Clarifying GitHub Project Insights: The Burn Up Chart X-Axis Label Dilemma

In the fast-paced world of software development, accurate data visualization is paramount for effective project management and fostering developer productivity. Tools like the GitHub Projects feature offer invaluable insights, yet a recent community discussion highlighted a critical area for improvement in its reporting capabilities, specifically concerning the Burn Up chart within the Insights dashboard.

Misleading Metrics on the GitHub Dashboard

A user, pblackwood, initiated a discussion (#186502) on the GitHub Community forum, bringing attention to a misleading X-axis label on the Burn Up chart within GitHub Project Insights. The core of the issue lies in the chart's "Open" label, which, contrary to its name, displays the total number of issues rather than just the open ones.

The Problem: "Open" Means "Total"

The user described a project leveraging GitHub Projects for managing issues across two repositories. Their team effectively uses the "Board View" with a familiar Kanban workflow, featuring statuses such as Blocked, Todo, In Progress, In Integration, In Staging, and Done (In Production). An auto-close workflow correctly handles issues moved to "Done (In Production)".

At the time of reporting, the project had 36 total issues, with 32 open and 4 closed. However, when navigating to the "Insights" section and viewing the "Burn Up" chart, the green line, which is correctly identified as "Total issues," had its X-axis labeled "Open." This label then reported the full 36 issues, instead of the actual 32 open issues. This discrepancy can significantly skew perceptions of project progress and make it challenging for managers and teams to get a clear picture from their github dashboard.

Proposed Solutions for Clearer Git Tool Reporting

pblackwood offered several thoughtful suggestions to rectify this confusing data presentation, aiming to enhance the clarity and utility of this vital git tool for project tracking:

• Option 1: Reflect Actual Open Issues
  The most preferred solution by the author was to make the green line truly reflect only the open issues. This approach would lead to the "Open" and "Total" lines converging over time as issues are closed, providing a more intuitive visual representation of progress for stakeholders. However, the author acknowledged this would fundamentally change the chart's nature, moving it away from a traditional "burn up" chart which typically tracks total scope.
• Option 2: Rename the Label to "Total"
  A simpler fix would be to rename the misleading "Open" label on the X-axis to "Total," accurately reflecting the data it presents. This maintains the current data display but corrects the labeling.
• Option 3: Allow Custom Label Renaming
  Providing users with the flexibility to rename chart labels themselves would empower teams to tailor their insights to their specific project terminology and reporting needs.

The discussion received an automated acknowledgment, confirming that the product feedback was submitted for review by GitHub's product teams. While individual responses are not guaranteed, such community input is crucial for guiding future product improvements and ensuring the github dashboard remains a robust and reliable source of truth for development teams.

Accurate and clearly labeled metrics are foundational to effective project management. Addressing these small but significant inconsistencies in reporting tools like GitHub Projects Insights ensures that developers and managers can confidently rely on their data to make informed decisions and drive developer productivity forward.