Useful tools for a distributed delivery project

Continuing from my previous post where I discussed the approach we used during my first experience working on a distributed delivery project, I shall now discuss some of the tools that helped us with the same.

Tools used

Firebug plug-in for Firefox - This tool helped me immensely, especially when I was analyzing the re-design of the user interface (UI) design for the application. Since the analysis involved having new logos, contrasting color backgrounds, navigation & menu bars, tabs etc., I needed a tool which could help me do minor modifications to the application and demonstrate it to the client before we could finalize a design. Though I had created many prototypes for the same, we still needed to try various options with colors, spacing between tabs and placement of links/buttons amongst others. Considering the distributed nature of the project, I basically needed a tool which was simple enough for me to use and also do some minor modifications to the code and not having to rely always on the developers who were in Melbourne (it would have also delayed the analysis). I organized a workshop and invited all major stakeholders to discuss the new UI design for the application. Using the prototypes that I had created, we finalized the design layout and then using firebug, we could finalize more accurate details like the actual color codes to be used and the number of pixels between tabs (for spacing) etc.. This was of great help to the developers as it removed any ambiguity (which is of major concern when you are developing user interfaces). Thus the development and the actual sign-off process went ahead very smoothly. The client was very pleased with the final outcome.

Mingle – Used to capture all project related information within one single location which could then be accessed & updated by anyone involved with the project (including the clients). It was our virtual story wall which helped us to track the progress of the stories in real time. It was also used to record the environment details, team contact details, progress reporting, meeting minutes etc.
Another unique use of Mingle was using it for doing our iteration and project retrospectives. We set-up a project within Mingle just for Retrospectives and the team (both from Melbourne and Perth) used it to record their feedback within the various categories set-up within Mingle. We then discussed individual feedbacks over the phone (using a teleconference facility).

Video Conferencing – We used this facility mainly during showcases (at the end of each iteration) and important analysis sessions when we needed the involvement of the Melbourne staff (both client and TW). This is a very handy communication tool to use for distributed projects.