Atlassian's Jira software cloud is now generally available

Jira software

Atlassian has launched its revamped Jira project management software with a completely overhauled user experience.

The company built the software from the ground up, including the architecture. Although there will still be a cloud version and a self-hosted version, they've now been split up into two separate version, each addressing the specific tools businesses need when developing apps for each environment.

Highlights of the Jira update include giving more autonomy to teams, rather than just focusing on the admins, lessening the pressure on those managing projects. Of course, admins are able to switch off features they don't want their teams to access or change, but that's pretty standard.

But just because Jira looks and works differently to its original version, doesn't mean those who love the software as it is will be put off. In fact, Atlassian understands that the classic version of Jira is very important exactly how it always has been for many.

"It's important to note that the next-gen experience will not replace our classic experience, which millions of users are happily using," Jake Brereton, head of marketing for Jira Software Cloud, told TechCrunch.

"The next-gen experience and the associated project type will be available in addition to the classic projects that users have always had access to. We have no plans to remove or sunset any of the classic functionality in Jira Cloud."

He added that the acquisition of Trello has had a real bearing on the way Jira has evolved. Buying the project management platform meant that Atlassian could understand how a wider net of users are managing projects, implementing the simplicity to its platform.

Cards can now be dragged and dropped across columns and columns themselves can be created much more easily than was previously possible. And like Trello, there are more integrations, including with Github, Bitbucket, InVision, Slack, Gmail and Facebook for Work.

The roadmaps features make it easy for teams to see where the project is going and that can be easily changed too, just by moving work around.

Clare Hopping
Freelance writer

Clare is the founder of Blue Cactus Digital, a digital marketing company that helps ethical and sustainability-focused businesses grow their customer base.

Prior to becoming a marketer, Clare was a journalist, working at a range of mobile device-focused outlets including Know Your Mobile before moving into freelance life.

As a freelance writer, she drew on her expertise in mobility to write features and guides for ITPro, as well as regularly writing news stories on a wide range of topics.