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GitHub Projects

GitHub Projects help you plan, track, and manage work — directly alongside your code. Whether you’re managing personal goals or a team sprint, Projects give you the flexibility of spreadsheets with the power of GitHub integration.

What Are GitHub Projects?​

GitHub Projects are customizable boards or tables that allow you to manage tasks, issues, and pull requests in an organized way. You can:

  • Track progress visually using Kanban-style boards
  • Group and filter issues by status, labels, or assignees
  • Automate workflows using GitHub Actions
  • Integrate project views directly into repositories or organizations

Projects can exist:

  • Per repository – For smaller projects or individual contributors
  • At the organization level – For teams managing multiple repos

Creating a Project​

Step 1: Open GitHub Projects​

  • Go to your repository or organization.
  • Click on the Projects tab.
  • Click “New Project” and choose a layout:
    • Board (Kanban) – Ideal for task flow
    • Table (Spreadsheet) – Ideal for data-rich views

Step 2: Name and Configure​

  • Name your project (e.g., Website Redesign or Sprint 1).
  • Add fields like:
    • Status (To Do, In Progress, Done)
    • Priority
    • Assignee
    • Deadline

Adding Items to Projects​

You can add:

  • Issues → Track bugs, tasks, or features
  • Pull Requests → Track code changes under review
  • Drafts → Add notes or to-do items without creating issues

Example:​

Add dark/light theme toggle
Fix navbar collapse on mobile
Merge API integration PR

You can drag-and-drop items across columns (if using a Kanban layout) or filter using fields (if using a table view).

Automating Projects with GitHub Actions​

You can automate updates using Actions. For example:

  • Move issues to “Done” when PRs are merged
  • Add new issues automatically to your project

Example workflow:

name: Auto add issues to project
on:
  issues:
    types: [opened]
jobs:
  add_issue_to_project:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Add issue to project
        uses: actions/add-to-project@v0.5.0
        with:
          project-url: https://github.com/orgs/CodeHarborHub/projects/1
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

Using Fields and Filters​

Projects allow custom fields for better tracking:

  • Select (e.g., Priority: High, Medium, Low)
  • Iteration (e.g., Sprint 1, Sprint 2)
  • Date (e.g., Due date)
  • Number (e.g., Story points)

You can use filters like:

assignee:@me status:"In Progress"

Managing Teams and Permissions​

  • Public projects – Anyone can view your progress
  • Private projects – Restricted to selected collaborators
  • Assign roles (admin, editor, viewer)
  • Mention teammates in notes or comments to collaborate

Visualizing Progress​

You can use:

  • Charts to track completion rates
  • Milestones to group related tasks
  • Burndown views for sprint analysis

GitHub Projects integrate with your repository insights to give you a complete picture of progress.

Real-World Example​

Let’s say CodeHarborHub is managing its “Git & GitHub Tutorials”:

TaskStatusPriorityAssignee
Write introduction.mdxâś… DoneHighAjay Dhangar
Write basics.mdx🟡 In ProgressMediumContributor
Write projects.mdx🟢 Ready to StartLowOpen

This helps contributors know what’s next, track progress, and stay aligned.

Tips for Better Project Management​

  • Keep issue titles concise and descriptive
  • Use labels for grouping (e.g., frontend, backend, docs)
  • Automate repetitive tasks with Actions
  • Regularly review and clean up completed items

Summary​

GitHub Projects empower developers and teams to:

  • Organize tasks efficiently
  • Track real-time progress
  • Collaborate seamlessly
  • Automate project management

They transform your repository from just code storage into a complete development workspace.

Learn More​