Configuring Smart Pipelines

To configure Smart Pipelines, visit your board and click on a pipeline's name. Alternatively, you can click the three-dot menu next to the pipeline's name and select "Settings & automation" from the dropdown options. The Smart Pipeline settings modal will appear, displaying three tabs: Details, Limits, and Automations.

Details Tab

In the Details tab, you can:

  • Rename the Pipeline: Change the name of the pipeline to better reflect its purpose.
  • Add a Description: Optionally, provide a description to give more context to the pipeline. This change will affect everyone in the workspace.

Limits Tab

In the Limits tab, you can set work-in-progress (WIP) limits and configure stale issue settings:

Setting WIP Limits

  1. Select "Issue count" from the dropdown menu under "Limit pipeline by."
  2. Enter the maximum number of issues allowed simultaneously in the pipeline.

Marking Issues as Stale

  1. Enable the "Highlight issues that have been in the pipeline longer than a certain time" option.
  2. Choose a color and an icon to visually denote stale issues.
  3. Specify the number of days an issue can stay in a pipeline before it is considered stale.

Automations Tab

In the Automations tab, you can automate issue metadata management. This includes creating or modifying automations to add or remove metadata when an issue enters or leaves a pipeline:

  1. Click on "Create new automation."
  2. Set a trigger for when an issue enters or leaves the pipeline.
  3. Select an action, such as adding or removing labels, assignees, or sprint association.

Enhancing Workflow Efficiency

Smart Pipeline features provide practical benefits for workflow management:

  • WIP limits visually indicate when the limit is exceeded, prompting appropriate team actions.
  • Stale issues are marked with an icon and color, helping to identify bottlenecks.
  • Automations streamline workflow by adding assignees and including issues in sprints automatically when moved to specific pipelines.

Customizing Multiple Automations

Multiple automations can be set up within each pipeline and used together for managing labels, assignees, and sprint tasks.

FAQ

Q: How do I access Smart Pipeline settings in Zenhub?
A: Click on the name of a pipeline on your board, which will open the Smart Pipeline settings modal for further configurations.

Q: What can I automate with Smart Pipeline features?
A: You can automate the addition or removal of issue metadata such as labels and assignees when issues move between pipelines.

Q: Can Smart Pipelines help manage issue prioritization?
A: Yes, by utilizing WIP limits and stale issue flags, Smart Pipelines assist in maintaining optimal flow and bringing attention to issues that may need reprioritization.