MDN/Development/Process: Difference between revisions

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Version: 0.1-pre
Version: 0.2
 
<div class="toclimit-3">__TOC__</div>


== Purpose ==
== Purpose ==


The MDN team plans to adopt Kanban to manage its work. The team feels that Kanban better fits its style of working and provides benefits that align with current goals.
The MDN team uses Kanban to manage its work. The team feels that Kanban better fits its style of working and provides benefits that align with current goals.


This document describes and early, minimum viable Kanban process. The team will use and refine this process over time. When the process reaches a certain level of maturity, the team will request feedback more widely and use that feedback to formalize a process that all stakeholders are pleased with.
This document describes an early, minimum viable Kanban process. The team will use and refine this process over time. When the process reaches a certain level of maturity, the team will request feedback more widely and use that feedback to formalize a process that all parties are satisfied with.


== Overview ==
== Overview ==


Users and other stakeholders can request changes to the MDN at any time using the [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/form.mdn Mozilla Developer Network Feedback] form. The MDN Project Manager occasionally reviews these requests and decides which ones the team should complete based user and stakeholder feedback. For each of these, a new Kanban card is created and added to a phase called ''Selected''. Over time, these cards move out of ''Selected'' and through five other phases in order: ''Design'', ''Technical research'', ''Development'', ''Review & QA'' and ''Released''.
Users and other stakeholders can request changes to the MDN at any time using the [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/form.mdn Mozilla Developer Network Feedback] form. The MDN Project Manager occasionally reviews these requests and, based on stakeholder feedback, decides which ones the team should complete. For each of these, a new Kanban card is created and added to a phase called ''Selected''. Over time, these cards move out of ''Selected'' and through four other phases in order: ''Design'', ''Development'', ''Review & QA'', and ''Released''.


The team uses Kanbanery and Bugzilla to manage this process. Each Kanbanery card references the Bugzilla bug (created by the ''Mozilla Developer Network Feedback'' form) that describes the original request. During development, the bug is used to collaborate and share progress. For example, the team might use the bug to share mock-ups or hold technical discussions.
The team uses Kanbanery and Bugzilla to manage this process. Each Kanbanery card refers to the Bugzilla bug (created by the ''Mozilla Developer Network Feedback'' form) that describes the original request. The team uses the bug to collaborate as progress is made. For example, the team might use the bug to share designs or hold technical discussions.


When the ''Ready criteria'' are met for a phase (see the section [[#Phases|Phases]]), the card is marked as ''Ready'' in Kanbanery. At any point, a team member working in the next phase can pull a ''Ready'' card into his phase and begin working on it. Phases are occasionally skipped. For example, a card that describes a technical change that has no direct impact on design can skip the ''Design'' phase. When this happens, the team member who skips the phase updates the bug with a written justification.
When a phase is completed (see the section [[#Phases|Phases]]), the card is marked as ''Ready'' in Kanbanery. At any point, a team member working in the next phase can pull a ''Ready'' card into his phase and begin working on it. Phases are not skipped when a card is moved. If a phase is not required for a given card, the group responsible for that phase simply marks the card as ''Ready'' immediately after it is pulled in.


All requests go through this process. The team can elect to work on any requests that interest them, but they are first approved by the Project Manager (to ensure they balance with other priorities) and go through the same phases (to ensure quality).
All requests go through this process. The team can elect to work on any requests that interest them, but they are first approved by the Project Manager (to ensure they fit with other priorities) and go through the same phases (to ensure quality).


== Phases ==
== Phases ==
Line 23: Line 21:
=== Selected ===
=== Selected ===


==== Activity ====
One card is added to this phase for each change that should be completed soon.
 
One card is added to this phase for each change that should be completed. Cards are roughly prioritized by the Project Manager.


=== Design ===
=== Design ===


==== Activity ====
The team collaborates on a detailed design for the change. The card is marked as ''Ready'' after a designated person (or group) signs off on a design.
 
The team iterates on a visual design and a written description of behavior.
 
==== Ready criteria ====
 
* A Photoshop document (.psd) or very detailed mock-up has been shared
* A written description of behavior has been shared
* A designated person (or group of people) has signed off on these assets
 
=== Technical research ===
 
==== Activity ====
 
The team researches technical solutions to implementing the change.
 
==== Ready criteria ====
 
* The team has determined how the change will be implemented. A written record of this can be helpful, but is not always necessary.


=== Development ===
=== Development ===


==== Activity ====
The development team implements the change. The card is marked as ''Ready'' after a pull request is submitted for the change.
 
The team implements the change.
 
==== Ready criteria ====
 
* A pull request for the change has been submitted


=== Review & QA ===
=== Review & QA ===


==== Activity ====
The development team completes a code review and a spot check. Sometimes, additional quality assurance is completed and sign-off is requested from the person (or group) who signed off on the design. The card is marked as ''Ready'' when the team is confident that the change works as designed.


The team completes a code review, a spot check, acceptance testing and (as needed) additional quality assurance.
=== Released ===


==== Ready criteria ====
The change has been released to the production server.


* The code has been reviewed by a developer
== Card Management ==
* The change has been spot-checked by a developer
* The change has been approved by the same person (or group of people) who approved the design
* The change has been merged, and can be pushed at any time


=== Released ===
=== Work in Progress Limits ===
 
==== Activity ====


The team pushes the change to staging and production. The card is moved into the ''Released'' phase and the corresponding bug is marked as RESOLVED:FIXED.
The team uses Work in Progress (WIP) limits to control the amount of work being done at a given time. A card is not pulled into a new phase if this limit has already been reached.


== Card Management ==
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: transparent"
! scope="col"| Phase
! scope="col"| WIP Limit
|-
|Selected
|3
|-
|Design
|3
|-
|Development
|5
|-
|Review & QA
|3
|}


=== Work Types ===
=== Work Types ===
Line 90: Line 72:
=== Size ===
=== Size ===


Every ''Selected'' item is estimated on a t-shirt scale, with the choices ''X-Small'', ''Small'', ''Medium'', ''Large'', and ''X-Large''. The team collects information about how long each size of request usually takes to complete, and uses this information to communicate expected dates of delivery to stakeholders.
Cards are roughly equal in size. If a request seems particularly big, the MDN Project Manager works with the team to break it down before a Kanban card is created to represent it.


Changes that are especially large are broken down so that stakeholders can see progress and share feedback within a reasonable amount of time.
=== Assignment ===


=== Assignment ===
Every card is assigned to someone in Kanbanery, with the exception of cards in the ''Selected'' phase. Assignment is self-directed. The person assigned to a card is not necessarily the only person working on it, but the person ultimately responsible for ensuring that the card becomes ''Ready''.


Every card is assigned to someone in Kanbanery, with the exception of cards in the ''Selected'' phase. Assignment is self-directed. The person assigned to a card is not necessarily the only person working on it, but the person ultimately responsible for ensuring the ''Ready criteria'' are met.
When a person is no longer working on a card, she changes the assignee to ''nobody''. At any point, another team member can assign one of these cards to herself and begin working on it.


=== Deadlines ===
=== Deadlines ===
Line 104: Line 86:
=== Subtasks ===
=== Subtasks ===


Team members are encouraged, but not required, to use the ''Subtask'' feature of Kanbanery to break their work into more manageable pieces. Subtasks are only used to track work in the current phase.
The team is strongly encouraged, but not required, to use the ''Subtask'' feature of Kanbanery to break work into more manageable pieces.


=== Blockers ===
=== Blockers ===


If a card cannot move to the next phase until some work is done, that work is marked as a ''Blocker'' in Kanbanery. The Blocker might be another card, the address of a WebOps bug or just a written description of the impediment.
If a card cannot move forward until some other work is done, that other work is marked as a ''Blocker'' in Kanbanery. The blocker might be another card, the address of a Bugzilla bug, or even just a written description of the impediment.
 
=== Work in Progress Limits ===
 
Work in progress limits are managed informally. The team only pulls a card into a new phase when there are sufficient resources available in that phase.


== Planning and Retrospective meeting ==
== Planning and Retrospective Meeting ==


The development team, Product Manager, Project Manager and interested users meet every two weeks to discuss process improvements and review the state of development.
The development team, Product Manager, Project Manager and interested users meet every two weeks to discuss process improvements and review the state of development.
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=== Visual Overview ===
=== Visual Overview ===


The [https://mdn.kanbanery.com/projects/32137/board/?key=0383ba5f05e165e0eb19d8476654fe9775ce2ca7 best indication of progress] is the visual overview provided by the team kanban board.
The [https://mdn.kanbanery.com/projects/32137/board/?key=0383ba5f05e165e0eb19d8476654fe9775ce2ca7 best indication of progress] is the visual overview provided by Kanbanery.


=== Written Overview ===
=== Written Overview ===


The team communicates [http://standu.ps/project/mdndev more detailed progress] using Standup.
The team sometimes communicates [http://standu.ps/project/mdndev more detailed progress] using Standup.


=== Notifications ===
=== Notifications ===


The team publishes several RSS feeds that interested parties can subscribe to for notifications about progress.
The team publishes several RSS feeds that stakeholders can subscribe to for notifications about progress. Remember that information might change by the time you receive the notification. Always click through the notification or consult [https://mdn.kanbanery.com/projects/32137/board/?key=0383ba5f05e165e0eb19d8476654fe9775ce2ca7 the board] for the most up-to-date information.


* [http://bit.ly/mdn-dev-rss-all All team progress]
* [http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=a3d378990547aff38f71f3874fb99b73&_render=rss All team progress]
* [http://bit.ly/mdn-dev-rss-ready Cards that have passed ''Ready criteria'' and can be pulled into a new phase]
* [http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=635225e2ec8e20390f63d44e2bf52dc0&_render=rss Changes that are ''Ready'' to be pulled into the next phase]
* [http://bit.ly/mdn-dev-rss-blockers Blockers that have been resolved]
* [http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=31bcc67c8ed29426bd10e889850332a0&_render=rss Changes that are being designed]
* [http://bit.ly/mdn-dev-rss-being-designed Cards that are being actively designed]
* [http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=de2003d8825b98844ceacda135a3ffcb&_render=rss Changes that have moved into a new phase]
* [http://bit.ly/mdn-dev-rss-new-phase Cards that have moved into a new phase]
* [http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=5cf8dd8eb931c1494aa8f9bc954a1dac&_render=rss Changes that have been released]
* [http://bit.ly/mdn-dev-rss-released Changes that have been released]

Revision as of 00:05, 7 March 2013

Version: 0.2

Purpose

The MDN team uses Kanban to manage its work. The team feels that Kanban better fits its style of working and provides benefits that align with current goals.

This document describes an early, minimum viable Kanban process. The team will use and refine this process over time. When the process reaches a certain level of maturity, the team will request feedback more widely and use that feedback to formalize a process that all parties are satisfied with.

Overview

Users and other stakeholders can request changes to the MDN at any time using the Mozilla Developer Network Feedback form. The MDN Project Manager occasionally reviews these requests and, based on stakeholder feedback, decides which ones the team should complete. For each of these, a new Kanban card is created and added to a phase called Selected. Over time, these cards move out of Selected and through four other phases in order: Design, Development, Review & QA, and Released.

The team uses Kanbanery and Bugzilla to manage this process. Each Kanbanery card refers to the Bugzilla bug (created by the Mozilla Developer Network Feedback form) that describes the original request. The team uses the bug to collaborate as progress is made. For example, the team might use the bug to share designs or hold technical discussions.

When a phase is completed (see the section Phases), the card is marked as Ready in Kanbanery. At any point, a team member working in the next phase can pull a Ready card into his phase and begin working on it. Phases are not skipped when a card is moved. If a phase is not required for a given card, the group responsible for that phase simply marks the card as Ready immediately after it is pulled in.

All requests go through this process. The team can elect to work on any requests that interest them, but they are first approved by the Project Manager (to ensure they fit with other priorities) and go through the same phases (to ensure quality).

Phases

Selected

One card is added to this phase for each change that should be completed soon.

Design

The team collaborates on a detailed design for the change. The card is marked as Ready after a designated person (or group) signs off on a design.

Development

The development team implements the change. The card is marked as Ready after a pull request is submitted for the change.

Review & QA

The development team completes a code review and a spot check. Sometimes, additional quality assurance is completed and sign-off is requested from the person (or group) who signed off on the design. The card is marked as Ready when the team is confident that the change works as designed.

Released

The change has been released to the production server.

Card Management

Work in Progress Limits

The team uses Work in Progress (WIP) limits to control the amount of work being done at a given time. A card is not pulled into a new phase if this limit has already been reached.

Phase WIP Limit
Selected 3
Design 3
Development 5
Review & QA 3

Work Types

Cards are grouped into three different work types.

  • Bug
  • New feature
  • Change to existing feature

Size

Cards are roughly equal in size. If a request seems particularly big, the MDN Project Manager works with the team to break it down before a Kanban card is created to represent it.

Assignment

Every card is assigned to someone in Kanbanery, with the exception of cards in the Selected phase. Assignment is self-directed. The person assigned to a card is not necessarily the only person working on it, but the person ultimately responsible for ensuring that the card becomes Ready.

When a person is no longer working on a card, she changes the assignee to nobody. At any point, another team member can assign one of these cards to herself and begin working on it.

Deadlines

The Deadline feature of Kanbanery is used to highlight changes that have hard deadlines. The team and Project Manager pay special attention to these cards to ensure they are completed on time.

Subtasks

The team is strongly encouraged, but not required, to use the Subtask feature of Kanbanery to break work into more manageable pieces.

Blockers

If a card cannot move forward until some other work is done, that other work is marked as a Blocker in Kanbanery. The blocker might be another card, the address of a Bugzilla bug, or even just a written description of the impediment.

Planning and Retrospective Meeting

The development team, Product Manager, Project Manager and interested users meet every two weeks to discuss process improvements and review the state of development.

Tracking Progress

Visual Overview

The best indication of progress is the visual overview provided by Kanbanery.

Written Overview

The team sometimes communicates more detailed progress using Standup.

Notifications

The team publishes several RSS feeds that stakeholders can subscribe to for notifications about progress. Remember that information might change by the time you receive the notification. Always click through the notification or consult the board for the most up-to-date information.