Items and the board

An item has an owner (a role), a state, a history, subtasks, a checklist and attached proof (a commit, a document, a link). Nothing moves by itself.

States. New, Taken, In progress, Blocked, In review, Done and Dropped (Deferred is not a state of its own, see below). “Backlog” is a list of items nobody takes yet. “Defer until…” (Tomorrow, In a week, or a date) parks an item with a reminder: at that time it returns to New and the lead is told; “Undo” takes it back. New in 0.11.0: the board has a column “Deferred” after Done, and Home has a group “Deferred” (“comes back on its date”).

Who accepts what. A specialist’s finished part goes to the lead first, who accepts it or sends it back; the board shows a child in review under its parent. An item comes to you in review when it is your own request, or when the lead hands it to you. It then shows in Home under “Accept work”.

Your part: Accept or Return. Open the card and press “Accept”, or “Return…” and say what to fix (a reason is required). For items in the backlog there are also “Send to work” and “To backlog”.

Your decision is recorded. Your accept or return is a click on the dashboard that harnsy records as your decision. If the lead has not recorded it, harnsy reminds the lead; after a while it also puts a row on your Home. Items waiting for you show in “Needs you” and in the bell.