# Kanboard — Minimalist Kanban Project Management

> Kanboard is a free and open-source Kanban project management tool focused on minimalism, productivity, and getting things done without unnecessary complexity.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Kanboard — Minimalist Kanban Project Management

## Quick Use
```bash
docker run -d --name kanboard 
  -p 8080:80 
  -v /path/to/data:/var/www/app/data 
  -v /path/to/plugins:/var/www/app/plugins 
  kanboard/kanboard:latest
# Default login: admin / admin
```

## Introduction
Kanboard is a minimalist Kanban project management tool designed for individuals and small teams who want a simple way to visualize work. It focuses on doing one thing well: managing tasks on a Kanban board with swimlanes, WIP limits, and Gantt charts, all without the bloat of enterprise project management suites.

## What Kanboard Does
- Provides a visual Kanban board with drag-and-drop task cards and swimlanes
- Enforces work-in-progress limits per column to reduce multitasking
- Supports Gantt charts, calendar views, and cumulative flow diagrams
- Includes task automation with triggers and automatic actions
- Offers a plugin system with 50+ community plugins for extended functionality

## Architecture Overview
Kanboard is a PHP application that uses SQLite by default with optional MySQL or PostgreSQL backends. It runs on Apache or Nginx with PHP-FPM. The frontend is server-rendered HTML with vanilla JavaScript for interactive elements. The plugin architecture allows extending functionality without modifying core code. A JSON-RPC API enables programmatic access to all features.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy via Docker with volumes for persistent data and plugins
- Uses SQLite by default for zero-configuration database setup
- Switch to MySQL or PostgreSQL by editing config.php for multi-user production use
- Install plugins by dropping them into the plugins directory or via the UI
- Configure LDAP, OAuth, or reverse proxy authentication for SSO

## Key Features
- Work-in-progress limits per column to enforce flow-based productivity
- Automatic actions triggered by task events like moves, assignments, and due dates
- Gantt chart and calendar views for timeline-based project planning
- JSON-RPC API for scripting, automation, and external tool integration
- Subtasks, time tracking, and task relations for detailed work breakdown

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **WeKan** — More Trello-like with teams focus; Kanboard is leaner and more individual-focused
- **Trello** — Cloud-based freemium; Kanboard is fully self-hosted with no usage limits
- **Planka** — Modern UI for team boards; Kanboard emphasizes minimalism and WIP limits
- **Taiga** — Full agile suite with Scrum; Kanboard keeps it simple with pure Kanban
- **Focalboard** — Mattermost-integrated; Kanboard is standalone with a mature plugin ecosystem

## FAQ
**Q: Is Kanboard suitable for large teams?**
A: Kanboard works best for individuals and small teams. For larger organizations needing advanced permissions, consider WeKan or Taiga.

**Q: Can I migrate from Trello?**
A: Yes. Kanboard has an official Trello import plugin that converts Trello JSON exports into Kanboard projects.

**Q: Does it support mobile access?**
A: The web UI is responsive. There are also third-party mobile apps that connect via the JSON-RPC API.

**Q: What is the plugin ecosystem like?**
A: Over 50 community plugins are available covering themes, integrations with Slack and Mattermost, calendar sync, and more.

## Sources
- https://github.com/kanboard/kanboard
- https://docs.kanboard.org/

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/6c3f19d2-39f2-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: AI Open Source