http://www.php-collab.org/
Submitted by Jean-Claude Cutter

phpCollab is a project management tool that has gone back to basics and is focusing on what really makes a project work. It was originally based upon Macromedia Sitespring, and has distinguished itself from other free project management tools due to its dual Client and Consultant areas. This system allows the client to lay out the project, and allows the consultants to add tasks, give deadlines and progress reports, allowing the client to see exactly what is going on and when. phpCollab is a web based system, and will run on a company's intranet, and has a surprisingly easy install procedure. The only issue in this area is that the client must then be given access to the consultants' servers, possibly posing a security risk.

Links of interest
Free Project Management Education
Death Of Gantt Charts?
Future Of Project Management Software

Technically phpCollab has some issues, its ability to export only as a CVS file means it is not always going to be platform compatible as well as limiting the amount of data that can be used in reports and updates. It does have some advanced features including "Scope Creep" which automatically displays the difference between estimates set by the consultant team and the actual amount, this is very useful, especially for the client to check up, as well as for the consultant teams to see where they are losing money.

phpCollab includes a bulletin board for both the clients and consultants so they can converse and talk about projects and ideas. Clients can also post new tasks as well as being able to edit ones already set. phpCollab also includes a small support system, loosely based on a traditional ticket system, clients can add tickets and the consultants can answer them. phpCollab also claim that the next release, version 2.5, will include invoicing and email features as well as the ability to export to PDF formats and issuing RSS feeds.

http://www.php-collab.org/

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at 7:08 am and is filed under Free PM Software.