Updated May 22, 2023
Why use a bug-tracking tool?
In the Software Development Life Cycle, tracking and finding bugs is one of the most crucial steps. Without this step, the software is not complete. It is a big deal to track, manage and solve every bug to build a perfect app. There are many bug-tracking systems available in the market. Still, choosing the right bug-reporting software is not an easy job. It would be best to consider many things based on your project requirement. A few bug tracking systems not only track the bug but also manage the complete software and various other tasks.
There are a lot of reasons for using bug reporting tools. The reasons are listed below.
- Find out the issues earlier
- Find all the problems in the application
- Deliver the right app at the first attempt itself
- Prioritize the issues and work on that
- Deliver the right app and make the customers happy
The flow of Bug tracking
A bug reporting tools workflow goes in the following order
- Capturing – Captures the bugs and issues
- Recording – Records the issue for the team to decide about the issue
- Accountability – Find out who is responsible for the problem. This will help in forward progress
- Prioritization – The team will prioritize the issue and work on that
- Resolving – Finds a solution for the issue
- Reviewing – A cross-check is again done to finalize whether the issue is fixed correctly.
Essentials for a bug tracking software
There are a few features that are a must for any bug-tracking system
- Documenting facility
- Assigning
- Workflow
- History
- Reports
- Storage and retrieval
Are you looking for the best bug-tracking system?
This article will make selecting a bug tracker that suits your need easy. Below is the list of the best bug reporting tools with their features.
1. Bugzilla – Bug Reporting Tools
Bug Reporting Tools Bugzilla is a premium server software that helps manage software development. The Mozilla Foundation develops bug Reporting Tools Bugzilla is open-source software, a powerful tool for managing the software development process. It allows us to track bugs and errors more efficiently. Bugzilla is rich in features such as an advanced search facility, bug lists in various formats, report generation, filing of bugs by mail, automatic detection of duplicate bugs, and others.
Features:
Bug Reporting Tools Bugzilla reached great heights quickly because of its rich features.
- Has optimized structure of the database that increases the scalability and performance
- High security
- Advanced query tool
- Email notification facility and allows users to add email ids to their profile.
- Best permission systems
Bug Reporting Tool Bugzilla increases the quality of the product and, in turn, improves customer satisfaction. Many top-rated companies, like Facebook, Mozilla, Apache, NASA, RedHat, etc., use this bug-tracking software.
2. Redmine – Bug Reporting Tools
Redmine is a free bug-tracking tool, open source, and the most commonly used web-based software management. It uses the Ruby On Rails framework, which supports cross-platforms and multiple databases. It is integrated with Source Code Management (SCM) systems.
Features:
The significant features of this bug-tracking tool include the following
- Flexible bug tracking system
- Role-based access control
- Handles multiple projects at the same time
- Gantt chart and calendar provide a pictorial representation of the project
- File and document management
- Email notifications
- Multiple languages
- Multiple platforms with various databases
- Create tasks and sub-tasks to categorize the issues in the project
All the features are available only for registered users. A Bug Reporting Tools online demo of Redmine is available on the site.
3. Trac – Bug Reporting Tools
Trac is a web-based free bug-tracking tool and open-source software written in Python. It is developed by Edgewall Software as the superior version of Wiki and is used as a bug and issue-tracking system for software development projects. It is so simple and easy to use. Trac offers a minimalistic approach to software management. It supports multiple platforms like bug reporting tools Linux, Unix, Mac OS X, and Windows. The issues or bugs in Trac are called tickets. The ticket management system in Trac is also used for defect management.
Features:
- Convenient reporting system
- Wiki mark-up in issue descriptions
- Timeline history
- Roadmap and milestones
- Multi Plugins
- Creates links
- Seamless integration between bugs, files, and Wiki pages
4. Mantis – Bug Reporting tools
Mantis is one of the reputed open-source web-based bug-tracking systems. This is written in the PHP framework and works with multiple databases like MS SQL, MY SQL, PostgreSQL, and more. Mantis is a straightforward and easy-to-use tool. Mantis is what you need for your software development management. It has a lot of good features in it. Mantis also has a mobile version along with its web application. This software is best suited for any small and medium-sized company. Mantis follows a multi-level hierarchy, as mentioned below.
Projects à Sub Projects à Categories à Bugs
Features:
- Cheaper software
- Customizable issue pages
- Generates reports with graphs and charts
- Advanced search and filter options
- Easy installation
- Change the history of issues
- Unlimited number of users
- Time tracking
- Handles multiple projects
- Custom fields
- Source code integration
- RSS feeds
- Roadmaps
- Email notifications
- Multi DBMS support
- Assistance and support for mobile devices
- Chat option
5. JIRA – Bug Reporting Tools
Bug Reporting Tool JIRA is primarily an incident management tool but is most commonly used as a bug tracking tool. It is a reputed J2EE-based bug-tracking tool and software management tool. It offers a simple way to track issues and manage them. Bug Reporting Tools JIRA has many advanced features; one unique feature is its easy integration with code development environments.
Features:
- It supports many Add-ins
- Maintain records
- Report generation
- Excellent workflow
- Mobile integration
- Easy integration with the code development environment
- Supports agile projects
- Helpdesk
6. Request Tracker – Bug Reporting Tools
Request tracker, also known as RT, is an enterprise-grade software that helps a group of people efficiently manage tasks and issues. This tool is also used as a Help desk system, project management system, NOC ticketing, CRM, and software development. This tool connects an organization’s different departments through its functions and features.
Features:
- Mobile optimized interface
- Dashboards
- Email integration
- Command line
- Provides relationship graphs
- Rich text editing
- Easy customization of themes
- Easy Branding
7. The Bug Genie – Bug Reporting Tools
It is an excellent project management and issue-tracking tool. This system is written in the PHP framework, and it is a more friendly tool that is easy to use. It also deals with the defect management system. The Bug Genie works on multiple platforms and has multiple databases. It also contains various language systems. The Bug Genie is not a free Bug Reporting tool. But a free trial of this tool is available.
Features:
- Integration with many SCM systems
- Issue tracking mechanism
- Integrated Wiki
- Easy installation
- User reports
- Supports Multiple languages
8. eTraxis – Bug Reporting Tools
eTraxis is yet another powerful web-based tracking tool that can track bugs and do more than that. This system is developed in a PHP framework and supports multiple databases like My SQL, MS SQL, Oracle, and others. The significant attraction of this software is the flexibility that the tool offers to its users. The users can customize the workflow of the tool for tracking purposes. These customized workflows are called templates and are handier to use. This system is a bug tracker, help desk, and CRM system. This is not a free bug-reporting tool; a trial version is available for users.
Features:
- Comprehensive email alerts
- Detailed History
- Filtering and commenting on the issues
- Supports attachments in issue
- Flexible permissions
- Handles multiple projects
- Unlimited number of users
- Create n number of workflows and customize it as per their requirement
- Easy integration with users’ existing tools and workflow
9. BugNet – Bug Reporting Tools
BugNet is another open-source issue management tool written using ASP.NET and supports multiple databases. The tool is easy to deploy and scalable. It has all the major features of other bug reporting tools, like creating projects, managing them, and detecting and tracking the issues.
Features:
- GPL-licensed web-based tool
- Supports Multiple databases and multiple projects
- Milestone management
- Good security
- Online chat
- Email alerts
- Easy navigation
- Customization of fields
- Reports about the issue
- Issue capture
10. Exceptional bug reporting tools
Exceptional is an excellent bug-tracking tool that was launched in the year 2008. You may use it to handle and monitor bugs or other problems with the online application. It offers accurate time reports and all the necessary information to fix the problem. It provides a stable platform for tracking and reporting issues in the application.
Features:
- Supports multiple databases
- Data filtering for security
- Real-time notifications via SMS, Email, and webhooks
- Captures custom data
- History
- Manage multiple projects
- Give comments for errors
11. Sifter – Bug – Reporting Tools
Sifter is yet another essential tracking tool that requires significantly less configuration. Many top-rated organizations use this tracking tool. It will help you to deliver high-quality end products. It does not require more coded configuration and allows you to track and manage the projects efficiently.
The essential features of this tool include the following:
- This tool has a project dashboard that gives a quick overview of all the projects and tasks.
- The milestones of the tool let you know the due dates and keep track of the project’s progress.
- It automatically provides a daily summary of the previous day’s activity each morning.
12. BugHerd – Bug Reporting Tools
BugHerd is the most straightforward bug-tracking tool developers commonly use. It helps capture client feedback and quickly track, manage, and resolve issues. There is no complicated setup. Just input the issue; this tool will convert it into reports with all the information needed to resolve the issue within a few seconds.
Features:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Direct links
- Inline tagging
- Browser extension
- File attachments to the issue
- Visual bug reports
- Full selector data
- Automatic capture client
- Real-time discussions
13. FogBugz – Bug Reporting Tools
FogBugz is specially built to track the bugs in every phase of the software development process. In this tool, the bugs or issues are called ‘Cases.’ It provides an easy workflow to list, manage and solve the cases. With this tool’s advanced project management features, you can get a detailed project outline and set up milestones. Besides bug tracking, this tool can be used for CRM, discussion forums, and evidence-based scheduling.
Features:
- Allows to create Wikis
- Customizable case lists
- Source code integration
- Automatic reporting of cases
- Scheduling functions like timeline chart, detailed picture of the project
- Incorporate user feedback
- Integrates with users’ email
- Filters and sorts the issues
14. LogDigger – Bug Reporting Tools
LogDigger comes with tools to quickly capture the errors and bugs of the applications for your Java applications. It is a user-friendly tool that will help you classify and get detailed reports of errors. Whatever kind of Java framework you use, it will work excellently for it. It has an engaging User Interface that will help you learn the tool without hassles.
Features:
- Instant notifications about the report-level logs and context
- Build custom modules via HTTP POST and sends them to BugDigger
- Works with any bug reporting tools in the Java web development framework
- Provides in-depth error knowledge
- No need for an external error-logging server
15. Pivotal tracker – Bug Reporting Tools
A pivotal tracker is a web-based bug-tracking tool commonly used by people who follow agile methodology. The user interface of this tool is amicable. This tool works sequentially, breaking your projects into smaller sections, finding each section’s complexity, and then prioritizing it.
Features:
- Unique issue number
- Comprehensive API and more Add-ons
- Uses charts to represent data
- Simple workflow
Conclusion
The list above is the most commonly used bug reporting tools. You might find that the main objective of all the bug reporting tools is not only bug tracking tools. This is because bug tracking cannot be done as a separate activity without considering the other aspects of the project. Thus, bug-tracking tools and other activities become part of bug-reporting tools. There are also a lot of other bug reporting tools available for bug tracking.
