Just imagine a situation when you put so much efforts to build a software or application and release it and after that users get error or issues in it on the very first use. That’ it, all your efforts will be useless. So, testing is an important aspect which you can not miss in your “Software Development Life-cycle” (SDLC). But, for that you need some tools or I would say good tools, so that you can make sure you are going to give an error or bug free experience to your application or software end users.
But, there is one big challenge that you will face, How to choose or select best bug tracking tools? Don’t worry, I am going to make this task easy for you. I have done some research and make a list of top ten bug tracking tools which I am going share.
So, without any further delay, let’s check out
1. Bugzilla
Bugzilla is one of the most popular and trustable bug tracking software serving since 18 long years. It’s belongs to Mozilla Foundation and was released in the year 1998 and written in Perl. Bugzilla is open sourced and free to use.
Key Features
- Basic and advance search features with save & share options
- Notifications by Email
- Scheduled Reports by Email
- Advanced reporting system
- Auto Detection of Similar Bugs
- Patch Viewer which makes code review much easier
- Excellent Security
- Localization
- Move Bugs Between Installations without any manual work
- Request System where you can ask other users to do something with a particular bug or attachment
- Optimized database structure for increased performance and scalability
2. Mantis Bug Tracker
Mantis or Mantis BT is also an open source bug tracking tool. It’s is written in PHP and serving since 2000 almost for 17 years. It was first developed by “Kenzaburo Ito” and later by few others as a team project.
Key Features
- Easy to Install & Use
- No limit on the number of users, issues, or projects
- Email notifications
- Functionality can be extended by plugins
- Flexibility to customize issue fields, notifications and workflow
- Per project different access level for users
- Source Control Integration
- Easy collaboration with team members & clients
- Built-in Reporting
- Available in 68 localizations
3. Jira
Jira is a bug/issue tracking and project management tool which was developed by Atlassian, Inc. almost 15 years ago in the year 2002. It is written in Java. It’s available under commercial license but in few scenarios like official non-profit organizations, charities, academic or religious organizations you can use it for free.
Key Features
- Code Integration – automatically updating issues when they check in code
- Keep history of issues from either customers or bugs
- Multiple Workflows
- Easy to assign and prioritise the bug issue as per the importance and urgency
- Comprehensive Issue Reports
- Customizable Dashboard
- Bugs can be imported from a CSV file
- Trigger notifications allow auto informing to the next reviewer
- Addons availability like Capture for JIRA which allows backlog to release
4. Redmine
Redmine is an open source bug tracking tool which was developed by Jean Philippe Lang in the year 2006 (almost 10 yrs ago) and it is written in Ruby on rails.
Key Features
- Define you own statuses and issue types
- Workflow transitions can be set up for each issue type and role
- Feeds & email notifications
- Issue creation via email
- Multi Language support
- User self-registration support
- Time tracking functionality
5. Trac
Trac is also an bug tracking tool written in python and developed by Edgewall Software 13 years ago in the year 2004. It’s available as open source and as a BSD license product.
Key Features
- Resolve issues through multiple workflows
- Ticket Tracking
- Email notification
- Plugins support for standard functionality
- Customizable workflow
- Unicode Supported
- Code Integration
- Custom Fields
- Integrated wiki
- Collaboration – Create teams and groups
6. The Bug Genie
The bug Genie is an open source bug tracking tools which is developed by Daniel Andre Eikeland and later by there team in the year 2003. This bug tracking software is written in PHP and supports cross platforms. It is said that it is one of the most beautiful tool to use and having a great interface.
Key Features
- Easy to use
- Finding issues is simple and fast
- Customise search results
- Custom issue fields
- RSS support
- Issue-related actions are available with a click
- Integrated quick search
- Customizable workflow
7. Fossil
Fossil was first released 11 years ago in the year 2006. This is written in C, SQL and developed by D. Richard Hipp. It’s available under BSD license. Fossil also supports cross platforms
Key Features
- User friendly web interface
- Auto sync mode
- Custom Fields
- SUpports Multiple Projects
- RSS Notification interface
- Easy collaboration
- Ticket Change Artifacts
8. eTraxis
eTraxis is written in PHP and supports multi-database and multi languages. It is an open source bug tracking tool. Let’s check out eTraxis key features
Key Features
Complete customization of the workflow
Extensive permissions management
Allow Commenting
Email notifications
Flexible to set up your own filters & views
Supports attachments in reported issue
You can check out complete history of all events, actions, and changes
9. WebIssues
WebIssues is a multi platform open source issue tracking tool. It is written in PHP and works with MySQL database. It is amongst easy to use issue tracking softwares with some good features.
Key Features
- Tracking new and modified issues
- Filtering and searching issues
- Easy installation and setup
- Reports can be exported as HTML and PDF documents
- Issues can also be exported in CSV format
- Email notifications
- Periodic reports can be sent
- Security and rights management
- supports team collaboration
- Easy to Customize
10. HP ALM/ Quality Center
HP Quality center is written in .NET & Java which is developed by Hewlett-Packard (formerly Mercury Interactive). It was first released in the year 1995. It is a quality management tool with integrated bug tracking system. It’s available under commercial license but you can use free trial for few days.
Key features
- Test Planning integration
- Customizable workflow
- Custom Fields
- Plug Ins Availability
- Supports Multiple Projects
- Web, GUI & Rest input interface
- Email Notifications
- Reporting and graphing
- Collaboration – supports working in common integrated development environments
So, That’s it. These are most popular bug tracking tools used in software industry these days. Hope my efforts will help while choosing the bug/issue tracking tool. But, now it’s your turn. If you think any other tool should be listed here instead of this than please share with us in the comment section below.
