How We Write Tickets at Razroo

Product: The Full Gamut

Charlie Greenman
July 06, 2021
3 min read
razroo image

We use Gherkin Syntax for User Stories

Your classic user story looks something like this:

"As a <user>, I want <x> because <y>".

The issue with this approach is that a one-liner isn't as descriptive as we need. Therefore Razroo decided on Gherkin syntax which we like the most. Gherkin syntax looks like this:

  1. Scenario — a label for the behavior you’re going to describe
  2. Given — the beginning state of the scenario
  3. When — a specific action that the user takes
  4. Then — a testable outcome, usually caused by the action in When
  5. And — this continues any of the other three operators
Scenario: I want to share my work status with other users 
  Given we are all a part of the same organization
    And admin has signed us all up for the Razroo application
  When the user clicks on the "Message Team" button
    And clicks on the email input
  Then a dropdown of all users within org should appear

Super descriptive, and people know exactly what needs to be done.


Acceptance Criteria

In addition to using Gherkin syntax for user stories, Razroo also writes acceptance criteria to further solidify the task at hand. Here is how Razroo defines acceptance criteria.

Acceptance Criteria: Conditions that a software product must satisfy to be accepted by a customer.

Syntax for Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance criteria is jotted down as a stream of consciousness e.g.

AC:

  • Team members receive email when work status is shared.
  • Email includes team member's message
  • Email includes a link to team member current status page

That's it. Make sure that it's not too granular so that you give flexibility for design, engineers, QA etc. to be creative.


Within the realm of engineering this one is usually empty. Nonetheless jotting it down here, as it is important if there is a link to be attached to ticket.


Whether it be backend, or frontend software, it is important to attach a screenshot, so there is a way to visual the task at hand.

Jira allows for 3rd part plugins and we use that for both Miro + Zeplin. In rare scenarios, no Miro, or Zeplin will be available. In that scenario, include a screenshot.

Screen Shot 2021-07-06 at 8.31.55 PM.png


Three Guiding Principles

Precise Language

E.g. "Email includes message" <bad> vs "Email includes team member's message" <good>

Checklist Syntax

Make sure the ticket remains as a checklist. The ticket should as efficient as possible and not contain any personal messages. As soon as it deviates from a checklist type syntax, opens the can of worms for the ticket to really be anything.

As Small As Possible

Features are meant to be self-contained, and it's own stand-alone feature. If one of the tickets can be broken into smaller features, then the ticket is too large.

Subscribe to the Razroo Angular Newsletter!

Razroo takes pride in it's Angular newsletter, and we really pour heart and soul into it. Pass along your e-mail to recieve it in the mail. Our commitment, is to keep you up to date with the latest in Angular, so you don't have to.

More articles similar to this

footer

Razroo is committed towards contributing to open source. Take the pledge towards open source by tweeting, #itaketherazroopledge to @_Razroo on twitter. One of our associates will get back to you and set you up with an open source project to work on.