Pros and Cons of 8 Popular Bug Management Tools

Kualitee, Axosoft, Bugzilla, Fossil etc - the list of bug management tools is endless. Bug management tools track defects in software. We examine the pros and cons of six such tools listed below:

Kualitee

Axosoft

Pros:

• It is good for agile projects with features like Scrum burndown charts, daily scrum mode and sprint planning.

• It integrates with software like GitHub and Zendesk.

Cons:

• It is slow to setup.

• User interface is confusing as filters are applied without the user being able to know why this is the case.

Bugzilla

Pros:

• There is a wide range of useful features. There are multiple search options as well as add-ons for project management tools.

• Informative reports and training materials are available. This facilitates communication between team members.

• It has a clear way to solve errors. There are several formats for the bug list. Bugs are moved between installations.

Cons:

• It works slowly. The server load is low, which pushes away users who look for rapidly responsive software.

• User interface is unattractive. Custom options are limited.

Fossil

Pros:

• It supports wiki and project management.

• Its main focus is on version control, allowing comparison of files and merging of changes.

• It has a built-in web interface.

Cons:

• It is complex to use for non-professionals.

JIRA

Pros:

• With a vast array of features, its use extends beyond the software industry. JIRA can be employed for agile projects as it supports collaborative tools.

• Documentation is maintained for repeat references.

• It integrates with code developing environments, facilitating the developers. It can be combined with Slack and IFTT software.

Cons:

• Features are incomplete, requiring plug-ins that cause delays in setup and additional costs.

• The software has too many features that are not required often.

• User interface is inconvenient to use.

• It is slow. According to Atlassian Summit Europe 2018 keynote speaker, a customer had 124,000 issues in the backlog.

Mantis

Pros:

• It is easy to install.

• It works fast.

• It supports main platforms like Linux, Windows, Mac.

• There are plenty of custom fields, supporting more users and projects.

Cons:

• There is no automatic tracking.

• The user interface is overly simple and monotonous.

• Opportunity to make reports is absent.

• Only one screenshot can be added at a time. This slows down the pace for the tester.

Redmine

Pros:

• It has versatile features including Gantt chart and calendar.

• It allows project management teams in creation of wikis, news and documents with full details. Users can use custom fields to suit their needs.  

• Multiple projects can be managed at one time.

• E-mail integration is easy to set up. Users receive notifications as issues are created and updated.

Cons:

• Uploading large files (more than 5 MB) is not possible.

Trac

Pros:

• It supports main platforms like Linux, Windows, Mac.

• Management of progress is convenient.

Cons:

• It is complex to install this tool.

• It does not support multiple projects.