Roundup Features

Roundup is a simple-to-use and -install issue-tracking system with web, e-mail and command-line interfaces. It is based on the winning design from Ka-Ping Yee in the Software Carpentry "Track" design competition.

simple to install
  • installation (including web interface) takes about 30 minutes
  • two templates included in the distribution for you to base your tracker on
  • doesn't need any additional support software - python (2.1+) is enough to get you going
  • easy to set up higher-performance storage backends like sqlite and metakit
  • the really impatient can try the instant-gratification Demo Mode (python demo.py)
simple to use
  • accessible through the web, email, command-line or Python programs
  • may be used to track bugs, features, user feedback, sales opportunities, milestones, ...
  • keeps a full history of changes to issues with configurable verbosity
  • issues have their own mini mailing list (nosy list)
highly configurable
  • web interface HTML is fully editable
  • database schema is also fully editable (only the "user" class is required) with a full set of data types (including dates and many-to-many relations) across all storages available
  • customised automatic auditors and reactors may be written that perform actions before and after changes are made to entries in the database
  • samples are provided for all types of configuration changes
fast, scalable
  • with the sqlite, metakit and mysql backends, roundup is also fast and scalable, easily handling thousands of issues and users with decent response times
  • indexed text searching giving fast responses to searches across all messages and indexed string properties
documented
  • documentation exists for installation, upgrading, maintenance, users and customisation
web interface
  • fully editable interfaces for listing and display of items
  • extendable to include wizards, parent/meta bug displays, ...
  • differentiates between anonymous, known and admin users
  • may be set up to require login, and may also only allow admin users to register new users
  • authentication of user registration and user-driven password resetting using email and one time keys
  • may be run through CGI as a normal cgi script, as a stand-alone web server, or through Zope
  • searching may be performed using many constraints, including a full-text search of messages attached to issues
  • file attachments (added through the web or email) are served up with the correct content-type and filename
  • email change messages generated by roundup appear to be sent by the person who made the change, but responses will go back through the nosy list by default
e-mail interface
  • may be set up using sendmail-like delivery alias, POP polling or mailbox polling
  • may auto-register users who send in mail and aren't known to roundup
  • nosy list configuration controls how people are added and when messages are sent to the list
  • auto-filing of "unformatted" messages into a particular class
  • e-mail attachments are handled sanely, being attached to the issue they're intended for, and forwarded on to the nosy list
  • sane handling of content-type and content-encoding of messages (text/plain preferred in all situations)
  • email packages that display threading will show issue messages correctly threaded
  • users may send in messages from multiple addresses and be associated with the same roundup username
  • built-in security features like TLS and APOP
command-line
  • may be used to interactively manage roundup databases
  • may be scripted using standard shell scripting
  • roundup's API may also be used by other Python programs - a sample is provided that runs once a day and emails people their assigned issues
  • a variety of sample shell scripts are provided (weekly reports, issue generation, ...)