, Kanboard addresses the challenge of maintaining focus by limiting work in progress (WIP) and offering clear task visibility. By emphasizing straightforward interfaces and avoiding unnecessary complexity, it caters to teams seeking efficient, no-frills project management without advanced features. Kanboard’s approach centers on adaptability and clarity. Users can customize boards with columns, tasks, and subtasks, while features like drag-and-drop functionality and search filters streamline task management. Its lightweight design ensures quick setup and minimal resource usage, making it accessible for both small teams and individuals. The tool prioritizes transparency by highlighting WIP limits and allowing real-time updates, which helps prevent multitasking and keeps projects aligned with goals. This focus on simplicity and visual clarity makes Kanboard a practical choice for teams aiming to streamline workflows without sacrificing flexibility.
How it works
Kanboard is a web-based Kanban tool that enables teams to manage projects by organizing tasks into a visual board with columns representing workflow stages. It emphasizes simplicity and minimalism, avoiding excessive features to maintain usability. The tool is particularly suited for teams that prioritize clear task visibility and workflow optimization without complex configurations. By providing a straightforward interface, Kanboard addresses common pain points in project management, such as unclear task statuses and fragmented workflows. Its core purpose is to help users stay focused on completing tasks by limiting work in progress and offering an intuitive way to track progress through drag-and-drop task movement. Kanboard allows users to create customizable Kanban boards with columns, tasks, subtasks, and attachments. Drag-and-drop functionality enables task reorganization between columns, while WIP limits highlight when teams exceed focus thresholds. Search and filter tools let users quickly locate tasks by assignees, due dates, or categories, enhancing efficiency.
How to use it
- 1Install Kanboard on a local server or cloud environment using PHP and MySQL. 2. Create a new board by defining columns such as 'To Do,' 'In Progress,' and 'Done.' 3. Add tasks to the board, breaking them into subtasks if needed, and assign due dates or categories. 4. Use drag-and-drop to move tasks between columns and apply WIP limits to maintain focus. 5. Utilize search filters to locate specific tasks or refine views based on criteria like assignees or deadlines. Practical tips include customizing column labels to match project phases, using comments for real-time updates, and leveraging the built-in query language for advanced filtering. Regularly reviewing WIP limits and adjusting board layouts ensures alignment with team goals.
What it can do
- Utility
Use cases
Assumptions and limitations
Assumptions
- source: https://github.com/kanboard
- license: MIT — free to use
- privacy: Opens an external demo
Limitations
- Lacks advanced analytics or Gantt chart capabilities compared to tools like Jira or Trello.
- Self-hosting requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance, which may deter non-technical users.
- Limited real-time collaboration features, such as live editing or comments, compared to cloud-based alternatives.
- No native mobile app; reliance on a web browser may hinder on-the-go task management.
- Minimal built-in reporting tools, requiring manual data aggregation for insights.
Understanding the result
Simple visual task board for project management.
Tool details
- Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
- No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
- Powered by kanboard (MIT).
- Built with
- kanboard (https://github.com/kanboard)
- License
- MIT
- Runs locally
- No — requires a network request
- Verification
- Not yet verified
- Input
- Text
- Output
- Output
Built with https://github.com/kanboard. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.
- Built with
- kanboard
- License
- MIT
Open-source project
OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.
References
- /kanboard — GitHub Repository
Upstream project · GitHub
- MIT License
Upstream project
Frequently asked
What is Kanboard and how does it differ from other project management tools?
Kanboard is a free, open-source Kanban tool focused on simplicity and minimalism, contrasting with tools like Trello or Jira that offer more complex features. It prioritizes visual task management through drag-and-drop boards and WIP limits, avoiding unnecessary complexity. Unlike Jira, it lacks advanced analytics, and compared to Trello, it offers fewer customization options for boards and workflows.
How does Kanboard handle task prioritization and workflow tracking?
Kanboard uses columns to represent workflow stages, with drag-and-drop enabling task reorganization. Users can set WIP limits to restrict the number of tasks in progress, preventing multitasking. Task prioritization is managed through due dates, categories, and manual sorting within columns. The built-in search and filter tools allow users to quickly locate tasks based on criteria like assignees or deadlines, ensuring visibility into project progress.
How do I add subtasks to a task in Kanboard?
To add subtasks, navigate to a task card and click the 'Add subtask' button. Enter the subtask description using Markdown syntax, assign it to a specific user, or set a due date. Subtasks appear as child items under the parent task, allowing for granular task breakdown. You can later edit, move, or delete subtasks independently while maintaining the parent task’s context.
How does Kanboard compare to Trello or Jira?
Kanboard differs from Trello by offering a more structured, minimalistic interface with WIP limits and fewer customization options. Unlike Jira, it lacks advanced issue tracking, custom fields, and integration with third-party tools. Kanboard is ideal for teams seeking simplicity, while Trello suits users who prefer flexible board layouts and Jira is better for complex project management with extensive reporting needs.
What should I do if I encounter a login error?
Login errors in Kanboard typically result from incorrect credentials or session issues. First, verify your username and password. If the problem persists, clear your browser cache and cookies, then reload the login page. For self-hosted installations, check server logs for database connection errors or PHP configuration issues. Ensure the MySQL service is running and the database credentials in the configuration file are correct.