Extend JIRA

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  1. Set up a JIRA site
  2. Add users
  3. Create a project
  4. Create an issue
  5. Search for issues and create reports
  6. Configure permissions
  7. Configure workflows and screens
  8. Extend JIRA

We are almost there! You have covered all the core concepts of JIRA, however we have only looked at the basics of what you can do with JIRA. In this stage, we will show you how to get the most out of your new JIRA site. This includes using JIRA on your mobile device, installing add-ons and integrating JIRA with other applications.

Some of these features are powerful but complex, so we will only show you how to get started, then point you to detailed documentation elsewhere. By the end of this stage, you should have a better idea of how you can extend JIRA to suit your team's needs.

Step 1. Use JIRA on the go

Simply browse to the URL for your JIRA OnDemand site, using the mobile browser on your iPhone or an Android phone. JIRA will display the mobile-optimised version of the page.


Step 2. Enable add-ons

Is your team using Scrum or Kanban? Do you manage timesheets and resources for the team? Does your team need better testing tools? Add-ons can help you extend JIRA to fit your needs.

An add-on (or plugin) is an installable component that supplements or enhances the functionality of JIRA in some way. In this step, we will show you how to enable add-ons. Let's start with the JIRA Suite Utilities add-on that adds a range of workflow-related functionality to JIRA.

  1. Navigate to the 'Manage add-ons' screen using the quick operation: . + manage add-ons.
  2. Choose JIRA Suite Utilities > Enable.

That's it! This is a free add-on, so you don't need a license to use it.

Next, let's add a commercial add-on: Atlassian's JIRA Agile add-on that turns JIRA into an Agile planning tool. Don't worry about the cost, you will get a one-month free trial and can cancel at any time.

Add-ons in JIRA OnDemand

You cannot install add-ons in JIRA OnDemand. However, a set of add-ons are bundled with JIRA OnDemand. You can enable any of these.

If you install your own JIRA instance, you can install any add-on from the Atlassian Marketplace or even build your own!

  1. Navigate to the 'Manage add-ons' screen using the quick operation: . + manage add-ons.
  2. Choose JIRA Agile > Free Trial.
  3. You will be redirected to my.atlassian.com. The 'Configure Your OnDemand Instance' page will show a JIRA Agile license for 10 users. Choose Apply Changes at the bottom of the page to add JIRA Agile to your site.
  4. You will be redirected back to your JIRA OnDemand site. JIRA Agile will be added (this may take a few minutes). Choose Get Started on the 'Licensed and Ready to Go' confirmation dialog to try it out when it is ready.

That's it! You may also want to enable other commercial plugins for JIRA, like JIRA Capture (bug reporting) or Tempo (timesheets).

Step 3. Add Confluence to your OnDemand site

JIRA helps your team manage a fundamental part of any project: tracking work. However, your team may also need help managing code, automating builds, organizing documentation, etc. JIRA seamless integrates with other Atlassian applications that help solve these problems.

In this step, we will show you how to add Confluence to your OnDemand site. Atlassian's Confluence is a wiki-based tool that helps your team create, share and collaborate on content (e.g. business requirements, software specifications, test plans, etc). Don't worry about the cost, you will get a one-month free trial and can cancel at any time.

  1. Log in to your my.atlassian.com account. This is the account that you created in the first stage of this tutorial.
  2. Find the Licenses section on the account page and choose the + (plus sign) of your Atlassian OnDemand subscription.
  3. In the Actions section, choose Configure Products & Users.
  4. Choose Start a Free Trial for Confluence to add a license for 10 users to your OnDemand site, and choose Apply Changes.

You have added Confluence to your OnDemand site (you may need to wait a few minutes). Try accessing it via https://<your_site_name>.atlassian.net/wiki/


Step 4. Integrate JIRA with a source control system

In this step, we will show you how to integrate JIRA OnDemand with Bitbucket: Atlassian's code hosting tool for Git and Mercurial. This will allow you to do things like see code commits in JIRA and move a JIRA issue through a workflow via commit messages. We are just going to show you how to connect the two services to get you started.

  1. Log in to your my.atlassian.com account. Start a free trial for Bitbucket, similar to how you started a free trial for Confluence in the previous step.
  2. You'll receive an email from Bitbucket inviting you to join the Bitbucket team linked to your JIRA OnDemand. Find it and click Join your new team.
  3. On the invitation page, sign up for a new Bitbucket account to join the team (or log in, if you already have a Bitbucket account).
    Your team account URL will be  https://bitbucket.org/<ondemand-account_name> or https://bitbucket.org/<ondemand-account_name>-ondemand (e.g. https://bitbucket.org/jira101).
  4. Check that JIRA OnDemand is connected to Bitbucket: In JIRA OnDemand, use the quick operation: . + dvcs accounts. You should see your Bitbucket account listed on the 'DVCS Accounts' screen.

JIRA and code hosting

If you have installed JIRA on your own servers, you may also want to consider integrating it with Stash: Atlassian's behind the firewall Git management for your source. Both downloadable JIRA and JIRA OnDemand also integrate with GitHub.

JIRA OnDemand to Bitbucket are now connected. You will need to do further configuration in Bitbucket to use it with JIRA effectively, such as add your team members to your Bitbucket team and create repositories. The full procedure is here: Getting started with Bitbucket and OnDemand (start at step 3).

What next?

So that's it — we hope this guide has helped you get a feel for JIRA. 

Your OnDemand trial is free for one month and then you have a couple of options:

  • Keep this OnDemand instance
    You don't need to do anything if you want to keep your OnDemand instance. When the evaluation expires your credit card will be charged and you can continue using your OnDemand site. You can manage your account at my.atlassian.com.  
  • Cancel your OnDemand trial
    Decided not to continue? You can cancel at any time during the first month.
    To cancel your OnDemand trial, log in to your my.atlassian.com account and choose Cancel evaluation for your Atlassian OnDemand Evaluation. This will include the JIRA, JIRA Agile, Confluence and Bitbucket licenses that you set up during this tutorial.

You can find more information about managing your OnDemand subscription at www.atlassian.com/licensing/ondemand

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Resources for topics covered in this guide

Last modified on Feb 21, 2018

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