Since early in 1979, I've used computer software for work, I've tested software for development teams, evaluated software to see if it could help me in my businesses, redesigned user interfaces, reviewed software for magazines, written about software in books. I've had a lot of exposure to software!

Over the years I've used literally thousands of different programs. I've seen the good, I've seen the bad. And most is bad. The average piece of software is, well, average, and average in the software business is pretty bad.

So it's a pleasure to run across a program that really knocks your socks off, a system that works so well, so much better than average, that it's a real eye-opener. That program for me right now is FogBugz (www.FogBugz.com). The publisher, Fog Creek Software, describes FogBugz as a "complete project management system designed to help software teams to communicate."

Wait! Before you non-developers leave, you should understand that Fog Creek undersells itself. FogBugz is a project-management system, and it's designed for software teams, but it's a great little tool for any team that has to work together closely on projects in which tasks are assigned, shared, switched between team members and so on.

I use FogBugz with software-development teams, but I also have an account that I use with my personal assistant, to help us keep track of tasks. In fact, Fog Creek provides free, hosted FogBugz accounts for two-person teams.

The core of the system is the ability to create tasks. Each task is a document, accessible through a Web browser. That document can contain text ("please do this for me ..."), pictures (snapshots of a problem with a program, for instance - FogBugz can take pictures of your screen and upload them to a task), or attached files (Word files, Excel files, zip files, whatever you want).

This task can be assigned to a particular project type, assigned to a team member, and given a priority - you can also create a due date, category, area, and so on. That team member will see a list of prioritized tasks and can add notes to it as can other team members. The "owner" of the task can even send e-mails from the task, and receive responses back to the task. When the task is completed - or at least ready to pass to another team member - then the task can be assigned to someone else, or set to a "resolved" status. The person creating the task can then review it and close it.



Not just for software teams

This is a fantastic tool for development teams; there are plenty of features specific to software development, of course, such as scheduling tools. There's also a wiki, in which you can store frequently used information, and discussion boards. But again, FogBugz is not just for software teams. Here's an example.

On my Web site I have a form that allows someone who wants to use my consulting service to contact me. This form actually sends the e-mail to FogBugz, and FogBugz automatically creates a new case for the e-mail and assigns that case to my assistant. My assistant can then contact that person, and enter notes into the case to keep track of anything that's discussed.

When an appointment is set up - my assistant creates a GoToMeeting link, sends a PayPal invoice, and schedules a time and date - she then closes the case. Until the case is dealt with, it's going to appear in her "to do" list, so it can't be forgotten.

I use FogBugz with my personal assistant for all sorts of tasks, both business and domestic: buy replacement bolts for my Thule ski rack (the case contains links to the Thule Web site, part numbers, and so on); pay the JurisPro advertising bill on a particular date (you can get reminders of scheduled cases); find a new tax accountant (the case can store names, numbers, and recommendations); send Client X an invoice; and so on. It's a fantastic way to keep track of literally thousands of tasks, both large and small, and the details associated with each.

There are, of course, a few little areas in which the software could be better; nothing's perfect, after all. But here's the amazing thing. When I e-mail Fog Creek saying, "Have you thought about adding this, or doing that?" within hours I get an e-mail from the company asking if I would talk with their developers to explain how my new feature or modification would work!

I've worked with hundreds of software-development teams over the years, and Fog Creek is by far the most responsive and indeed receptive. Criticize most pieces of software and the developers, or their filter, the tech-support team, will give you the cold shoulder; criticize FogBugz and the developers say, in effect, "tell me more."

Take it from someone who's used thousands of programs over thirty years, and hated most of them - this is a fantastic bit of software, built by a team that really cares about usability!



Peter Kent is an e-commerce consultant in Denver. He can be reached at www.PeterKentConsulting.com or GeekNews@PeterKentConsulting.com.