OpenProject 16.6: New Evaluation Tools & Performance Improvements

Introduction

OpenProject 16.6 has launched, bringing powerful new project evaluation capabilities and notable speed enhancements to this open source project management platform. This update empowers portfolio managers with advanced scoring tools and delivers smoother performance for large-scale deployments.

Enhanced Project Evaluation Features

Portfolio management receives a significant upgrade with three new attribute types: Hierarchy, Weighted items, and Calculated value. These allow organizations to build custom evaluation models, enabling standardized project comparisons. For example, Hierarchy attributes can represent organizational structures, while Weighted items let teams assign importance scores to different criteria. Calculated values automatically compute scores based on predefined formulas, eliminating manual calculations and reducing errors in task manager workflows.

Performance and Optimization Improvements

Substantial backend optimizations make OpenProject 16.6 notably faster, especially for installations managing thousands of projects and millions of work packages. Enhanced database queries reduce system load, while the optimized autocompleter for work package relations fetches minimal required data. These improvements result in quicker filtering and more responsive navigation, benefiting teams using digital Kanban boards and other visualization tools.

Documents Module Collaboration Upgrades

The Documents module takes its first major step toward improved team collaboration. A new index page organizes files by name, type, and modification date, with recently updated documents appearing first. Quick filtering by document title and type-based side navigation streamline document retrieval, complementing collaboration tools already in the platform.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Custom project evaluation models with three new attribute types
• Significant performance improvements for large installations
• Enhanced document management with smart filtering
• Optimized work package relations autocompleter
• Streamlined backend processing reduces system load
• Better portfolio management capabilities
• Improved collaboration tools for team workflows

Disadvantages

• Learning curve for new evaluation attribute configuration
• Limited to open source deployment model
• Document module still in early enhancement phase
• Requires technical knowledge for optimal performance tuning

Conclusion

OpenProject 16.6 represents a substantial step forward for organizations needing sophisticated project evaluation tools alongside performance improvements. The new attribute types provide flexible scoring mechanisms, while backend optimizations ensure responsive operation at scale. These enhancements strengthen OpenProject's position as a comprehensive time tracking and project management solution for enterprises seeking open source alternatives.