Developing a Free, Ad-Free Scrum Poker Application to Enhance Agile Collaboration
In the realm of Agile project management, Scrum Poker is an essential tool for facilitating collaborative and efficient story point estimation. Recognizing the limitations of existing solutions—often cluttered with advertisements, restricted by paid features, or requiring browser-specific accommodations—I embarked on creating a straightforward, user-friendly Scrum Poker application that prioritizes accessibility and simplicity.
Motivation Behind the Project
My team previously utilized another Scrum Poker platform that, unfortunately, was inundated with ads. While ad blockers provided some relief, their effectiveness was inconsistent, and browser restrictions—especially on our company’s preferred browsers like Brave—hampered seamless usage. These challenges prompted me to develop a dedicated application that is free, ad-free, and readily accessible across different environments.
Features and Functionality
The core design philosophy was to keep the tool minimalistic yet functional. The application allows team members to participate via guest login, cast their votes on user stories, and facilitate transparent estimation sessions—all without intrusive advertisements or costly subscriptions. This approach aims to remove common barriers, making stand-ups and planning sessions smoother and more focused.
Technical Insights and Innovations
Building this application was not just about solving immediate needs; it also served as an opportunity to deepen my understanding of real-time protocols. Specifically, I integrated Mercure—a protocol designed for real-time web communication—to ensure real-time updates during estimation sessions. This experience enhanced my grasp of modern web technologies and communication pipelines, which I see as valuable assets for future projects.
Vision and Future Directions
Although the current version addresses specific pain points for my team, my larger goal is to craft niche, practical tools that make the internet more accessible and less dependent on paid subscriptions. I believe that by creating lightweight, specialized applications like this Scrum Poker tool, we can contribute to a more open and user-centric web environment.
Learn More
You can try out the live version of the app at https://scrum-poker.space/. Feedback and suggestions are welcome as I continue to refine and enhance this tool to better serve Agile teams worldwide.
Creating practical solutions that streamline workflows and reduce dependence on proprietary software aligns with my passion for making the digital world more open and accessible.
