Redmine 6 is a significant upgrade to the popular open-source project management tool. This latest version brings a host of new features and enhancements that promise to streamline workflows and improve the overall user experience.
The CTO should weigh the potential benefits of a newer version against the potential costs and risks involved. We've outlined the importance of keeping Redmine up-to-date and the risks of outdated installations. Redmine 4.2 is no longer supported. Redmine 5.0.11 is the latest version of the 5.0 branch and will only receive security updates. .
Redmine Contributers
We're incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication of our talented contributors. Their efforts have significantly improved Redmine, making it an even more powerful and user-friendly tool. We encourage everyone to continue contributing to Redmine. Your ideas and code can help shape the future of the platform.
Redmine 6.0.0 was released on 11 November. Below we will briefly review the most noteworthy improvements for you to get a better idea whether it makes sense to upgrade to Redmine 6 or not.
New features and enhancements:
1. Estimated time remaining issue query column
The attached patch adds a column to the issue query that shows the estimated remaining time to completion, calculated from the estimated time and done ratio. The main use case here is to get a quick estimate of the remaining effort to complete a group of issues by adding this column to the query totals. (#37862)
2. Partial quoting feature for Issues and Forums
Currently, Redmine allows users to quote entire messages in issues and forums. However, this is inconvenient when users only want to quote part of a long message. This patch introduces the ability to quote selected parts of messages, improving usability when dealing with long texts. (#41294)
3. Add description field to custom queries
Especially for public queries, it would be really useful to have a simple description field to describe what the query shows and what it's used for. (#9309)
4. Add "Author / Previous assignee" group to assignee dropdown in issue form
It will be useful to be able to easily reassign the ticket to the previous assignee without having to scroll down the list to find them. (#16045)
5. Sidebar is collapsible and the state is saved in browser local storage
This adds a button to the sidebar to make it collapsible. The state is preserved between requests with a cookie.(#21808)
6. Add "User's group" and "User's role" filters to Spent time list
Currently, there is a filter for "User", but it would be beneficial to filter by the user's group or role as well.(#41053)
User Interface Improvements:
1. Improve table readability by adding row borders
Currently, tables for issues, time tracking and other sections use alternating row colours (odd-even stripes) for visual separation.
The new patch improves the readability of the table by adding horizontal borders between rows. This change provides a clearer visual separation between rows, making it easier to scan individual rows. (#41475)
We should say that RedmineUP has five themes with improved user interface and this new feature is already in our themes. They are compatible with all popular browsers and Retina display devices.
2. Improve readability by refining font sizes
This feature improves the readability of Redmine’s default theme by increasing the base font size and switching the font from Verdana to Noto Sans. The default theme's base font size was set at 12px, which is now too small on current high-resolution displays, resulting in poor readability. (#41321)
3. Improve header design with gradient background
The new feature slightly improves the visual design of the header by introducing a gradient background. The update replaces the static background colour with a linear gradient, providing a more modern look while retaining the feel of the current header design. (#41266)
4. Icons have been replaced with SVG icons provided by Tabler
Icon fonts have some advantages over traditional images as vector graphics, they are scalable and can be resized without losing quality and can be customised directly from CSS. (#23980)
5. Add placeholder "h:mm" to the hours field
While Redmine supports various time entry formats, “h:mm” is certainly the most common. Displaying this format as a placeholder could help users understand the expected input more easily and improve overall usability. (#2464)
Usability Improvements:
1. Support multiple multi-word phrases in the search engine
The search engine currently supports multiple multi-word phrases. (#38446)
2. View watchers on the issue list
Currently, you have to go to the issue details page to see the list of watchers. With the new update, Redmine will show the watchers for each issue in the issues list. (#29894)
3. Add column totals to Issues Summary Report
The Issue Summary reports (simple and detailed) have row totals but not column totals. You need both row and column totals to get all the information you need. This is now possible. (#691)
4. Introduce setting for done ratio options interval
The attached patch allows admins to change the options in the done ratio select box to 5% increments. ( #31756)
5. Add bulk lock/unlock feature to user list context menu
Currently, to lock multiple users, you have to select multiple users, click 'Delete' in the context menu, and then click 'Lock' at the bottom of the delete page. This is not intuitive. I suggest adding a bulk lock option directly in the context menu on the user list. (#40913)
6. Improve tracker deletion error message to display projects containing issues under the tracker
The error message when deleting a tracker now displays a list of projects that have issues under the tracker. (#12521)
Redmine upgrade alert
- Ruby Version Support: Ruby 2.7 and 3.0 are no longer supported.
- Asset Pipeline Integration: Propshaft has been integrated, which may impact plugin compatibility.
These changes could potentially lead to downtime or plugin malfunctions during the upgrade process. Please consider these factors carefully before upgrading to Redmine 6.
Do you lack in-house expertise for upgrade Redmine 6.0?
The most important consideration when updating Redmine is data integrity. It is therefore essential that a data migration plan, including a database backup, is completed by your organisation's CTO. Troubleshooting is an effective method of preparing for plugin conflicts.
We offer Redmine maintenance services. Redmine migration is usually completed within one business day, and performed in suitable time for your team, independent of your timezone. Our expert support ensures optimal setup for your self-hosted RedmineUP Enterprise on-premises edition. Skilled engineers consult on system requirements and guide you through the installation within your infrastructure.
We were spending too much time and resources on maintaining our Redmine system. Our team lacked the necessary Linux skills to keep it running smoothly, and updates were becoming a major headache. We considered upgrading Redmine internally, but the costs in terms of time and resources were prohibitive. Our team was already stretched thin, and we couldn't justify diverting attention from our core competencies. Jens Wegner, Net-wb GmbH.
At Crevier, Redmine is mission-critical for our project management. However, maintaining our own server was a drain on IT resources. We needed a solution with expertise in Redmine upgrades and plugin integration to ensure a smooth transition and continued functionality. Etienne Brault, IT Supervisor at Crevier.
To book the maintenance plan drop us a message. A team of experts will check your Redmine environment and recommend the best course of action.
