Git and GitHub Support in JetBrains YouTrack

I recently had the chance to get a demo of JetBrains products’ Git integration and to meet some of the JetBrains development team in person at Øredev in Malmö, Sweden.

I love seeing things integrate better with the GitHub API. It really is fantastic to see what is possible when a rich Internet application additionally becomes a platform for apps that extend the core value proposition. GitHub has executed on this quite well with their API, now at version 3.0 and with features like gist, repo, user, and even organization management.

I like to keep abreast of just about everything that happens in the Git world, and the JetBrains folks certainly as very active there. The JetBrains issue tracking tool, YouTrack, makes extensive use of the GitHub API and has much in the way of Git love. I’ve been pointing folks at the YouTrack overview video if they want a quick summary and the integration demo, if the GitHub facet is the attraction.

It is always fun to ask a vendor for their view of what’s important and what’s next. The JetBrains team said (paraphrased):

1. Keyboard-centric approach: All common actions have handy shortcuts.
2. Smart issue search: Search with queries similar to everyday language aided by completion and highlighting. For example, type for me unresolved to filter down to open issues assigned to me.
3. Batch modification commands similar to search queries: Select multiple issues and resolve them all by typing fixed assignee Matthew
4. Report from everywhere: You can report issues via email or any third party application via a REST API.
5. Full customization: You can define and use new attributes for your bug tracking and create workflows using a YouTrack workflow editor with a domain-specific language.
6. Integration with VCSs via TeamCity and native integration with GitHub: You can specify an Issue ID and command to be applied to the issue right from commit comment. No opening the bug tracker just to change a bug state.
7. REST API to perform any action programmatically: Complex actions like administration, issue tracking, and user management all have good treatment in the API which means tools can extend the tool if necessary.
8. Import from other bug trackers: History can be imported from any issue tracker using the YouTrack Client Python library. There are even some ready to use scripts to import from the most popular trackers like JIRA, FogBugz, Mantis, and Bugzilla.
9. Constant innovation with transparency: The roadmap is public and agile project management is the next big focus.

More Git-integrating tool reviews are being planned. Stay tuned.