πŸ“š Buildly Product Labs - Complete User Documentation

Welcome to the comprehensive user guide for Buildly Product Labs, a powerful platform for product management, development tracking, and team collaboration.

🏠 Getting Started

Overview

Buildly Product Labs is a complete product management platform that helps teams plan, track, and deliver software products efficiently. The platform combines AI-powered assistance with traditional project management tools to streamline your development workflow.

First Steps

  1. Login: Use your organization credentials to access the platform

  2. Dashboard: After login, you’ll see your personalized dashboard

  3. Select a Product: Choose from your accessible products or create a new one

  4. Explore Features: Navigate through the main sections using the top navigation bar

🎯 Dashboard

Purpose

The Dashboard serves as your central command center, providing an overview of your products, tasks, and upcoming deadlines.

Features

Personalized Welcome

  • Time-based greeting (Good morning, afternoon, evening)

  • User profile information display

  • Role-based content customization

Product Overview Cards

  • Visual cards for all accessible products

  • Current release progress indicators

  • Quick navigation to product details

  • Release timeline visibility

Task Management

  • Issues Column: Assigned bug reports and tickets

  • Features Column: Development tasks and feature requests

  • Priority Indicators: Color-coded priority levels

  • Status Tracking: Real-time status updates

Feedback System

  • Comments requiring your attention

  • Mentions and notifications

  • Response tracking

Release Timeline

  • Upcoming release dates

  • Due date warnings (shows β€œDue soon!” for releases within 7 days)

  • Quick access to release details

πŸ“Š Product Portfolio

Overview

Manage all your products in one centralized location with comprehensive tracking and organization tools.

Key Features

Product Creation

  • Basic Information: Name, description, timeline

  • Technical Details: Architecture type, programming language, database

  • Infrastructure: Hosting platform, storage solutions

  • Team Setup: User roles and permissions

Product Cards Display

  • Visual grid layout of all products

  • Release progress indicators

  • Quick stats (features, issues, releases)

  • Direct navigation to product roadmap

Product Management

  • Edit product information

  • Archive completed products

  • Access controls and permissions

  • Integration with development tools

πŸ—ΊοΈ Product Roadmap

Overview

The Product Roadmap is where development happens. Plan features, track issues, and collaborate with your team using either Kanban or tabular views.

View Options

Kanban Board View

  • Column-based Organization: Features organized by status (To Do, In Progress, Testing, Done)

  • Drag-and-Drop: Move items between columns

  • Visual Workflow: See progress at a glance

  • Quick Actions: Add, edit, delete from card interface

Tabular View

  • Detailed List: Comprehensive table with all feature information

  • Sorting and Filtering: Organize by priority, status, assignee

  • Bulk Operations: Select multiple items for batch actions

  • Export Functionality: Download data as CSV/Excel

Feature Management

Creating Features

  1. Click β€œAdd Feature” button

  2. Fill out the feature form:

    • Title: Clear, descriptive name

    • Description: Detailed explanation with rich text editor

    • Priority: High, Medium, Low

    • Release Assignment: Link to specific release

    • Complexity Score: 1-10 scale for estimation

    • Tags: Categorization labels

    • User Stories: Role-based requirements

Feature Details

  • Status Tracking: Automatic progression through workflow stages

  • Assignee Management: Assign team members

  • Comments and Discussion: Threaded conversations

  • File Attachments: Documentation and assets

  • Time Tracking: Log work hours

  • Dependencies: Link related features

Issue Integration

  • Bug Tracking: Link bugs to features

  • Issue Suggestions: AI-powered issue recommendations

  • Convert Features to Issues: Seamless workflow transition

AI-Powered Features

AI Feature Suggestions

  • Smart Recommendations: AI analyzes your product context to suggest relevant features

  • Buildly-Specific: Suggestions tailored for product management workflows

  • Context-Aware: Considers existing features, product type, and team needs

  • How to Use:

    1. Click β€œGenerate AI Suggestion” button

    2. Review the suggested feature

    3. Accept to add to roadmap or generate another suggestion

    4. Customize as needed

User Story Generation

  • AI-Powered Stories: Automatically generate user stories for features

  • Role-Based: Creates stories for different user types

  • Template-Driven: Follows β€œAs a [user], I want [goal] so that [benefit]” format

Collaboration Tools

Comments System

  • Feature-Level Comments: Discuss specific features

  • @Mentions: Notify team members

  • Thread Replies: Organized conversations

  • Notification System: Email and in-app alerts

Real-Time Updates

  • Live Status Changes: See updates as they happen

  • Team Activity Feed: Track what your team is working on

  • Change History: Audit trail of all modifications

πŸš€ Release Management

Overview

Plan, create, and track software releases with comprehensive project management tools.

Release Planning

Creating Releases

  1. Navigate to Releases section

  2. Click β€œAdd Release” button

  3. Configure release details:

    • Release Name: Version number or descriptive name

    • Description: What’s included in this release

    • Target Date: Planned release date

    • Feature Selection: Choose features to include

AI Generate Release

  • Automated Release Creation: AI analyzes unfinished features and creates optimized releases

  • Smart Feature Selection: Prioritizes high-impact, ready features

  • Timeline Estimation: Suggests realistic release dates

  • How to Use:

    1. Click β€œAI Generate Release” button

    2. Review suggested feature list

    3. Confirm or modify the release plan

    4. AI creates the release with selected features

Release Tracking

Release Details Page

  • Progress Charts: Visual progress indicators

  • Feature Status: Real-time feature completion tracking

  • Issue Summary: Bug counts and resolution status

  • Team Assignment: Who’s working on what

Release Timeline

  • Milestone Tracking: Key dates and deliverables

  • Progress Visualization: Gantt charts and burn-down reports

  • Risk Indicators: Identify potential delays

  • Status Updates: Regular progress communications

Punchlist Management

What is a Punchlist?

A punchlist is a compilation of work items that need to be completed before a release can be considered done. These are typically last-minute bugs, polish items, or minor issues discovered during final testing.

Creating Punchlist Items

  1. Navigate to Release Details

  2. Go to β€œPunchlist” tab

  3. Add new items:

    • Title: Brief description

    • Description: Detailed explanation

    • Severity: Critical, High, Medium, Low

    • Priority: How urgent the fix is

    • Reporter: Who found the issue

    • Environment: Where the issue occurs

    • Steps to Reproduce: How to recreate the problem

    • Expected vs Actual Behavior: What should happen vs what happens

Punchlist Workflow

  • Status Tracking: New β†’ In Progress β†’ Fixed β†’ Verified β†’ Closed

  • Assignment: Assign to team members

  • Resolution Notes: Document how issues were fixed

  • Testing Verification: Confirm fixes work as expected

πŸ“ˆ Insights & Analytics

Overview

Get deep insights into your product development with comprehensive analytics, team performance metrics, and AI-powered recommendations.

Product Analytics

Release Performance

  • Velocity Metrics: Features completed per release

  • Timeline Analysis: How well you hit target dates

  • Quality Indicators: Bug-to-feature ratios

  • Team Productivity: Individual and team performance

Feature Analytics

  • Completion Rates: How many features reach β€œDone”

  • Cycle Time: Average time from start to completion

  • Complexity Analysis: Relationship between complexity and delivery time

  • Priority Distribution: How work is prioritized

AI-Powered Insights

Feature Completion Predictions

  • Timeline Estimates: AI predicts when features will be completed

  • Risk Assessment: Identifies features likely to be delayed

  • Resource Planning: Suggests optimal team allocation

Budget Estimation

  • AI Budget Calculator: Automatically estimates project costs

  • Team Size Recommendations: Optimal team composition

  • Timeline vs Budget Analysis: Cost implications of schedule changes

  • Risk Buffers: Recommended contingency planning

Team Assistance System

When to Request Help

The system automatically detects when products might need additional team support:

  • No configured team for releases

  • Consistently missed deadlines

  • High feature complexity vs team capacity

Requesting Team Assistance

  1. Click β€œπŸš€ Request Team Help” button (appears when assistance is needed)

  2. Fill out the assistance form:

    • Help Type: Development, QA, DevOps, Design, Project Management

    • Project Description: What you’re building

    • Timeline: When you need to deliver

    • Specific Needs: What kind of help you need

    • Budget Constraints: Any budget limitations

    • Team Preferences: Preferred team size and roles

  3. Submit the request

  4. Buildly team will review and contact you with recommendations

Team Configuration

  • Role Assignment: Define team member roles

  • Capacity Planning: Set working hours and availability

  • Skill Mapping: Match skills to feature requirements

  • Performance Tracking: Monitor team productivity

πŸ€– AI Assistant (Chatbot)

Overview

Your personal AI assistant helps you navigate the platform, answers questions, and provides contextual guidance.

Features

Contextual Help

  • Page-Specific Guidance: Different help based on where you are

  • Dynamic Suggestions: AI generates relevant questions you might ask

  • Documentation Links: Quick access to relevant help articles

Smart Conversations

  • Natural Language: Ask questions in plain English

  • Project Context: AI understands your current product and workspace

  • Follow-up Questions: Continue conversations naturally

Quick Access

  • Floating Button: Always visible in bottom-right corner

  • Keyboard Shortcuts: Quick access via hotkeys

  • Mobile Friendly: Works on all devices

How to Use

Starting a Conversation

  1. Click the floating AI assistant button (πŸ€–)

  2. Choose from suggested questions or type your own

  3. Get instant answers and follow-up suggestions

Common Questions

  • β€œHow do I create a new product?”

  • β€œWhat’s the difference between features and issues?”

  • β€œHow do I invite team members?”

  • β€œCan you explain the release process?”

  • β€œHow do I generate an AI feature suggestion?”

Getting Help

  • Documentation Links: Quick access to detailed guides

  • Step-by-Step Instructions: Guided walkthroughs

  • Video Tutorials: Visual learning resources

  • Support Contact: Direct line to help team

πŸ”§ Advanced Features

Form AI Helper

Smart Form Assistance

Throughout the platform, look for the ✨ AI Helper icon next to form fields:

  • Feature Titles: AI suggests relevant titles

  • Descriptions: Get help writing clear descriptions

  • Release Names: Creative and professional naming suggestions

How to Use

  1. Start typing in any form field

  2. Click the ✨ AI Helper icon

  3. Choose from 3 AI-generated suggestions

  4. Customize as needed

Integration Capabilities

Development Tool Integration

  • GitHub/GitLab: Link repositories and sync issues

  • Jira: Import existing tickets and sync status

  • Slack: Get notifications and updates

  • Jenkins/CI Systems: Link build status to releases

Data Export/Import

  • CSV Export: Download your data for analysis

  • API Access: Programmatic access to your data

  • Backup Systems: Automatic data protection

  • Migration Tools: Move data between systems

User Management

Role-Based Access

  • Product Owner: Full access to product management

  • Developer: Feature and issue tracking focus

  • QA Tester: Testing and bug reporting tools

  • Stakeholder: Read-only access with reporting

Permission System

  • Granular Controls: Fine-tune what users can see/do

  • Team-Based Permissions: Group-level access controls

  • Audit Logs: Track who did what and when

πŸŽ“ Best Practices

Product Setup

  1. Start with Clear Goals: Define what you’re building and why

  2. Set Up Your Team: Invite collaborators early

  3. Create Your First Release: Even if it’s just a planning release

  4. Use AI Suggestions: Let AI help kickstart your feature planning

Feature Management

  1. Write Clear Descriptions: Future you will thank present you

  2. Use Priority Levels: Not everything can be high priority

  3. Break Down Large Features: Smaller pieces are easier to track

  4. Regular Status Updates: Keep your team informed

Release Planning

  1. Realistic Timelines: Use AI estimates as a starting point

  2. Buffer Time: Always plan for the unexpected

  3. Regular Reviews: Check progress weekly

  4. Team Communication: Keep everyone aligned

Team Collaboration

  1. Use Comments: Keep discussions in context

  2. Tag Team Members: Use @mentions for important updates

  3. Regular Check-ins: Schedule team sync meetings

  4. Document Decisions: Keep a record of why you made choices

πŸ†˜ Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Can’t See My Product

  • Check your user permissions

  • Verify you’re in the right organization

  • Contact your product owner for access

Features Not Updating

  • Check your internet connection

  • Refresh the page

  • Clear browser cache if issues persist

AI Features Not Working

  • Verify AI services are enabled for your organization

  • Check if you have the necessary permissions

  • Try refreshing the page and trying again

Team Members Can’t Access

  • Verify they have accounts in your organization

  • Check role assignments

  • Ensure proper permissions are set

Getting Help

In-App Support

  • Use the AI Chatbot for immediate assistance

  • Check the help links in each section

  • Look for the β€œ?” icons for contextual help

Documentation

  • Visit docs.buildly.io for comprehensive guides

  • Video tutorials available for complex workflows

  • API documentation for developers

Contact Support

  • Use the β€œRequest Team Help” feature for development assistance

  • Submit support tickets for technical issues

  • Join the community forum for peer support

πŸš€ Tips for Success

Maximize Productivity

  1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn the hotkeys for common actions

  2. Customize Your Dashboard: Arrange widgets for your workflow

  3. Set Up Notifications: Stay informed without being overwhelmed

  4. Regular Cleanup: Archive completed items to reduce clutter

Leverage AI Features

  1. Try AI Suggestions: Even if you don’t use them, they might spark ideas

  2. Use Form Helpers: Save time with AI-assisted content creation

  3. Ask the Chatbot: It’s trained on Buildly-specific workflows

  4. Budget Estimation: Use AI to sanity-check your project planning

Team Success

  1. Regular Training: Make sure everyone knows the features

  2. Establish Workflows: Create consistent processes

  3. Review and Adapt: Regularly assess what’s working

  4. Celebrate Success: Acknowledge completed releases and milestones

πŸ“ž Support & Resources

Documentation

  • Main Documentation: docs.buildly.io

  • API Reference: docs.buildly.io/api

  • Video Tutorials: docs.buildly.io/tutorials

  • Community Forum: community.buildly.io

Getting Help

  • AI Chatbot: Available 24/7 in the platform

  • Team Assistance: Request expert help for complex projects

  • Support Tickets: For technical issues and bugs

  • Community Support: Peer help and knowledge sharing

Stay Updated

  • Release Notes: Check for new features and improvements

  • Newsletter: Monthly updates and tips

  • Webinars: Live training sessions and Q&A

  • User Conference: Annual event for deep learning

This documentation covers all major features and workflows in Buildly Product Labs. For the most current information and detailed technical guides, visit docs.buildly.io