January 10, 2013 at 17:53How valuable is your time? YouTrack and Pomodoro will help you find out.
Today we will talk about the Pomodoro method and how it is supported by YouTrack . You will learn how effective a custom workflow can be and how creative you can get to using it.
As you already know, we have implemented time management in YouTrack 4.1 . Our clients sent a lot of useful feedback and ideas for improvement, among them was a request for the implementation of the popular time management method developed by Francesco Cyrillo in the 1980s. Fortunately, this method also allows you to demonstrate the effectiveness of custom workflow in YouTrack.
So what is the Pomodoro method?
Pomodoro (Italian tomato)) Is a popular method of tracking and time management, which allows you to determine how much effort is required to complete a specific task, as well as understand what exactly interrupts your work and prevents you from concentrating. This approach eliminates distractions, increases productivity and makes time your ally.
How does Pomodoro work?
Everything is very simple: you divide the task execution time into equal segments, the so-called "pomodoro".
Using this method on a regular basis, pomodoro helps you track how you work, make time calculations more accurate, and increase efficiency.
This is just a brief description of the method. If you want to know more about it, go to the official website .
How the Pomodoro Method is Implemented in YouTrack
As mentioned earlier, the Pomodoro method is implemented through the custom workflow pomodoroTimer . It contains three rules that work as follows:
1. The state machine determines the transition of pomodoro from one state to another. The beauty of this rule is that for each completed or interrupted pomodoro YouTrack automatically adds a time record. In this way, YouTrack keeps a record of your work on a specific task.
2. A rule that actually starts the timer and starts counting down 25 minutes.
3. A rule that prohibits changing the reason for the suspension (field "Pomodoro suspension") without stopping the timer.
Workflow pomodoroTimer uses three additional task fields. You do not need to create new fields, since the workflow itself will do it after you import it:
1. Pomodoro state — Pomodoro state — a field of type state [1] with the following values:
Timer's running, Timer finished, On a break, Not set. “Not set” is the default value.
2. Pomodoro interruption (Pomodoro Suspension) - a field of type enum [1] with the following values:
Phone call (phone call), Boss interrupted (conversation with the boss), Urgent email (urgent letter), Facebook chat (correspondence in social networks).
You can add any reasons for the suspension to this list. (Nothing can be specified in the field, then workflow will use an empty default value.)
3. Pomodoro countdown (Pomodoro count) - an integer type field for the timer.
If you want to study all this in more detail, look at this task , take workflowpomodoroTimer.zip and upload it to the workflow editor ( download here ). You will quickly figure out what's what, as the rules do not require additional description.
If you just want to include wokrflow PromodoroTimer in your project, do the following:
1. Make sure that the Time Tracking function is active in this project.
2. Download pomodoroTimer and import it into your YouTrack project through Administration -> Projects -> 'Project Name' -> Workflow part.
3. You will see how workflow rules are highlighted. Click these rules and apply all the suggested quick fixes:
All necessary task fields and their values will be automatically created and attached to your project.
If you haven’t yet worked with custom workflows in YouTrack, check out the Workflow Guide and watch this short video . An impressive worfklow repository is presented to your attention , in it you will find examples of previously created workflows with which you can experiment.
In conclusion, it is worth adding that if you use the Pomodoro method in YouTrack, the automatic tracking of working hours will be an additional advantage for you. If not, you have learned how to adapt YouTrack to your operating mode with minimal effort, as well as how to implement automatic time tracking using workflow in YouTrack. Use this opportunity for anything that requires time tracking - at least for yoga!
Keep track of your time with Pomodoro and YouTrack!
~ Your JetBrains YouTrack Team
As you already know, we have implemented time management in YouTrack 4.1 . Our clients sent a lot of useful feedback and ideas for improvement, among them was a request for the implementation of the popular time management method developed by Francesco Cyrillo in the 1980s. Fortunately, this method also allows you to demonstrate the effectiveness of custom workflow in YouTrack.
So what is the Pomodoro method?
Pomodoro (Italian tomato)) Is a popular method of tracking and time management, which allows you to determine how much effort is required to complete a specific task, as well as understand what exactly interrupts your work and prevents you from concentrating. This approach eliminates distractions, increases productivity and makes time your ally.
How does Pomodoro work?
Everything is very simple: you divide the task execution time into equal segments, the so-called "pomodoro".
- A traditional pomodoro lasts 30 minutes: 25 minutes of work, then a 5-minute break.
- Every four pomodoro, a long break is allowed - from 15 to 30 minutes.
- The principal feature is that pomodoro cannot be interrupted or divided into parts. 25 minutes in a row must be strictly devoted to work.
- If the inevitable need arises to interrupt, you need to stop the pomodoro and record the reason for the suspension.
Using this method on a regular basis, pomodoro helps you track how you work, make time calculations more accurate, and increase efficiency.
This is just a brief description of the method. If you want to know more about it, go to the official website .
How the Pomodoro Method is Implemented in YouTrack
As mentioned earlier, the Pomodoro method is implemented through the custom workflow pomodoroTimer . It contains three rules that work as follows:
1. The state machine determines the transition of pomodoro from one state to another. The beauty of this rule is that for each completed or interrupted pomodoro YouTrack automatically adds a time record. In this way, YouTrack keeps a record of your work on a specific task.
2. A rule that actually starts the timer and starts counting down 25 minutes.
3. A rule that prohibits changing the reason for the suspension (field "Pomodoro suspension") without stopping the timer.
Workflow pomodoroTimer uses three additional task fields. You do not need to create new fields, since the workflow itself will do it after you import it:
1. Pomodoro state — Pomodoro state — a field of type state [1] with the following values:
Timer's running, Timer finished, On a break, Not set. “Not set” is the default value.
2. Pomodoro interruption (Pomodoro Suspension) - a field of type enum [1] with the following values:
Phone call (phone call), Boss interrupted (conversation with the boss), Urgent email (urgent letter), Facebook chat (correspondence in social networks).
You can add any reasons for the suspension to this list. (Nothing can be specified in the field, then workflow will use an empty default value.)
3. Pomodoro countdown (Pomodoro count) - an integer type field for the timer.
If you want to study all this in more detail, look at this task , take workflowpomodoroTimer.zip and upload it to the workflow editor ( download here ). You will quickly figure out what's what, as the rules do not require additional description.
If you just want to include wokrflow PromodoroTimer in your project, do the following:
1. Make sure that the Time Tracking function is active in this project.
2. Download pomodoroTimer and import it into your YouTrack project through Administration -> Projects -> 'Project Name' -> Workflow part.
3. You will see how workflow rules are highlighted. Click these rules and apply all the suggested quick fixes:
All necessary task fields and their values will be automatically created and attached to your project.
If you haven’t yet worked with custom workflows in YouTrack, check out the Workflow Guide and watch this short video . An impressive worfklow repository is presented to your attention , in it you will find examples of previously created workflows with which you can experiment.
In conclusion, it is worth adding that if you use the Pomodoro method in YouTrack, the automatic tracking of working hours will be an additional advantage for you. If not, you have learned how to adapt YouTrack to your operating mode with minimal effort, as well as how to implement automatic time tracking using workflow in YouTrack. Use this opportunity for anything that requires time tracking - at least for yoga!
Keep track of your time with Pomodoro and YouTrack!
~ Your JetBrains YouTrack Team
