How to Set Up a Kanban Board for Software Development?

How to set up a Kanban board for software development?

Set up a Kanban board by creating columns matching your workflow stages, setting WIP limits to prevent overload, configuring labels for task types, and enabling automation for status transitions. GitScrum provides pre-built templates with development-optimized columns, 1-15 WIP limits, auto-assign rules, and auto-archive after completion.

Step-by-step Kanban board setup:

1. Create your project - Name it and set visibility
2. Define workflow columns - Backlog → Ready → Development → Review → Testing → Done
3. Set WIP limits - Development: 2× team size, Review: 0.5× team size
4. Configure labels - bug, feature, tech-debt, urgent, blocked
5. Set up auto-assign - Review column: assign to senior dev
6. Enable column subscribers - PM gets notified when tasks hit Done
7. Configure auto-archive - Done tasks archive after 14 days
8. Add team members - Invite developers with appropriate permissions

Recommended column structure for development

Essential labels for development boards

GitScrum automation features

• Auto-assign users - Assign specific team members when task enters column
• Auto-assign labels - Apply labels automatically based on column
• Column subscribers - Email notifications for column activity
• Auto-archive - Remove completed tasks after 0-60 days
• WIP enforcement - Prevent adding tasks over column limit

Related articles

• What is Kanban for software development
• Why WIP limits matter for development teams
• How to use labels effectively in project management